Historical source · 1908

Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 13

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Page 13 of 179

Battalia pie

Battalia pie, bat-tāl′ya pī, titbits in a pie: articles like pin-cushions, embroidered by nuns in convents with scenes from the Bible. [Corrupted from Fr. béatilles, dim. formed from L. beatus.]

English · e-37683-2383

Battalion

Battalion, bat-al′yun, n. a body of soldiers consisting of several companies: a body of men drawn up in battle-array. [Fr.; from root of Battle.]

English · e-37683-2384

Battels

Battels, bat′lz, n.pl. an Oxford term signifying accounts for provisions received from college kitchens and butteries: applied generally to the whole of the sums for tuition, &c., charged in college accounts.—v.i. Bat′ti

English · e-37683-2385

Batten

Batten, bat′n, v.i. to grow fat: to live in luxury.—v.t. (obs.) to fatten. [Ice. batna, to grow better—bati, advantage; cf. Dut. baten, to avail.]

English · e-37683-2386

Batten

Batten, bat′n, n. a piece of board: a ledge, clamp: in ships, a strip of wood used to fasten down the hatches.—n. Bat′tening, battens forming a structure. [Same as Baton.]

English · e-37683-2387

Batter

Batter, bat′er, v.t. to beat with successive blows: to wear with beating or by use: to attack with artillery.—n. ingredients beaten along with some liquid into a paste: paste for sticking.—ns. Bat′tering-charge, the full

English · e-37683-2388

Batter

Batter, bat′ėr, n. the inclination of a wall from the perpendicular.—v.i. to slope backward from the perpendicular. [Perh. from Fr. battre, to beat down.]

English · e-37683-2389

Battery

Battery, bat′ėr-i, n. (Shak.) a wound: a number of cannon with their equipment: the place on which cannon are mounted: the men and horses attending one battery, constituting the unit in the artillery: an instrument used

English · e-37683-2390

Battle

Battle, bat′l, n. a contest between opposing armies: a fight or encounter: (arch.) a body of troops in battle array, esp. in phrase 'main battle.'—v.i. to contend in fight: to maintain, champion (with against, with).—ns.

English · e-37683-2391

Battle

Battle, bat′l, adj. (dial.) nourishing.—v.t. (obs.) to feed. [Most prob. from Ice. bati, improvement. See Batten.]

English · e-37683-2392 · brief source record

Battledoor

Battledoor, Battledore, bat′l-dōr, n. a light bat for striking a ball or shuttlecock.—Not to know a B from a battledoor, to be thoroughly ignorant. [Sp. batidor, a beater, a washing-beetle; but this is doubtful.]

English · e-37683-2393

Battlement

Battlement, bat′l-ment, n. a wall or parapet on the top of a building with openings or embrasures, originally used only on fortifications: the towering roof of heaven,—adj. Bat′tlemented, fortified with battlements—also

English · e-37683-2394

Battology

Battology, bat-ol′o-ji, n. repetition in speech or writing.—adj. Battolog′ical. [Gr. battos, a person who repeated himself, and legein, to speak.]

English · e-37683-2395

Battue

Battue, bat-tōō′, n. a method of hunting in which the woods are beaten and the game driven from cover into some place for the convenience of the shooters: any indiscriminate slaughter. [Fr.—battre, to beat.]

English · e-37683-2396

Bauble

Bauble, baw′bl, n. a trifling piece of finery: a child's plaything: a stick surmounted by a head with ass's ears, and forming the mock emblem of the court-jester: a piece of childish foolery: (Shak.) a foolish person.—ad

English · e-37683-2397

Baudekin

Baudekin, bawd′i-kin, Bawdkin, bawd′kin. Same as Baldachin.

English · e-37683-2398 · brief source record

Baudric

Baudric, bawd′rik. Same as Baldrick.

English · e-37683-2399 · brief source record

Baudrons

Baudrons, bawd′runs, n. Scotch name for the cat. [Perh. of Celt. origin; cf. Ir. beadrac, frolicsome, Gael. beadrach, a frolicsome girl.]

English · e-37683-2400

Bauk

Bauk, Baulk. Same as Balk.

English · e-37683-2401 · brief source record

Bausond

Bausond, bawz′ond, adj. (obs.) having white spots, esp. on the forehead, or a white stripe down the face.—adj. Baus′on-faced (Scott), with a face like a badger. [O. Fr. bausant (It. balzano), black and white spotted. Fur

English · e-37683-2402

Bauxite

Bauxite, bō′zīt, n. a clay found at Les Baux, near Arles, yielding alumina.—Also Beau′xite.

English · e-37683-2403 · brief source record

Bavardage

Bavardage, bav-ar-dāj′, n. chattering. [Fr. bavard, garrulous—bave, drivel.]

English · e-37683-2404 · brief source record

Bavin

Bavin, bav′in, n. a fagot of brushwood.—Bavin wits (Shak.), wits that blaze and die like bavins. [O. Fr. baffe, a fagot; but this is doubtful.]

English · e-37683-2405

Bawbee

Bawbee, baw-bē′, n. a halfpenny: originally a Scotch coin of base silver equivalent to six Scotch pennies. [Ety. dub., but very prob. derived from a 16th-cent. Scotch mint-master, the laird of Sillebawby; others identify

English · e-37683-2406

Bawble

Bawble. Same as Bauble.

English · e-37683-2407 · brief source record

Bawcock

Bawcock, baw′kok, n. (Shak.) a fine fellow. [From Fr. beau, fine, and coq, a cock.]

English · e-37683-2408 · brief source record

Bawd

Bawd, bawd, n. a procurer or procuress of women for lewd purposes—fem. only since about 1700.—n. Bawd′ry.—adj. Bawd′y, obscene, unchaste, filthy.—n. Bawd′y-house, a brothel. [Perh. abbrev. from Bawd′strot, a word for a p

English · e-37683-2409

Bawd

Bawd, bawd, n. (Shak.) a hare. [Perh. a contr. of Baudrons.]

English · e-37683-2410 · brief source record

Bawl

Bawl, bawl, v.i. to shout or cry out loudly (with at, against).—n. a loud cry or shout.—n. Bawl′er. [Perh. from Low L. baulare, to bark like a dog; but cf. Ice. baula, to low like a cow, baula, a cow.]

English · e-37683-2411

Bawn

Bawn, bawn, n. a fortification round a house: an enclosure for cattle. [Ir. bábhun, enclosure.]

English · e-37683-2412 · brief source record

Baxter

Baxter. See Bake.

English · e-37683-2413 · brief source record

Bay

Bay, bā, adj. reddish brown inclining to chestnut.—n. elliptical for 'bay-horse.'—n. Bayard (bā′ard), a bay-horse: a name for any horse generally, from 'Bayard,' the famous bay-coloured magic horse given to Renaud by Cha

English · e-37683-2414

Bay

Bay, bā, n. an inlet of the sea with a wider opening than a gulf: an inward bend of the shore. [Fr. baie—Low L. baia, a harbour.]

English · e-37683-2415

Bay

Bay, bā, n. the space between two columns: (Shak.) the space under one house gable: any recess.—n. Bay′-win′dow, any window forming a recess.—adj. Bay′-win′dowed. [O. Fr. baée—baer, to gape, be open; prob. conn. with the

English · e-37683-2416

Bay

Bay, bā, n. the laurel-tree: (pl.) an honorary garland or crown of victory, originally of laurel: literary renown.—ns. Bay′berry; Bay′-rum, an aromatic stimulant used for the skin and hair, and prepared by distilling the

English · e-37683-2417

Bay

Bay, bā, n. barking, baying (esp. of a dog when in pursuit): the combined cry of hounds in conflict with a hunted animal: used often of the last stand of a hunted animal when it faces the hounds at close quarters.—v.i. t

English · e-37683-2418

Bay

Bay, Baye, bā, v.t. (Spens.) to bathe.

English · e-37683-2419 · brief source record

Bay-salt

Bay-salt, bā′-sält, n. salt obtained by slow evaporation originally from sea-water. [Prob. from Bay, an inlet, and Salt.]

English · e-37683-2423

Bayadère

Bayadère, bā-ya-dēr′, n. a Hindu dancing-girl. [Fr.—Port. bailadeira.]

English · e-37683-2420 · brief source record

Bayonet

Bayonet, bā′on-et, n. a stabbing instrument of steel fixed to the muzzle of a musket or rifle: military force: (pl.) soldiers armed with bayonets.—v.t. to stab with a bayonet. [Fr. baïonnette, perh. from Bayonne, in Fran

English · e-37683-2421

Bayou

Bayou, bā′ōō, n. name given to the marshy offshoots of lakes and rivers, esp. in North America. [Perh. corrupted from Fr. boyau, gut.]

English · e-37683-2422

Bazaar

Bazaar, Bazar, ba-zär′, n. an Eastern marketplace or exchange: a fancy fair in imitation of an Eastern bazaar. [Pers. bāzār, a market.]

English · e-37683-2424

Bdellium

Bdellium, del′i-um, n. a kind of gum. [Gr. bdellion, used to translate, but prob. unconnected with Heb. b'dōlakh, Gen. ii. 12.]

English · e-37683-2425

Be

Be, bē, v.i. to live: to exist: to have a certain state or quality:—pr.p. bē′ing; pa.p. been.—n. Be′-all (Shak.), the whole being. [A.S. béon; Ger. bin; Gael. bi, to exist; W. byw, to live; Gr. phu-ein, L. fui, fio, Sans

English · e-37683-2426

Beach

Beach, bēch, n. the shore of the sea or of a lake, esp. when sandy or pebbly: the strand.—v.t. to haul a boat up on the beach.—n. Beach′-comb′er, a long rolling wave: a drunken loafer about the wharfs in Pacific seaports

English · e-37683-2427

Beacon

Beacon, bē′kn, n. a fire on an eminence used as a sign of danger: a hill on which such could be lighted: anything that warns of danger, esp. an erection of stone, wood, or iron often bearing a light, and marking rocks or

English · e-37683-2428

Bead

Bead, bēd, n. a little ball pierced for stringing, a series of which forms the rosary or paternoster, used in counting the prayers recited: any small ball of glass, amber, &c. strung in a series to form a necklace: a bea

English · e-37683-2429

Beadle

Beadle, bēd′l, n. a mace-bearer (esp. of the 'bedels' or 'bedells,' official attendants of the Oxford and Cambridge vice-chancellors): a petty officer of a church, college, parish, &c.: a parish officer with the power of

English · e-37683-2430

Beadman

Beadman. Same as Beadsman (q.v. under Bead).

English · e-37683-2431 · brief source record

Beagle

Beagle, bē′gl, n. a small hound tracking by scent, formerly much used in hunting hares, but now superseded by the harrier: a spy: a bailiff: a small kind of shark.—The beagle was often followed by men on foot, hence Foot

English · e-37683-2432

Beak

Beak, bēk, n. the bill of a bird: anything pointed or projecting: the nose: in the ancient galley, a pointed iron fastened to the prow for piercing the enemy's vessel: (slang) a magistrate.—adj. Beaked (bēkt). [O. Fr. be

English · e-37683-2433

Beaker

Beaker, bēk′ėr, n. a large drinking-bowl or cup, or its contents: a glass vessel marked for measuring liquids, with a beak or pointed mouth, used by chemists. [Scand. bikarr (Scot. bicker), prob. from Low L. bicarium, ac

English · e-37683-2434

Beam

Beam, bēm, n. a large and straight piece of timber or iron forming one of the main supports against lateral pressure of a building, ship, &c.: (fig.) from the figure of the mote and the beam—Matt. vii. 3: any of the tran

English · e-37683-2435

Bean

Bean, bēn, n. the name of several kinds of leguminous plants and their seeds: applied also to the seeds of some other plants, from their bean-like form, as the Calabar bean, &c.—ns. Bean′-feast, an annual dinner given by

English · e-37683-2436

Bear

Bear, bār, v.t. to carry or support: to endure: to admit of: to be entitled to: to afford: to import: to manage: to behave or conduct one's self: to bring forth or produce.—v.i. to suffer: to be patient: to have referenc

English · e-37683-2437

Bear

Bear, an obsolete form of Bier.

English · e-37683-2438 · brief source record

Bear

Bear, bār, n. a heavy quadruped of the order Carnivora, with long shaggy hair and hooked claws: any rude, rough, or ill-bred fellow: one who sells stocks for delivery at a future date, anticipating a fall in price so tha

English · e-37683-2439

Bear

Bear, bēr, n. barley, applied in Scotland to the now little grown variety Hordeum hexastichon. [A.S. bere.]

English · e-37683-2440 · brief source record

Beard

Beard, bērd, n. the hair that grows on the chin and adjacent parts of a grown man's face: the tuft on the lower jaw of a goat, seal, &c.: the barbel of the cod, loach, &c.; prickles on the ears of corn: the barb of an ar

English · e-37683-2441

Beast

Beast, bēst, n. an irrational animal, as opposed to man: a four-footed animal: a brutal person: the Beast, Antichrist in the Revelation—dim. Beast′ies.—n.pl. Beast′-fā′bles, stories in which animals play human parts—a wi

English · e-37683-2442

Beastings

Beastings. Same as Biestings.

English · e-37683-2443 · brief source record

Beat

Beat, bēt, v.t. to strike repeatedly: to break or bruise: to strike, as bushes, in order to rouse game: to thrash: to overcome: to be too difficult for: to spread flat and thin by beating with a tool, as gold by a gold-b

English · e-37683-2444

Beath

Beath, bēth, v.t. (Spens.) to bathe. [A.S. bethian, to foment.]

English · e-37683-2445 · brief source record

Beatify

Beatify, bē-at′i-fī, v.t. to make blessed or happy: to declare to be in the enjoyment of eternal happiness in heaven.—adjs. Beatif′ic, -al, making supremely happy.—adv. Beatif′ically.—n. Beatificā′tion, act of beatifying

English · e-37683-2446

Beatitude

Beatitude, bē-at′i-tūd, n. heavenly happiness, or happiness of the highest kind: (pl.) sayings of Christ in Matt. v., declaring the possessors of certain virtues to be blessed. [L. beatitudo—beatus, blessed.]

English · e-37683-2447

Beau

Beau, bō, n. a man attentive to dress or fashion: a fop or dandy: a lover:—pl. Beaux (bōz):—fem. Belle.—n. Beau′-idē′al, ideal excellence, or an imaginary standard of perfection: the person in which such is realised.—adj

English · e-37683-2448

Beaujolais

Beaujolais, bō-zhō-lā, n. a kind of red wine produced in South-eastern France. [From Beaujolais, a subdivision of the old province of Lyonnais.]

English · e-37683-2449

Beaune

Beaune, bōn, n. a red wine of Burgundy. [From the town of Beaune.]

English · e-37683-2450 · brief source record

Beauty

Beauty, bū′ti, n. a pleasing combination of qualities in a person or object: a particular grace or excellence: a beautiful person, esp. a woman, also applied collectively to the beautiful women of a special place: (pl.)

English · e-37683-2451

Beauxite

Beauxite. See Bauxite.

English · e-37683-2452 · brief source record

Beaver

Beaver, bēv′ėr, n. an amphibious rodent quadruped valuable for its fur: the fur of the beaver: a hat made of the beaver's fur: a hat: a glove of beaver fur.—adj. Beav′erish (Carlyle), like a beaver, merely instinctive.—n

English · e-37683-2453

Beaver

Beaver, bēv′ėr, n. in medieval armour, the covering for the lower part of the face, the visor being that for the upper part—later the movable beaver was confounded with the visor.—adj. Beav′ered. [So called from a fancie

English · e-37683-2454

Bebeeru

Bebeeru, bē-bē′rōō, n. the native name of the green-heart tree of Guiana.—n. Bebeerine (bē-bē′rin), an alkaloid yielded by it, and used as a substitute for quinine.

English · e-37683-2455

Beblubbered

Beblubbered, be-blub′ėrd, p.adj. disfigured by weeping [Pfx. be-, and Blubber.]

English · e-37683-2456 · brief source record

Becall

Becall, be-kawl′, v.t. to call names, miscall.

English · e-37683-2457 · brief source record

Becalm

Becalm, be-käm′, v.t. to make calm, still, or quiet.—p.adj. Becalmed′, motionless from want of wind. [Pfx. be-, and Calm.]

English · e-37683-2458

Became

Became, be-kām′, pa.t. of Become.

English · e-37683-2459 · brief source record

Because

Because, be-kawz′, adv. and conj. because of: for the reason that: on account of: for (followed by of). [Prep. by, and Cause.]

English · e-37683-2460

Beccafico

Beccafico, bek-a-fē′ko, n. a small bird of the family of Sylviadæ or Warblers, considered a delicacy by the Italians:—pl. Beccafi′coes. [It., from beccare to peck, and fico, a fig.]

English · e-37683-2461

Bechance

Bechance, be-chans′, v.t. to happen by chance: to befall—adv. by chance: accidentally. [A.S. be-, by, and Chance.]

English · e-37683-2462 · brief source record

Becharm

Becharm, be-chärm′, v.t. to charm: to enchant.

English · e-37683-2463 · brief source record

Bêche-de-mer

Bêche-de-mer, bāsh′-dė-mār, n. the trepang or sea-slug, a species of Holothuria, much esteemed in China as a food delicacy. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-2464

Beck

Beck, bek, n. (Spens.). Same as Beak.

English · e-37683-2465 · brief source record

Beck

Beck, bek, n. a brook. [Ice. bekkr; Ger. bach.]

English · e-37683-2466 · brief source record

Beck

Beck, bek, n. a sign with the finger or head: a nod: (Scot.) a gesture of salutation.—v.i. to make such a sign.—v.t. to call by a nod.—At one's beck, subject to one's will. [A contr. of Beckon.]

English · e-37683-2467

Becket

Becket, bek′et, n. (naut.) a loop of rope having a knot at one end and an eye at the other: a large hook, or a wooden bracket used to keep loose tackle or spars in a convenient place. [Prob. Dut. bogt, bocht, a 'bend' of

English · e-37683-2468

Beckon

Beckon, bek′n, v.t. to nod or make a sign to. [A.S. bíecnan—béacn, a sign. See Beacon.]

English · e-37683-2469 · brief source record

Becloud

Becloud, be-klowd′, v.t. to obscure by clouds: to dim.

English · e-37683-2470 · brief source record

Become

Become, be-kum′, v.i. to pass from one state to another: to come to be: to be the fate or end of (followed by of).—v.t. to suit or befit, to grace or adorn fittingly (with dat. object):—pa.t. becāme′; pa.p. become′.—adj.

English · e-37683-2471

Becurl

Becurl, be-kurl′, v.t. to curl.

English · e-37683-2472 · brief source record

Bed

Bed, bed, n. a couch or place to sleep on: a plot in a garden: a place in which anything rests, in carpentry, architecture, &c.: conjugal union, the marriage-bed, matrimonial rights and duties: the channel of a river: (g

English · e-37683-2473

Bedabble

Bedabble, be-dab′l, v.t. to dabble or wet. [Pfx. be-, and Dabble.]

English · e-37683-2474 · brief source record

Bedad

Bedad, be-dad′, interj. an Irish minced oath, from begad = by God.

English · e-37683-2475 · brief source record

Bedaggle

Bedaggle, be-dag′l, v.t. to soil by dragging along the wet ground.

English · e-37683-2476 · brief source record

Bedarken

Bedarken, be-dark′n, v.t. to cover with darkness.

English · e-37683-2477 · brief source record

Bedash

Bedash, be-dash′, v.t. to bespatter with water.

English · e-37683-2478 · brief source record

Bedaub

Bedaub, be-dawb′, v.t. to daub over or smear with any dirty matter.

English · e-37683-2479 · brief source record

Bedazzle

Bedazzle, be-daz′l, v.t. to dazzle or overpower by any strong light.—pa.p. Bedaz′zled, Bedazed′, stupefied, besotted.—n. Bedaz′zlement.

English · e-37683-2480

Bede

Bede. Same as Bead, a prayer.

English · e-37683-2481 · brief source record

Bedeafen

Bedeafen, be-def′n, v.t. to make deaf: to stun.

English · e-37683-2482 · brief source record

Bedeck

Bedeck, be-dek′, v.t. to deck or ornament.

English · e-37683-2483 · brief source record

Bedeguar

Bedeguar, bed′e-gar, n. a soft spongy gall found on the branches of some species of roses, esp. the sweet-brier, called also the sweet-brier sponge. [Through Fr. from Pers. and Ar. bādā-war, lit. 'wind-brought.']

English · e-37683-2484

Bedel

Bedel, bē′dl, Bedell, be-del′, archaic forms of Beadle (q.v.), still used at Oxford and Cambridge.

English · e-37683-2485 · brief source record

Bedesman

Bedesman. Same as Beadsman (q.v. under Bead).

English · e-37683-2486 · brief source record

Bedevil

Bedevil, be-dev′il, v.t. to throw into confusion: to 'play the devil' with: to torment: to treat with devilish malignity.—pass. to be possessed of a devil, to be devil-rid.—n. Bedev′ilment.

English · e-37683-2487

Bedew

Bedew, be-dū′, v.t. to moisten gently, as with dew.

English · e-37683-2488 · brief source record

Bedight

Bedight, be-dīt′, adj. (poet.) adorned. [Pfx. be-, and Dight.]

English · e-37683-2489 · brief source record

Bedim

Bedim, be-dim′, v.t. to make dim or dark.—pa.p. Bedimmed′.

English · e-37683-2490 · brief source record

Bedizen

Bedizen, be-dīz′n, v.t. to dress gaudily.—adj. Bediz′ened.—n. Bediz′enment.

English · e-37683-2491 · brief source record

Bedlam

Bedlam, bed′lam, n. an asylum for lunatics: a madhouse: a place of uproar.—adj. fit for a madhouse.—ns. Bed′lamism, anything characteristic of madness; Bed′lamite, a madman. [Corrupted from Bethlehem (St Mary of Bethlehe

English · e-37683-2492

Bedouin

Bedouin, bed′ōō-in, n. the name given to those Arabs who live in tents and lead a nomadic life. [Fr.—Ar. bādāwin, dwellers in the desert.]

English · e-37683-2493

Bedraggle

Bedraggle, be-drag′l, v.t. to soil by dragging in the wet or dirt—most common, the p.adj. Bedrag′gled. [See Draggle.]

English · e-37683-2494 · brief source record

Bedral

Bedral, bed′ral, n. a beadle.—Also Bed′eral. [A Scand. form of Beadle.]

English · e-37683-2495 · brief source record

Bedrench

Bedrench, be-drensh′, v.t. to drench or wet thoroughly.

English · e-37683-2496 · brief source record

Bedrop

Bedrop, be-drop′, v.t. to drop upon.—pa.p. Bedropt′, sprinkled as with drops: strewn.

English · e-37683-2497 · brief source record

Beduck

Beduck, be-duk′, v.t. to duck or plunge under water.

English · e-37683-2498 · brief source record

Beduin

Beduin, a form of Bedouin.

English · e-37683-2499 · brief source record

Bedung

Bedung, be-dung′, v.t. to manure: to befoul with dung.

English · e-37683-2500 · brief source record

Bedust

Bedust, be-dust′, v.t. to cover with dust.

English · e-37683-2501 · brief source record

Bedwarf

Bedwarf, be-dwawrf′, v.t. to make dwarfish.

English · e-37683-2502 · brief source record

Bedye

Bedye, be-dī′, v.t. (Spens.) to dye or stain.

English · e-37683-2503 · brief source record

Bee

Bee, bē, n. a four-winged insect that makes honey: (U.S.) a gathering of persons to unite their labour for the benefit of one individual or family, or for some joint amusement or exercise, as 'a quilting bee,' 'a husking

English · e-37683-2504

Beech

Beech, bēch, n. a common forest tree with smooth silvery-looking bark and small edible nuts.—adj. Beech′en.—ns. Beech′-mast, the mast or nuts of the beech-tree, which yield a valuable oil; Beech′-oil, oil expressed from

English · e-37683-2505

Beef

Beef, bēf, n. the flesh of an ox or cow:—pl. Beeves, used in original sense, oxen.—adj. consisting of beef.—ns. Beef′-eat′er (bēf′-ēt′ėr), a popular name for a yeoman of the sovereign's guard, also of the warders of the

English · e-37683-2506

Beelzebub

Beelzebub, bē-el′ze-bub, n. the name under which the Philistines at Ekron worshipped their god Baal or Bel: (New Test.) the prince of the evil spirits. [Heb. ba'al z'būb, fly-lord.]

English · e-37683-2507

Been

Been, bēn, pa.p. of Be.

English · e-37683-2508 · brief source record

Beenah

Beenah, bē′na, n. a primitive form of marriage (the name taken from Ceylon) in which the man goes to live with his wife's family—he is an unimportant person in the family, and the children are not counted his, but belong

English · e-37683-2509

Beer

Beer, bēr, n. an alcoholic beverage made by fermentation from malted barley flavoured with hops. It was anciently distinguished from ale by being hopped; now beer is the generic name of malt liquor, including ale and por

English · e-37683-2510

Beestings

Beestings, bēst′ingz, n. the first milk drawn from a cow after calving. [A.S. býsting, béost; Ger. and Dut. biest.]

English · e-37683-2511 · brief source record

Beet

Beet, bēt, n. a plant with a carrot-shaped succulent root, eaten as food, from which sugar is extracted.—ns. Beet′-fly, a two-winged insect, which deposits its eggs on beet or mangel-wurzel, and whose larvæ are injurious

English · e-37683-2512

Beet

Beet, Bete, bēt, v.t. (obs. except dial.) to improve, mend, to kindle a fire, to rouse. [A.S. bóetan, bétan; cf. bót, Boot.]

English · e-37683-2513

Beetle

Beetle, bē′tl, n. an order of insects technically known as Coleoptera, usually with four wings, the front pair forming hard and horny covers for those behind, which alone are used in flight.—The Black Beetle or cockroach

English · e-37683-2514

Beetle

Beetle, bē′tl, n. a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges, crushing or beating down paving-stones, or the like: a wooden pestle-shaped utensil for mashing potatoes, beating linen, &c.—n. Bee′tle-head, a heavy, stup

English · e-37683-2515

Beetle-browed

Beetle-browed, bē′tl-browd, adj. with overhanging or prominent brow: scowling.—v.i. Bee′tle, to jut, to hang over—first used by Shakespeare.—n. Beet′ling.—p.adj. jutting out: prominent: overhanging. [Dr Murray notes that

English · e-37683-2516

Beeves

Beeves, bēvz, n.pl. cattle, oxen. [See Beef.]

English · e-37683-2517 · brief source record

Befall

Befall, be-fawl′, v.t. to fall or happen to: to occur to.—v.i. to happen or come to pass: (Spens.) to fall in one's way:—pr.p. befall′ing; pa.t. befell′; pa.p. befall′en. [A.S. befeallan. See Fall.]

English · e-37683-2518

Befana

Befana, Beffana, be-fä′na, n. an Epiphany present or gift—a corruption of Epiphania, which name in Italy has become personified for children as a toy-bringing witch or fairy called La Befana.

English · e-37683-2519

Befit

Befit, be-fit′, v.t. to fit, or be suitable to: to be proper to, or right for:—pr.p. befit′ting; pa.p. befit′ted.—adj. Befit′ting.—adv. Befit′tingly. [Pfx. be-, and Fit.]

English · e-37683-2520

Beflower

Beflower, be-flow′ėr, v.t. to cover or besprinkle with flowers.

English · e-37683-2521 · brief source record

Befoam

Befoam, be-fōm′, v.t. to bespatter or cover with foam.

English · e-37683-2522 · brief source record

Befogged

Befogged, be-fogd′, adj. enveloped in fog: confused.

English · e-37683-2523 · brief source record

Befool

Befool, be-fōōl′, v.t. to make a fool of, or deceive: to treat as a fool.

English · e-37683-2524 · brief source record

Before

Before, be-fōr′, prep. in front of (time or place): in presence or sight of (Before God): under the cognisance of, as in before the court, the magistrate, or the house: previous to: in preference to: superior to.—adv. in

English · e-37683-2525

Befortune

Befortune, be-for′tūn, v.t. (Shak.) to happen to, to befall.

English · e-37683-2526 · brief source record

Befoul

Befoul, be-fowl′, v.t. to make foul: to soil.

English · e-37683-2527 · brief source record

Befriend

Befriend, be-frend′, v.t. to act as a friend to: to favour.

English · e-37683-2528 · brief source record

Befringe

Befringe, be-frinj′, v.t. to adorn with fringes.

English · e-37683-2529 · brief source record

Beg

Beg. Same as Bey.

English · e-37683-2530 · brief source record

Beg

Beg, beg, v.i. to ask alms or charity, esp. habitually (with of, from; for, of the thing asked).—v.t. to ask earnestly: to beseech: to pray: to take for granted what ought to have been proved, esp. in the phrase in logic

English · e-37683-2531

Begad

Begad, be-gad′, interj. a minced oath, softened from 'By God.'

English · e-37683-2532 · brief source record

Began

Began, bē-gan′, pa.t. of Begin.

English · e-37683-2533 · brief source record

Begem

Begem, be-jem′, v.t. to adorn, as with gems.

English · e-37683-2534 · brief source record

Beget

Beget, be-get′, v.t. to produce or cause: to generate: to produce as an effect, to cause:—pr.p. beget′ting; pa.t. begat′, begot′; pa.p. begot′, begot′ten.—n. Beget′ter, one who begets: a father: the agent that occasions

English · e-37683-2535

Beghard

Beghard. See Beg.

English · e-37683-2536 · brief source record

Begift

Begift, be-gift′, v.t. to present with gifts.

English · e-37683-2537 · brief source record

Begild

Begild, be-gild′, v.t. to gild: to cover or overlay with gold-leaf.

English · e-37683-2538 · brief source record

Begin

Begin, be-gin′, v.i. to take rise: to enter on something new: to commence.—v.t. to enter on: to commence (with at, with, upon):—pr.p. begin′ning; pa.t. began′; pa.p. begun′.—ns. Begin′ner, one who begins: one who is begi

English · e-37683-2539

Begird

Begird, be-gird′, v.t. to gird or bind with a girdle; to surround or encompass (with):—pa.t. begirt′, begird′ed; pa.p. begirt′. [A.S. begyrdan. See Gird.]

English · e-37683-2540

Beglerbeg

Beglerbeg, bėg′lėr-bėg, n. the governor of a Turkish province, in rank next to the grand vizier. [Turk., lit. 'bey of beys.']

English · e-37683-2541

Begloom

Begloom, be-glōōm′, v.t. to render gloomy.

English · e-37683-2542 · brief source record

Begnaw

Begnaw, be-naw′, v.t. to gnaw or bite, to eat away.

English · e-37683-2543 · brief source record

Begone

Begone, be-gon′, interj. lit. be gone! be off! get away! In Woe′-begone′, beset with woe, we have the pa.p. of A.S. begán, to go round, to beset.

English · e-37683-2544

Begonia

Begonia, be-gōn′ya, n. a genus of plants cultivated in our greenhouses for their pink flowers and their remarkable unequal-sided and often coloured leaves—'Elephant's Ears,' 'Angel's Wings.' [Named from the botanist Mich

English · e-37683-2545

Begored

Begored, be-gōrd′, adj. (Spens.) besmeared with gore.

English · e-37683-2546 · brief source record

Begot

Begot, be-got′, Begotten, be-got′n, pa.p. of Beget.

English · e-37683-2547 · brief source record

Begrime

Begrime, be-grīm′, v.t. to grime or soil deeply.

English · e-37683-2548 · brief source record

Begrudge

Begrudge, be-gruj′, v.t. to grudge: to envy any one the possession of.

English · e-37683-2549 · brief source record

Beguile

Beguile, be-gīl′, v.t. to cheat or deceive: to divert attention from anything tedious or painful: to divert or amuse: to wile any one into some course.—ns. Beguile′ment; Beguil′er.—adv. Beguil′ingly. [See Guile.]

English · e-37683-2550

Beguines

Beguines, beg′in (see Beg).—n. Beguinage (beg′in-āj), an establishment for Beguines.

English · e-37683-2551 · brief source record

Begum

Begum, bē′gum, n. a Hindu princess or lady of rank. [Urdu begam.]

English · e-37683-2552 · brief source record

Begun

Begun, be-gun′, pa.p. of Begin.

English · e-37683-2553 · brief source record

Behalf

Behalf, be-häf′, n. favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part—only in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E. behalve—A.S. be healfe, by the side. See Half.]

English · e-37683-2554

Behappen

Behappen, be-hap′n, v.t. (Spens.) to happen to.

English · e-37683-2555 · brief source record

Behave

Behave, be-hāv′, v.t. to bear or carry, to conduct (with self).—v.i. to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to act.—n. Behaviour (be-hāv′yür), conduct: manners or deportment, esp. good manners: general c

English · e-37683-2556

Behead

Behead, be-hed′, v.t. to cut off the head.—ns. Behead′al (rare); Behead′ing, the act of cutting off the head.

English · e-37683-2557 · brief source record

Beheld

Beheld, be-held′, pa.t. and pa.p. of Behold.

English · e-37683-2558 · brief source record

Behemoth

Behemoth, bē′he-moth, n. an animal described in the book of Job, usually taken to be the hippopotamus. [Either the pl. of Heb. behêmâh, a beast, or a Hebraistic form of the Egyptian p-ehe-mout, 'water-ox.']

English · e-37683-2559

Behest

Behest, be-hest′, n. command: charge. [A.S. behǽs, a promise. See Hest.]

English · e-37683-2560 · brief source record

Behight

Behight, be-hīt′, v.t. (Spens.) to promise, to entrust, to speak to, to command, to reckon or esteem to be:—pr.p. behīght′ing; pa.t. behōte′; pa.p. behīght.—n. (obs.) a vow, a promise. [A.S. behátan, be-, and hátan, to c

English · e-37683-2561

Behind

Behind, be-hīnd′, prep. at the back of (place, or as support): remaining after or coming after (time, rank, order): inferior to, or not so far advanced as.—adv. at the back, in the rear: backward: past.—adj. or adv. Behi

English · e-37683-2562

Behold

Behold, be-hōld′, v.t. to look upon: to contemplate.—v.i. to look: to fix the attention:—pa.t. and pa.p. beheld′.—imper. or interj. see! lo! observe!—adj. Behold′en, bound in gratitude: obliged (with to).—n. Behold′er, o

English · e-37683-2563

Behoof

Behoof, be-hōōf′, n. benefit: convenience (with to, for, on).

English · e-37683-2564 · brief source record

Behot

Behot, Behote (Spens.) pa.t. of Behight.

English · e-37683-2565 · brief source record

Behove

Behove, Behoove, be-hōōv, v.t. to be fit, right, or necessary for—now only used impersonally with it.—adj. Behove′ful, useful: profitable.—adv. Behove′fully (obs.). [M. E. behóf, dat. behove; A.S. behófian, to be fit, to

English · e-37683-2566

Behowl

Behowl, be-howl′, v.t. (Shak.) to howl at. Warburton first suggested this as an emendation for 'behold' in Midsummer Night's Dream, V. 379.

English · e-37683-2567

Beige

Beige, bāzh, n. a woollen fabric made of undyed wool. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-2568 · brief source record

Bein

Bein, bēn, adj. and adv. (Scot.) comfortable: well off: well found: (slang) good.—n. Bein′ness. [M. E. bene, of dubious origin; the derivation has been sought in Scand. beinn, or in L. bene, Fr. bien.]

English · e-37683-2569

Being

Being, bē′ing, n. existence: substance: essence: any person or thing existing.—adj. Bē′ing, existing, present.—adj. Bē′ingless.—n. Bē′ingness. [From the pr.p. of Be.]

English · e-37683-2570

Beinked

Beinked, bē-inkt′, p.adj. smeared with ink.

English · e-37683-2571 · brief source record

Bejade

Bejade, be-jād′, v.t. (obs.) to tire out.

English · e-37683-2572 · brief source record

Bejan

Bejan, bē′jan, n. a freshman at the universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews, and formerly in several continental universities. [Fr. bejaune, a novice, from bec jaune, 'yellow beak,' a term used for a nestling or unfledge

English · e-37683-2573

Bejesuit

Bejesuit, be-jėz′ū-it, v.t. to initiate or seduce into Jesuitism.

English · e-37683-2574 · brief source record

Bejewel

Bejewel, be-jōō′ėl, v.t. to deck with jewels.

English · e-37683-2575 · brief source record

Bekah

Bekah, bē′ka, n. (B.) a half-shekel (4.39 drs. avoir.). [Heb.]

English · e-37683-2576 · brief source record

Bekiss

Bekiss, be-kis′, v.t. to cover with kisses.

English · e-37683-2577 · brief source record

Beknave

Beknave, be-nāv′, v.t. to call or treat as a knave.

English · e-37683-2578 · brief source record

Beknown

Beknown, bē-nōn′, p.adj. known, acquainted.

English · e-37683-2579 · brief source record

Bel-accoyle

Bel-accoyle, bel-ak-koil′, n. (Spens.) favourable or kind reception. [O. Fr. bel acoil, fair welcome. See Accoil.]

English · e-37683-2581 · brief source record

Belabour

Belabour, be-lā′bur, v.t. to beat soundly.

English · e-37683-2580 · brief source record

Belace

Belace, be-lās′, v.t. to adorn with lace.

English · e-37683-2582 · brief source record

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