Betel
Betel, bē′tl, n. the betel-nut, or nut of the areca palm, with lime and the leaves of the Betel-Pepper, chewed by the Malays as a stimulant. [Through Port. from Malay vettila.]
English · e-37683-2783Historical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 15
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 15 of 179Bethankit
Bethankit, be-thank′it, Scotch for 'God be thanked.'
English · e-37683-2784 · brief source recordBethel
Bethel, beth′el, n. a hallowed spot, a name applied by some Methodists to their places of worship: an old ship fitted up in a port as a place of worship for sailors. [Heb. Bēth-ēl, house of God.]
English · e-37683-2785Bethink
Bethink, be-thingk′, v.t. to think on or call to mind: to recollect (generally followed by a reflective pronoun and of): to propose to one's self.—v.i. to consider:—pa.t. and pa.p. bethought (be-thawt′). [A.S. bithencan;
English · e-37683-2786Bethrall
Bethrall, be-thrawl′, v.t. (Spens.) to enslave.
English · e-37683-2787 · brief source recordBethumb
Bethumb, be-thum′, v.t. to mark with the thumbs:—pa.p. bethumbed′.
English · e-37683-2788 · brief source recordBethump
Bethump, be-thump′, v.t. to thump or beat soundly.
English · e-37683-2789 · brief source recordBethwack
Bethwack, be-thwak′, v.t. to thrash soundly.
English · e-37683-2790 · brief source recordBetide
Betide, be-tīd′, v.i. to happen to, to befall—in third person, and often impersonally, with dative object, now little used save in phrase, 'woe betide!': (rare) to betoken:—pa.p. (Shak.) Betid′. [See Tide.]
English · e-37683-2791Betime
Betime, be-tīm′, v.i. (Shak.) to betide.
English · e-37683-2792 · brief source recordBetimes
Betimes, be-tīmz′, adv. in good time: early: seasonably: speedily. [Pfx. be-, and Time, with adv. gen. -s; like besides from beside.]
English · e-37683-2793Betitle
Betitle, be-tī′tl, v.t. to give a name to.
English · e-37683-2794 · brief source recordBetoil
Betoil, be-toil′, v.t. to weary with toil.
English · e-37683-2795 · brief source recordBetoken
Betoken, be-tō′kn, v.t. to show by a sign: to foreshow. [See Token.]
English · e-37683-2796 · brief source recordBetony
Betony, bet′on-i, n. a common British labiate plant growing in woods, of great repute in ancient and medieval medicine, used to dye wool yellow. [Fr.—L. betonica, vettonica.]
English · e-37683-2797Betook
Betook, be-took′, pa.t. of Betake.
English · e-37683-2798 · brief source recordBetossed
Betossed, be-tost′, pa.p. (Shak.) agitated.
English · e-37683-2799 · brief source recordBetray
Betray, be-trā′, v.t. to give up treacherously: to disclose in breach of trust: to let go basely or weakly: to deceive the innocent and trustful, to seduce: to discover or show: to show signs of.—ns. Betray′al, act of be
English · e-37683-2800Betrim
Betrim, be-trim′, v.t. to trim or set in order, to deck, to dress.
English · e-37683-2801 · brief source recordBetrodden
Betrodden, be-trod′n, pa.t. and pa.p. of Betread′, to tread over or walk upon.
English · e-37683-2802 · brief source recordBetroth
Betroth, be-troth′, v.t. to contract or promise in order to marriage: to affiance: (obs.) to pledge one's self to any cause.—ns. Betroth′al, Betroth′ment, an agreement or contract with a view to marriage. [Pfx. be-, and
English · e-37683-2803Better
Better, bet′ėr, adj. (serves as comp. of Good) good in a greater degree: preferable: improved: more suitable: larger: kinder: stronger in health.—adv. (comp. of Well) well in a greater degree: more fully or completely: o
English · e-37683-2804Betty
Betty, bet′ti, n. a man who troubles himself with the women's work in a household: a slang name for a burglar's jemmy or jenny. [Betty, Bet, familiar abbrev. of Elizabeth.]
English · e-37683-2805Betumbled
Betumbled, be-tum′bld, adj. (Shak.) tumbled or disordered.
English · e-37683-2806 · brief source recordBetutor
Betutor, be-tū′tor, v.t. to tutor or instruct.
English · e-37683-2807 · brief source recordBetween
Between, be-twēn′, Betwixt, be-twikst′, prep. in the middle of two, of space, time, or degree: in the middle or intermediate space, to defend or separate: expressing reciprocal relation from one to another: by the joint
English · e-37683-2808Bevel
Bevel, bev′el, n. a slant or inclination of a surface: an instrument opening like a pair of compasses, and adjustable for measuring angles.—adj. having the form of a bevel: slanting.—v.t. to form with a bevel or slant:—p
English · e-37683-2809Bever
Bever, an obsolete form of Beaver.
English · e-37683-2810 · brief source recordBeverage
Beverage, bev′ėr-āj, n. drink: a mixture of cider and water: any agreeable liquor for drinking.—n. Be′ver, a small repast between meals: (obs.) a time for drinking.—v.i. to take such a repast. [O. Fr. bevrage (Fr. breuva
English · e-37683-2811Bevy
Bevy, bev′i, n. a brood or flock of birds, esp. of quails: a company, esp. of ladies. [M. E. bevey, prob. the same as O. Fr. bevee, buvee, drink, It. bevuta, a draught; the transference of sense being perh. from a drink
English · e-37683-2812Bewail
Bewail, be-wāl′, v.t. to lament: to mourn loudly over (esp. the dead).—v.i. to utter lamentations.—adjs. Bewail′able, Bewail′ing. [See Wail.]
English · e-37683-2813Beware
Beware, be-wār′, v.i. to be on one's guard: to be suspicious of danger: to take care (with of; with clause—lest, that, not, how). [From the words be and ware run together. See Wary.]
English · e-37683-2814Beweep
Beweep, be-wēp′, v.t. to weep over, to lament.—p.adj. Bewept′, disfigured by weeping.
English · e-37683-2815 · brief source recordBeweltered
Beweltered, be-wel′tėrd, p.adj. besmeared by weltering in blood. [Pfx. be-, and Welter.]
English · e-37683-2816 · brief source recordBewet
Bewet, be-wet′, v.t. (Shak.) to wet or moisten.
English · e-37683-2817 · brief source recordBewig
Bewig, be-wig′, to cover with a wig.—p.adj. Bewigged′.
English · e-37683-2818 · brief source recordBewilder
Bewilder, be-wil′dėr, v.t. to perplex or lead astray.—p.adj. Bewil′dered, lost, confused in mind, trackless.—adj. Bewil′dering.—adv. Bewil′deringly.—n. Bewil′derment, confusion, mental confusion: perplexity. [Pfx. be-, a
English · e-37683-2819Bewitch
Bewitch, be-wich′, v.t. to affect by witchcraft (mostly malignantly): to fascinate or charm.—ns. Bewitch′ery, Bewitch′ment.—adj. Bewitch′ing, charming, enchanting.—adv. Bewitch′ingly.
English · e-37683-2820Bewray
Bewray, be-rā′, v.t. (B.) to accuse: to point out: to betray or divulge unintentionally. [M. E. bewreien, be-, and A.S. wrégan, to accuse.]
English · e-37683-2821Bey
Bey, bā, n. a Turkish governor of a town or province. [Turk. beg, pronounced bā, a governor.]
English · e-37683-2822 · brief source recordBeyond
Beyond, be-yond′, prep. on the farther side of: farther onward than: out of reach of: past in time: above, superior to.—Beyond measure, excessively; Beyond seas, abroad; The back of beyond (De Quincey, &c.), a humorous p
English · e-37683-2823Bezant
Bezant, be-zant′, or bez′ant, n. a gold coin, first struck at Byzantium or Constantinople: (her.) a small circle or, like a gold coin.
English · e-37683-2824Bezel
Bezel, bez′l, n. the part of the setting of a precious stone which encloses it: the oblique side or face of a cut gem: the grooved flange or rim in which a watch-glass is set: the slope at the edge of a chisel or plane (
English · e-37683-2825Bezique
Bezique, be-zēk′, n. a game at cards for two, three, or four persons, played with two to four packs, from which cards with from two to six pips have been removed. The name Bezique itself is applied to the combination of
English · e-37683-2826Bezoar
Bezoar, bē′zōr, n. a stony concretion found in the stomachs of goats, antelopes, llamas, chamois, &c., formerly esteemed an antidote to all poisons. [Through Sp. bezaar and Ar. bāzahr, from Pers. pād-zahr, counter-poison
English · e-37683-2827Bezonian
Bezonian, be-zō′ni-an, n. (Shak.) a beggar, a low fellow. [It. bisogno; Sp. bisoño, Fr. bisogne.]
English · e-37683-2828 · brief source recordBezzle
Bezzle, bez′l, v.i. (obs.) to drink hard: to squander:—pr.p. bezz′ling; pa.p. bezz′led. [O. Fr. besiler. See Embezzle.]
English · e-37683-2829 · brief source recordBhang
Bhang, bang, n. the native name for the Indian preparation of hemp which is smoked or swallowed for its narcotic and intoxicating qualities—in Arabic known as hashish. [See Assassin. Hind. bhāng; Pers. bang; Sans. bhangā
English · e-37683-2830Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly, bī′-wēk′li, adj. properly, occurring once in two weeks, but usually twice in every week. [L. bi-, twice, and Week.]
English · e-37683-2999Bias
Bias, bī′as, n. a bulge or greater weight on one side of a bowl (in the game of bowling), making it slope or turn to one side: a slant or leaning to one side: a one-sided inclination of the mind, prejudice: any special i
English · e-37683-2831Biaxal
Biaxal, bī-aks′al, adj. having two optic axes.—Also Biaxial. [L. bi-, and Axial.]
English · e-37683-2832 · brief source recordBib
Bib, bib, n. a cloth put under an infant's chin: a similar article of dress for adults, worn over the breast or above the apron.—v.t. and v.i. to drink, to tipple.—adj. Bībā′cious.—ns. Bibā′tion, tippling; Bib′ber, a tip
English · e-37683-2833Bib
Bib, bib, n. a fish of the same genus as the cod and haddock, also called the Pout.
English · e-37683-2834 · brief source recordBibble-babble
Bibble-babble, bib′bl-bab′bl, n. (Shak.) idle talk. [Reduplication of Babble.]
English · e-37683-2835 · brief source recordBible
Bible, bī′bl, n. the sacred writings of the Christian Church, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.—adj. Bib′lical, of or relating to the Bible: scriptural.—adv. Bib′lically.—ns. Bib′licism, biblical doctrine, learni
English · e-37683-2836Bibliography
Bibliography, bib-li-og′raf-i, n. the description or knowledge of books, in regard to their authors, subjects, editions, and history.—n. Bibliog′rapher, one versed in bibliography or the history of books.—adj. Bibliograp
English · e-37683-2837Bibliolatry
Bibliolatry, bib-li-ol′at-ri, n. superstitious reverence for the Bible.—ns. Bibliol′atrist, Bibliol′ater, one given to bibliolatry. [Gr. biblion, a book, latreia, worship.]
English · e-37683-2838Bibliology
Bibliology, bib-li-ol′ō-ji, n. an account of books: biblical literature, or theology. [Gr. biblion, a book, logos, discourse.]
English · e-37683-2839Bibliomancy
Bibliomancy, bib′li-ō-man-si, n. divination by selecting passages of the Bible at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events. [Gr. biblion, a book, manteia, divination.]
English · e-37683-2840Bibliomania
Bibliomania, bib-li-ō-mān′i-a, n. a mania for possessing rare and curious books.—n. Bibliomān′iac, one who has a mania for possessing rare and curious books.—adj. Bibliomanī′acal. [Gr. biblion, a book, and Mania.]
English · e-37683-2841Bibliophile
Bibliophile, bib′li-ō-fīl, n. a lover of books, esp. a collector of rare books. [Fr.—Gr. biblion, a book, philos, friend.]
English · e-37683-2842Bibliopole
Bibliopole, bib′li-ō-pōl, n. a bookseller.—Also Bibliop′olist. [Gr. biblion, a book, pōleein, to sell.]
English · e-37683-2843 · brief source recordBibulous
Bibulous, bib′ū-lus, adj. drinking or sucking in: spongy. [L. bibulus—bib-ĕre, to drink.]
English · e-37683-2844 · brief source recordBicameral
Bicameral, bī-kam′ėr-al, adj. having two chambers. [L. bi-, twice, and camera, chamber.]
English · e-37683-2845 · brief source recordBicarbonate
Bicarbonate, bī-kär′bon-āt, n. a carbonate or salt having two equivalents of carbonic acid to one equivalent of base. [L. bi-, twice, and Carbonate.]
English · e-37683-2846Bice
Bice, bīs, n. a pale blue or green paint. [Fr. bis.]
English · e-37683-2847 · brief source recordBicentenary
Bicentenary, bī-sen′te-na-ri, Bicentennial, bī-sen-ten′ni-al, adj. pertaining to the two hundredth.—n. the two hundredth anniversary.
English · e-37683-2848Bicephalous
Bicephalous, bī-sef′al-us, adj. double-headed. [L. bis, twice, and Gr. kēphalē, head.]
English · e-37683-2849 · brief source recordBiceps
Biceps, bī′seps, n. the muscle in front of the arm between the shoulder and elbow. [L. biceps, two-headed—bis, twice, and caput, head.]
English · e-37683-2850Bichromate
Bichromate, bī-krō′māt, adj. having two parts of chromic acid to one of other ingredients. [L. bis, twice, and Chromate.]
English · e-37683-2851Bicipital
Bicipital, bī-sip′it-al, adj. (anat.) having two heads or origins.—Earlier form Bicip′itous.
English · e-37683-2852 · brief source recordBicker
Bicker, bik′ėr, v.i. to contend in a petty way: to quiver: to move quickly and tremulously, as running water.—n. a fight, a quarrel: a clattering noise: a short run.—n. Bick′erment (Spens.), bickering, strife. [Acc. to S
English · e-37683-2853Bicker
Bicker, bik′ėr, n. a bowl for holding liquor, esp. of wood: a vessel made of wooden staves for holding porridge. [Scot. form of Beaker.]
English · e-37683-2854Biconcave
Biconcave, bī-kon′kāv, adj. concave on both sides. [L. bi-, twice, and Concave.]
English · e-37683-2855 · brief source recordBiconvex
Biconvex, bī-kon′veks, adj. convex on both sides. [L. bi-, twice, and Convex.]
English · e-37683-2856 · brief source recordBicorporate
Bicorporate, bī-kor′por-āt, adj. (her.) double-bodied, as the head of a lion to which two bodies are attached. [L. bis, twice, and Corporate.]
English · e-37683-2857Bicuspid
Bicuspid, bī-kus′pid, adj. having two cusps: a pre-molar tooth. [L. bi-, twice, and Cusp.]
English · e-37683-2858 · brief source recordBicycle
Bicycle, bī′si-kl, n. a cycle or velocipede with two wheels furnished with rubber tires, arranged one before the other, impelled by pedals, and steered by transverse handles affixed to the front wheel—also Bike (colloq.)
English · e-37683-2859Bid
Bid, bid, v.t. to offer: to propose: to proclaim, as the banns of marriage: to invite: to command: to make an offer, and to increase the amount offered for a thing—at an auction:—pr.p. bid′ding; pa.t. bid or bade; pa.p.
English · e-37683-2860Bid
Bid, bid, v.t. to ask for: (nearly obs.): to pray. [A.S. biddan; Goth. bidjan; Ger. bitten; the connection with Bid, to command, is dub. See Bead.]
English · e-37683-2861Bide
Bide, bīd, v.t. and v.i. same as Abide, to wait for.—n. Bid′ing (Shak.), residence, habitation. [A.S. bídan; Goth. beidan.]
English · e-37683-2862Bidentate
Bidentate, bī-dent′āt, adj. having two teeth.—Also Bident′al. [L. bi-; twice, dens, dentis, a tooth.]
English · e-37683-2863 · brief source recordBield
Bield, bēld, n. (Wordsworth) shelter: protection. [Scot.; conn. with Bold.]
English · e-37683-2864 · brief source recordBiennial
Biennial, bī-en′yal, adj. lasting two years: happening once in two years.—n. a plant that lasts two years.—adv. Bienn′ially. [L. biennalis—bi-, twice, and annus, a year.]
English · e-37683-2865Bier
Bier, bēr, n. a carriage or frame of wood for bearing the dead to the grave. [A.S. bǽr; Ger. bahre, L. fer-etrum. From root of verb Bear.]
English · e-37683-2866Biestings
Biestings. Same as Beestings.
English · e-37683-2867 · brief source recordBifacial
Bifacial, bī-fā′shyal, adj. having two like faces or opposite surfaces. [L. bi-, twice, and Facial.]
English · e-37683-2868 · brief source recordBiffins
Biffins, bif′inz, n. apples slowly dried in bakers' ovens and flattened into cakes—prepared in great quantities in Norfolk. [Said to be properly beefins, because like raw beef.]
English · e-37683-2869Bifidate
Bifidate, bif′id-āt, adj. (bot.) cleft in two.—Also Bif′id. [L. bifidus—bi-, bis, twice, and findĕre, perf. fidi, to cleave or split.]
English · e-37683-2870Biflorate
Biflorate, bī-flō′rāt, adj. bearing two flowers. [L. bi-, twice, and flos, floris, a flower.]
English · e-37683-2871 · brief source recordBifold
Bifold, bī′fōld, adj. twofold: (Shak.) of two kinds. [L. bi-, twice, and Fold.]
English · e-37683-2872 · brief source recordBifoliate
Bifoliate, bī-fō′li-āt, adj. having two leaves. [L. bi-, twice, and Foliate.]
English · e-37683-2873 · brief source recordBiform
Biform, bī′form, adj. having two forms. [L. bi-, twice, and Form.]
English · e-37683-2874 · brief source recordBifurcate
Bifurcate, bī-fur′kāt, Bifurcated, bī-fur′kāt-ed, adj. two-forked; having two prongs or branches.—n. Bifurcā′tion, a forking or division into two branches. [L. bifurcus—bi-, bis, twice, furca, a fork.]
English · e-37683-2875Big
Big, big, adj. large or great: pregnant: great in air, mien, or spirit: loud: pompous, esp. 'to talk big,' 'look big.'—adjs. Big-bell′ied, having a big belly; pregnant (with); Big′gish, rather big.—ns. Big′ness, bulk, si
English · e-37683-2876Big
Big, big, v.t. (Scot.) to build, to pile up.—n. Big′gin, anything built, a house. [Sc. byggja; A.S. búian.]
English · e-37683-2877 · brief source recordBigamy
Bigamy, big′am-i, n. the crime of having two wives or two husbands at once.—n. Big′amist, one who has committed bigamy. [Fr.—L. bi-, bis, twice, and Gr. gamos, marriage.]
English · e-37683-2878Bigg
Bigg, big, n. a kind of barley. [Scand.; Ice. bygg, Dan. byg.]
English · e-37683-2879 · brief source recordBiggin
Biggin, big′in, n. a child's cap or hood. [Fr. béguin, from the cap worn by the Beguines, a religious society of women in France.]
English · e-37683-2880Bight
Bight, bīt, n. a bend of the shore, or small bay: a bend or coil of a rope. [A.S. byht; cf. Dan. and Sw. bugt, Dut. bocht; from būgan, to bow.]
English · e-37683-2881Bignonia
Bignonia, big-nō′ni-a, n. a genus of tropical plants with trumpet-shaped flowers, named from the Abbé Bignon, Louis XIV.'s librarian.
English · e-37683-2882Bigot
Bigot, big′ot, n. one blindly and obstinately devoted to a particular creed or party.—adj. Big′oted, having the qualities of a bigot.—n. Big′otry, blind or excessive zeal, esp. in religious matters. [O. Fr.; of dub. orig
English · e-37683-2883Bijou
Bijou, be-zhōō′, n. a trinket: a jewel: a little box:—pl. Bijoux (be-zhōō′).—n. Bijou′try, jewellery: small articles of virtu. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-2884Bike
Bike, bīk, n. a nest of wasps, wild bees, &c.: a swarm of people. [Scot.; ety. dub.]
English · e-37683-2885 · brief source recordBike
Bike. See Bicycle.
English · e-37683-2886 · brief source recordBilabiate
Bilabiate, bī-lā′bi-āt, adj. having two lips, as some corollas. [L. bi-, twice, and Labiate.]
English · e-37683-2887 · brief source recordBilander
Bilander, bī′land-ėr, n. a two-masted hoy, having her mainsail bent to the whole length of her yard, hanging fore and aft, and inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 45º.—Also By′lander. [Dut. bijlander.]
English · e-37683-2888Bilateral
Bilateral, bī-lat′ėr-al, adj. having two sides.—adv. Bilat′erally. [L. bi-, twice, and Lateral.]
English · e-37683-2889 · brief source recordBilberry
Bilberry, bil′ber-i, n. called also Whortleberry, a shrub and its berries, which are dark blue. [Cf. Dan. böllebær; Scot. blaeberry; Ger. blaubeere.]
English · e-37683-2890Bilbo
Bilbo, bil′bō, n. a rapier or sword:—pl. Bilboes (bil′bōz), fetters. [From Bilbao, in Spain.]
English · e-37683-2891 · brief source recordBile
Bile, bīl, n. a thick bitter fluid secreted by the liver—yellow in man and carnivorous animals, green in vegetable feeders: (fig.) ill-humour.—n. Bile′-duct, the duct which conveys the bile from the liver and the gall-bl
English · e-37683-2892Bilge
Bilge, bilj, n. the bulging part of a cask: the broadest part of a ship's bottom.—v.i. to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge, as a ship.—ns. Bilge′-pump; Bilge′-wat′er.—adj. Bilg′y, having the appearance and disagr
English · e-37683-2893Bilharzia
Bilharzia, bil′här-zi-a, n. a human parasitic flat worm in the fluke or Trematode order, with differentiated sexes. [From the helminthologist, Theodor Bilharz.]
English · e-37683-2894Bilingual
Bilingual, bī-ling′wal, adj. of or containing two tongues or languages.—Also Bilin′guar. [L. bilinguis—bi-, twice, lingua, tongue.]
English · e-37683-2895Biliteral
Biliteral, bī-lit′ėr-al, adj. consisting of two letters. [L. bi-, twice, and litera, a letter.]
English · e-37683-2896 · brief source recordBilk
Bilk, bilk, v.t. to elude; to cheat. [Perh. a dim. of Balk; at first a term in cribbage.]
English · e-37683-2897 · brief source recordBill
Bill, bil, n. a kind of concave battle-axe with a long wooden handle: a kind of hatchet with a long blade and wooden handle in the same line with it, often with a hooked point, used in cutting thorn hedges or in pruning.
English · e-37683-2898Bill
Bill, bil, n. the beak of a bird, or anything like it, applied even to a sharp promontory, as Portland Bill: the point of the fluke of an anchor—hence Bill′-board, n., used to protect the planking from being injured by t
English · e-37683-2899Bill
Bill, bil, n. an account of money: a draft of a proposed law: a written engagement to pay a sum of money at a fixed date: a placard or advertisement: any written statement of particulars: in the criminal law of England,
English · e-37683-2900Billet
Billet, bil′et, n. a little note or paper: a ticket assigning quarters to soldiers.—v.t. to quarter or lodge, as soldiers. [Fr.; dim. of Bill.]
English · e-37683-2901Billet
Billet, bil′et, n. a small log of wood used as fuel: (archit.) an ornament in Norman architecture resembling billets of wood.—n. Bill′et-head, a billet or round piece of wood fixed in the bow or stern of a whale-boat, ro
English · e-37683-2902Billet-doux
Billet-doux, bil-e-dōō′, n. a sweet note: a love-letter. [Fr. billet, a letter, doux, sweet.]
English · e-37683-2903 · brief source recordBilliards
Billiards, bil′yardz, n. a game played with a cue or mace and balls on a table having pockets at the sides and corners.—adj. Bill′iard.—n. Bill′iard-mark′er, a person who marks the points made by the players. [Fr. billar
English · e-37683-2904Billingsgate
Billingsgate, bil′ingz-gāt, n. foul and abusive language like that once familiar to the ear at Billingsgate (the great fish-market of London).
English · e-37683-2905Billion
Billion, bil′yun, n. a million or thousand thousand of millions (1,000,000,000,000); or, according to the French method of numeration, one thousand millions (1,000,000,000). [L. bi-, twice, and Million.]
English · e-37683-2906Billon
Billon, bil′on, n. base metal: esp. an alloy of silver with copper, tin, or the like. [Fr., from same root as Billet.]
English · e-37683-2907 · brief source recordBillow
Billow, bil′ō, n. a great wave of the sea swelled by the wind: (poet.) a wave, the sea.—v.i. to roll in large waves.—adjs. Bill′owed, Bill′owy. [Scand.; Ice. bylgja; Sw. bölja, Dan. bölge, a wave. See Bilge, Bulge.]
English · e-37683-2908Billy
Billy, Billie, bil′i, n. a comrade, a companion-in-arms: an Australian bushman's boiling-pan or tea-pot:—pl. Bill′ies.—n. Bill′y-goat, a he-goat. [Prob. from Bill, a familiar abbrev. of William.]
English · e-37683-2909Billyboy
Billyboy, bil′i-boi, n. a bluff-bowed one-masted trading-vessel. [Prob. conn. with Bilander.]
English · e-37683-2910 · brief source recordBillycock
Billycock, bil′i-kok, n. a man's low-crowned felt hat. [From bully-cocked, i.e. cocked like the bullies.]
English · e-37683-2911 · brief source recordBilobed
Bilobed, bī′lōbd, Bilobular, bī-lob′ū-lar, adj. having two lobes. [L. bi-, twice, and lobe, a Lobule.]
English · e-37683-2912 · brief source recordBilocation
Bilocation, bī-lok-ā′shun, n. the power of being in two places at the same time. [Coined from bi-, twice, and Location.]
English · e-37683-2913Bilocular
Bilocular, bī-lok′ū-lar, adj. divided into two cells. [L. bi-, twice, and L. loculus, dim. of locus, place.]
English · e-37683-2914 · brief source recordBimana
Bimana, bīm′an-a, or bim′an-a, n. a term used by Blumenbach, Cuvier, &c., to describe the human species in contrast to other mammals—now rarely used, men and monkeys being now zoologically united in the old Linnæan order
English · e-37683-2915Bimensal
Bimensal, bī-mens′al, adj. happening once in two months: bimonthly.—adj. Bimes′trial, of two months' duration. [L. bi-, and mensis, a month.]
English · e-37683-2916Bimetallism
Bimetallism, bī-met′al-izm, n. the name given to a monetary system in which gold and silver are on precisely the same footing as regards mintage and legal tender.—adj. Bimetal′lic, adapted to that standard.—n. and adj. B
English · e-37683-2917Bimonthly
Bimonthly, bī-munth′li, adj. once in two months; also twice a month. [L. bi-, two, and Month.]
English · e-37683-2918 · brief source recordBin
Bin, bin, n. a place for storing corn, wine. [A.S. binn, a manger.]
English · e-37683-2919 · brief source recordBin
Bin, bin, (Shak.) used for Be and Been.
English · e-37683-2920 · brief source recordBinary
Binary, bī′nar-i, adj. composed of two: twofold.—adjs. Bī′nate, growing in pairs: double; Binaur′al, having two ears: needing the use of both ears.—Binary scale (math.), the scale of notation whose radix or base is 2 (in
English · e-37683-2921Bind
Bind, bīnd, v.t. to tie or fasten together with a band (with to, upon): to encircle round (with about, with): to sew a border on: to tie up or bandage a limb, or the like: to fasten together (the leaves of a book) and pu
English · e-37683-2922Binervate
Binervate, bī-nėrv′āt, adj. (bot.) applied to leaves that have two ribs or nerves: (entom.) having the wings supported by two nerves. [L. bi-, bis, twice, and Nerve.]
English · e-37683-2923Bing
Bing, bing, n. a heap or pile, often applied like Bin. [Scand.]
English · e-37683-2924 · brief source recordBingo
Bingo, bing′ō, n. a familiar name for brandy. [Prob. B, and stingo.]
English · e-37683-2925 · brief source recordBink
Bink, bingk, n. a Scotch form of Bench.
English · e-37683-2926 · brief source recordBinnacle
Binnacle, bin′a-kl, n. (naut.) the box in which on shipboard the compass is kept. [Formerly bittacle—Port. bitácola—L. habitaculum, a dwelling-place—habit-āre, to dwell.]
English · e-37683-2927Binocle
Binocle, bin′o-kl, n. a telescope through which an object can be viewed with both eyes at the same time.—adj. Binoc′ular, having two eyes: suitable for two eyes.—adv. Binoc′ularly. [L. bini, two by two, oculus, an eye.]
English · e-37683-2928Binomial
Binomial, bī-nōm′i-al, adj. and n. (alg.) a quantity consisting of two terms or parts, as a+b.—Binomial theorem, a series of analytical formulæ by which any power of a binomial can be expressed and developed. [L. bi-, bi
English · e-37683-2929Binturong
Binturong, bin′tū-rong, n. the native name for an Indian prehensile-tailed carnivore, akin to the civet.
English · e-37683-2930 · brief source recordBio-
Bio-, bī′ō, a prefix from Gr. bios, life, used in many scientific words to express having organic life.—adj. Biobibliograph′ical, dealing with the life and writings of any one.—n. Bī′oblast, a formative cell, a minute ma
English · e-37683-2931Biograph
Biograph, bī′o-graf, n. a name sometimes applied to a form of the zoetrope contrived so as to exhibit the successive movements of a living body, thus simulating life. [Gr. bios, life, graphein, to write, describe.]
English · e-37683-2932Biography
Biography, bī-og′raf-i, n. a written account or history of the life of an individual: the art of writing such accounts.—n. Biog′rapher, one who writes biography.—adjs. Biograph′ic, -al.—adv. Biograph′ically. [Gr. bios, l
English · e-37683-2933Biology
Biology, bī-ol′oj-i, n. the science that treats of life or of organised beings, which seeks to classify and generalise the multitude of phenomena presented by and peculiar to the living world.—adj. Biolog′ical.—adv. Biol
English · e-37683-2934Biotaxy
Biotaxy, bī′ō-tak-si, n. classification according to the sum of the morphological character. [Gr. bios, life, and Taxis.]
English · e-37683-2935Biotic
Biotic, bī-ot′ik, adj. pertaining to life. [Gr. bios, life.]
English · e-37683-2936 · brief source recordBiparous
Biparous, bip′ar-us, adj. bearing two at a birth. [L. bis, twice, par-ĕre, to bring forth.]
English · e-37683-2937 · brief source recordBipartite
Bipartite, bi′part-īt, or bī-pärt′īt, adj. divided into two like parts.—n. Biparti′tion, the act of dividing into two corresponding parts. [L. bi-, bis, twice, partitus, divided—part-īre, to divide.]
English · e-37683-2938Biped
Biped, bī′ped, n. an animal with two feet.—adjs. Bī′ped, Bī′pedal, having two feet. [L. bipes—bi-, bis, twice, ped-em, foot.]
English · e-37683-2939Bipennate
Bipennate, bī-pen′āt, Bipennated, bī-pen′āt-ed, adj. having two wings. [L. bi-, and Pennate.]
English · e-37683-2940 · brief source recordBipennis
Bipennis, bī-pen′nis, n. an axe with two blades, one on each side of the handle, usually seen depicted in the hands of the Amazons. [L.—bis, twice, penna, wing.]
English · e-37683-2941Bipetalous
Bipetalous, bī-pet′al-us, adj. having two petals or flower-leaves. [L. bi-, twice, and Petal.]
English · e-37683-2942 · brief source recordBipinnate
Bipinnate, bī-pin′nāt, adj. doubly pinnate. [L. bi-, twice, and Pinnate.]
English · e-37683-2943 · brief source recordBiquadratic
Biquadratic, bī-kwod-rat′ik, n. a quantity twice squared, or raised to the fourth power.—Biquadratic equation, an equation with one unknown quantity raised to the fourth power; Biquadratic root, the square root of the sq
English · e-37683-2944Biquintile
Biquintile, bī-kwin′til, n. (astron.) the aspect of planets when they are twice the fifth part (144 degrees) of a great circle from each other. [L. bi-, twice, quintus, the fifth.]
English · e-37683-2945Birch
Birch, bėrch, n. a hardy forest-tree, with smooth, white bark and very durable wood: a rod for punishment, consisting of a birch twig or twigs.—adjs. Birch, Birch′en, made of birch. [A.S. berc, bierce; Ice. björk, Sans.
English · e-37683-2946Bird
Bird, bėrd, n. a general name for feathered animals.—v.i. to catch or snare birds.—ns. Bird′-bolt (Shak.), a short thick bolt or arrow with a blunted point, used for killing birds without piercing them; Bird′-cage, a cag
English · e-37683-2947Bireme
Bireme, bī′rēm, n. an ancient vessel with two rows of oars. [Fr.—L. biremis—bi-, twice, and remus, an oar.]
English · e-37683-2948 · brief source recordBiretta
Biretta, bir-et′a, n. a square cap worn by clergy—by priests, black; bishops, purple; cardinals, red. [It. berretta—Low L. birretum, a cap.]
English · e-37683-2949Birk
Birk, bėrk, n. Scotch and prov. Eng. for Birch.—adj. Birk′en (Scot.), birchen.
English · e-37683-2950 · brief source recordBirkie
Birkie, birk′i, n. a strutting or swaggering fellow: a fellow generally.—adj. active. [Scot. A dubious connection with Scand. berkja, to bark, boast, has been suggested.]
English · e-37683-2951Birl
Birl, birl, v.t. to spin anything round: to throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.—v.i. to whirl round. [Scot., an onomatopœic word.]
English · e-37683-2952Birle
Birle, birl, v.t. and v.i. (Scot.) to ply with drink: to carouse.—ns. Birl′er (Cumberland); Birl′ing, the act of drawing liquor. [A.S. byrelian, byrele, a cup-bearer, beran, to bear.]
English · e-37683-2953Birlinn
Birlinn, bir′lin, n. a chief's barge in the Western Isles. [Gael.]
English · e-37683-2954 · brief source recordBirminghamise
Birminghamise, bir′ming-ham-īz, v.t. to make up artificially. [See Brummagem.]
English · e-37683-2955 · brief source recordBirostrate
Birostrate, bī-ros′trāt, adj. having a double beak. [L. bi-, twice, and rostratus, beaked—rostrum, a beak.]
English · e-37683-2956 · brief source recordBirr
Birr, bir, n. impetus: a violent push: stress in pronunciation: any sharp whirring sound. [Scot.; Ice. byrr, a favouring wind.]
English · e-37683-2957Birse
Birse, birs, n. bristle.—adj. Birs′y.—To lick the birse, to draw a hog's bristle through the mouth—part of the ceremony of citizenship in Selkirk; To set up one's birse, to rouse the wrath of, from the habit of animals b
English · e-37683-2958Birsle
Birsle, birs′l, v.t. to scorch, to toast. [Scot.]
English · e-37683-2959 · brief source recordBirth
Birth, bėrth, n. a ship's station at anchor. [Same as Berth.]
English · e-37683-2960 · brief source recordBirth
Birth, bėrth, n. the act of bearing or bringing forth: the offspring born: dignity of family: origin.—n. Birth′day, the day on which one is born, or the anniversary of that day.—adj. relating to the day of one's birth.—n
English · e-37683-2961Bis
Bis, bis, adv. twice: (mus.) a direction that a passage is to be repeated [L.].—n. Bīseg′ment, a segment of a line or figure cut into two equal parts.—adjs. Bīser′rate (bot.), doubly serrate; Bīsex′ual, of both sexes: (b
English · e-37683-2962Biscayan
Biscayan, bis′kā-an, adj. and n. of or pertaining to the Basque province of Biscay in Spain, or its people: Basque generally: a long heavy musket, or the bullet fired by such.
English · e-37683-2963Biscuit
Biscuit, bis′kit, n. hard dry bread in small cakes: a kind of unglazed earthenware. [O. Fr. bescoit (mod. biscuit)—L. bis, twice, coquĕre, coctum, to cook or bake.]
English · e-37683-2964Bise
Bise, bēz, n. a cold north or north-east wind prevalent at certain seasons in Switzerland and neighbouring parts of France and Italy. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-2965Bisect
Bisect, bī-sekt′, v.t. to cut into two equal parts.—n. Bisec′tion. [L. bi, twice, and secāre, sectum, to cut.]
English · e-37683-2966 · brief source recordBiserial
Biserial, bī-sē′ri-al, adj. arranged in two series or rows. [L. bi-, and Series.]
English · e-37683-2967 · brief source recordBishop
Bishop, bish′op, n. in the Western and Eastern Churches, and in the Anglican communion, a clergyman consecrated for the spiritual direction of a diocese, under an archbishop, and over the priests or presbyters and deacon
English · e-37683-2968Bisk
Bisk. See Bisque (1).
English · e-37683-2969 · brief source recordBismar
Bismar, bis′mar, n. a kind of steelyard still used in Orkney. [Dan. bismer.]
English · e-37683-2970 · brief source recordBismillah
Bismillah, bis-mil′a, interj. in the name of Allah or God—a common Mohammedan exclamation. [Ar.]
English · e-37683-2971 · brief source recordBismuth
Bismuth, biz′muth, n. a brittle metal of a reddish-white colour used in the arts and in medicine. [Ger. bismuth, wissmuth; origin unknown.]
English · e-37683-2972Bison
Bison, bī′son, or bis′on, n. a large wild animal like the bull, found in Lithuania, the Caucasus, &c., with shaggy hair and a fatty hump on its shoulders.—The American 'buffalo' is also a bison. [From L. pl. bisontes, pr
English · e-37683-2973Bisque
Bisque, bisk, n. a rich soup made of meat or fish slowly stewed and seasoned, crayfish soup.—Also Bisk. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-2974 · brief source recordBisque
Bisque, bisk, n. pottery that has undergone the first firing before being glazed. [See Biscuit.]
English · e-37683-2975 · brief source recordBisque
Bisque, bisk, n. a term at tennis for the odds given by one player to another, in allowing him to score one point once during the set—a means of equalising a strong and a weak player. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-2976Bissextile
Bissextile, bis-sext′il, n. leap-year.—adj. containing the Bissext (L. bissextus), or extra day which the Julian calendar inserts in leap-year—the sixth before the kalends of March, 24th February. [L. bis, twice, and sex
English · e-37683-2977Bisson
Bisson, bis′son, adj. (Shak.) blind, blinding. [A.S. bísene, blind.]
English · e-37683-2978 · brief source recordBistort
Bistort, bis′tort, n. a perennial plant with astringent properties (Polygonum bistorta), so named from its twisted roots, called also Snakeweed and Adder's Wort. [Fr.—L. bistorta; bis, twice, torta, twisted.]
English · e-37683-2979Bistoury
Bistoury, bis′tōōr-i, n. a narrow surgical knife for making incisions, having a straight, convex, or concave edge. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-2980Bistre
Bistre, Bister, bis′tėr, n. a pigment of a warm brown colour made from the soot of wood, esp. beechwood.—adj. Bis′tred. [Fr. bistré; origin unknown.]
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