Talion
Talion, tal′i-on, n. the law of retaliation.—adj. Talion′ic. [L. talio, like punishment—talis, of such kind.]
English · e-38700-4289 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 151
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.
Read the edition and extraction limits
- Historical scholarship from 1908; not current consensus or editorial verification.
- Historical text may contain offensive, obsolete or inaccurate language and classifications.
- Public-domain determination applies to the United States; other jurisdictions require separate confirmation.
- Chambers consulted earlier dictionaries including Skeat and the New English Dictionary; overlapping claims are not independent scholarly votes.
Coverage: the complete A–Z main-entry clusters and dictionary Addenda. Derivative words remain within their original entry clusters. Non-dictionary appendices and standalone illustrations are excluded.
United States Publisher marks these historical texts public domain in the USA. Transformed book text excludes Gutenberg branding; source attribution is a bibliographic acknowledgment. No non-US public-domain determination is made. Rights statement ↗
Browse the original entries
Page 151 of 179Taliped
Taliped, tal′i-ped, adj. club-footed: walking like the sloth.—n. a club-footed person.—n. Tal′ipes, a club-foot: club-footedness: the distorted formation of the feet of the sloth. [L. talus, the ankle, pes, the foot.]
English · e-38700-4290Talipot
Talipot, tal′i-pot, n. an East Indian palm with fan-shaped leaves.—Also Tal′iput, Tal′ipat. [Hind. tālpāt.]
English · e-38700-4291 · brief source recordTalisman
Talisman, tal′is-man, n. a species of charm engraved on metal or stone when two planets are in conjunction, or when a star is at its culminating point, and supposed to exert some protective influence over the wearer of i
English · e-38700-4292Talk
Talk, tawk, v.i. to speak familiarly: to prattle: to reason.—n. familiar conversation: that which is uttered in familiar intercourse: subject of discourse: rumour.—adjs. Talk′able, capable of talking, or of being talked
English · e-38700-4293Tall
Tall, tawl, adj. high, esp. in stature: lofty: long: sturdy: bold: courageous: great, remarkable: demanding much credulity, hardly to be believed.—n. Tall′ness. [Ety. very dub.; perh. conn. with W. tal, large.]
English · e-38700-4294Tallage
Tallage, tal′āj, n. a name applied to those taxes to which, under the Anglo-Norman kings, the demesne lands of the crown and all royal towns were subject—also Tall′iage.—v.t. to lay an impost upon—also Tall′iate.—adj. Ta
English · e-38700-4295Tallat
Tallat, tal′at, n. (prov.) a hay-loft.—Also Tall′ot, Tall′et.
English · e-38700-4296 · brief source recordTallith
Tallith, tal′ith, n. the mantle worn by the Jews at prayer. [Heb.]
English · e-38700-4297 · brief source recordTallow
Tallow, tal′ō, n. the fat of animals melted: any coarse, hard fat.—v.t. to grease with tallow.—ns. Tall′ow-can′dle, a candle made of tallow; Tall′ow-catch, -keech, (Shak.), a keech or lump of tallow: a low mean fellow; T
English · e-38700-4298Tally
Tally, tal′i, n. a stick cut or notched to match another stick, used to mark numbers or keep accounts by—(down to the beginning of the 19th century these were used in England for keeping accounts in Exchequer, answering
English · e-38700-4299Tally-ho
Tally-ho, tal′i-hō, interj. the huntsman's cry betokening that a fox has gone away: a four-in-hand pleasure-coach.—v.t. to urge on, as hounds.
English · e-38700-4300Talma
Talma, tal′ma, n. a woman's loose cloak, generally hooded: a similar form of overcoat for men. [From F. J. Talma, the actor (1763-1826).]
English · e-38700-4301Talmud
Talmud, tal′mud, n. the name of the fundamental code of the Jewish civil and canonical law, comprising the Mishna and the Gemara, the former as the text, the latter as the commentary and complement.—There are two Talmuds
English · e-38700-4302Talon
Talon, tal′on, n. the claw of a bird of prey.—adj. Tal′oned. [Fr. talon, through Low L., from L. talus, the heel.]
English · e-38700-4303 · brief source recordTalpa
Talpa, tal′pa, n. the chief genus of the family Talpidæ, the moles: an encysted tumour on the head, a wen. [L., a mole.]
English · e-38700-4304Taluk
Taluk, ta-lōōk′, n. in south and western India, a subdivision of a district presided over as regards revenue matters by a tahsīldār—in Bengal, a tract of proprietary land.—n. Taluk′dar. [Hind.]
English · e-38700-4305Talus
Talus, tā′lus, n. the ankle-bone: (arch.) a slope: (fort.) the sloping part of a work: (geol.) a sloping heap of fragments at the foot of a steep rock. [L.]
English · e-38700-4306Tam-o'-shanter
Tam-o'-shanter, tam-ō-shan′tėr, n. a broad bonnet. [From the hero of Burns's famous poem.]
English · e-38700-4326 · brief source recordTam-tam
Tam-tam. See Tom-tom.
English · e-38700-4331 · brief source recordTamal
Tamal, tä-mal′, n. a dish of crushed Indian corn highly seasoned, sold on the streets in Mexico, Texas, &c.—Also Tama′le. [Sp.]
English · e-38700-4307Tamandua
Tamandua, tä-man′dū-a, n. an arboreal ant-eater with prehensile tail.—n. Tamanoir (tam′a-nwor), the great ant-eater of tropical America. [Braz.]
English · e-38700-4308Tamanu
Tamanu, tam′a-nōō, n. a lofty gamboge tree of the East Indies and Pacific Islands, its trunk yielding tacamabac. [East Ind.]
English · e-38700-4309Tamara
Tamara, tam′a-ra, n. a condiment much used in Italy, made of powdered cinnamon, cloves, coriander, &c. [East Ind.]
English · e-38700-4310 · brief source recordTamarack
Tamarack, tam′a-rak, n. the American or black larch. [Amer. Ind]
English · e-38700-4311 · brief source recordTamarin
Tamarin, tam′a-rin, n. a small South American squirrel-monkey.
English · e-38700-4312 · brief source recordTamarind
Tamarind, tam′a-rind, n. a beautiful spreading East Indian tree, its pods filled with a pleasant, acidulous, sweet, reddish-black pulp, in which the seeds are embedded. [Tamarindus, Latinised from Ar. tamar-u'l Hind, 'da
English · e-38700-4313Tamarisk
Tamarisk, tam′ar-isk, n. a genus of Mediterranean evergreen shrubs with small white or pink flowers. [L. tamariscus.]
English · e-38700-4314 · brief source recordTambac
Tambac, tam′bak, n. agallochum or aloes-wood.—Also Tom′bac.
English · e-38700-4315 · brief source recordTamboo
Tamboo, Tambu. See Taboo.
English · e-38700-4316 · brief source recordTambour
Tambour, tam′bōōr, n. a small, shallow drum: a frame on which muslin or other material is stretched for embroidering: a rich kind of gold and silver embroidery: silk or other stuff embroidered on a tambour: a cylindrical
English · e-38700-4317Tambourine
Tambourine, tam-bōō-rēn′, n. a shallow drum with one skin and bells or jingles, and played on with the hand: a Provençal dance, also the music for such—(Spens.) Tam′burin. [Fr. tambourin, dim. of tambour.]
English · e-38700-4318Tame
Tame, tām, adj. having lost native wildness and shyness: domesticated: gentle: spiritless: without vigour: dull, flat, uninspiring: wonted, accustomed.—v.t. to reduce to a domestic state: to make gentle: to reclaim: to c
English · e-38700-4319Tamil
Tamil, tam′il, n. one of the Dravidian languages spoken in south-eastern India and the northern half of Ceylon, possessing a rich and varied literature: one of the Dravidian inhabitants of southern India and Ceylon.—adjs
English · e-38700-4320Tamin
Tamin, tam′in, n. a thin worsted stuff, highly glazed.—Also Tam′ine, Tam′iny, Tam′my.
English · e-38700-4321 · brief source recordTamise
Tamise, ta-mēz′, n. a trade name for various thin woollen fabrics.—n. Tam′is, a cloth for straining liquids.
English · e-38700-4322 · brief source recordTammany
Tammany, tam′a-ni, n. the Tammany Society, a Democratic organisation in New York, notorious for the corrupt influence it has exerted in city politics. [From the name of an Indian chief, Tammanend, who is said to have sig
English · e-38700-4323Tammuz
Tammuz, tam′uz, n. a Syrian deity, same as the Phœnician Adonis, a sun-god, worshipped with peculiar naturalistic rites by women among the Chaldæans, and even in Jerusalem (Ezek. viii. 14).
English · e-38700-4324Tammy-norie
Tammy-norie, tam′i-nō′ri, n. (Scot.) a sea-bird, the auk or puffin.
English · e-38700-4325 · brief source recordTamp
Tamp, tamp, v.t. to fill up, as a hole bored in a rock for blasting: to pack earth, &c., round, as a mine, to prevent an explosion in a wrong direction.—n. Tam′ping, the act of filling up a hole in a rock for blasting: t
English · e-38700-4327Tamper
Tamper, tam′pėr, v.i. to try the temper of: to try little experiments without necessity or authority: to meddle: to practise secretly and unfairly.—n. Tam′perer. [A by-form of temper.]
English · e-38700-4328Tampion
Tampion, tamp′i-un, n. the stopper used to close the mouth of a cannon or mortar.—Also Tom′pion. [O. Fr. tampon, tapon—tape, a tap—Dut. tap, a bung.]
English · e-38700-4329Tampon
Tampon, tamp′on, n. (surg.) a. plug inserted in a cavity of the body in order to arrest hæmorrhage.—v.t. to plug tightly.—ns. Tamponade′, Tam′ponage, Tam′poning, Tam′ponment. [Tampion.]
English · e-38700-4330Tan
Tan, tan, n. bark of the oak, &c., bruised and broken for tanning: a yellowish-brown colour.—v.t. to convert skins and hides into leather by steeping in vegetable solutions containing tannin: to make brown or tawny: to t
English · e-38700-4332Tana
Tana, tä′nä, n. a military or police station In India—also Tan′na, Than′nah.—ns. Tä′nadar, Tan′nadar, the commandant of a tana. [Hind. thāna.]
English · e-38700-4333Tanager
Tanager, tan′ā-jėr, n. any tanagrine bird, a member of the Tanagridæ, a family of the Passeriformes or perching birds, closely allied to the finches.—n. Tan′āgra, the name-giving genus of the family, now restricted to ab
English · e-38700-4334Tandem
Tandem, tan′dem, adv. applied to the position of horses harnessed singly one before the other instead of abreast.—n. a team of horses (usually two) so harnessed: a bicycle or tricycle on which two ride one before the oth
English · e-38700-4335Tane
Tane, tān, pa.p. ta'en, taken.
English · e-38700-4336 · brief source recordTang
Tang, tang, n. seaweed. [Tangle.]
English · e-38700-4337 · brief source recordTang
Tang, tang, n. a twang or sharp sound.—v.t. to cause to ring.—v.i. to ring. [Imit., like twang.]
English · e-38700-4338 · brief source recordTang
Tang, tang, n. a strong or offensive taste, esp. of something extraneous: relish: taste: specific flavour.—adj. Tang′y. [A special use of tang, point.]
English · e-38700-4339Tang
Tang, tang, n. a point, the tapering part of a knife or tool which goes into the haft. [Ice. tangi; cog. with tongs.]
English · e-38700-4340 · brief source recordTangent
Tangent, tan′jent, n. a line which touches a curve, and which when produced does not cut it.—ns. Tan′gency, Tan′gence, state of being tangent: a contact or touching.—adj. Tangen′tial, of or pertaining to a tangent: in th
English · e-38700-4341Tangerine
Tangerine, tan-je-rēn′, adj. relating to Tangiers on the Morocco coast.—n. a native of Tangiers: a Tangerine orange.
English · e-38700-4342 · brief source recordTanghin
Tanghin, tang′gin, n. a vegetable poison of Madagascar, acting upon the heart like digitalis—formerly used for the judicial ordeal.
English · e-38700-4343Tangible
Tangible, tan′ji-bl, adj. perceptible by the touch: capable of being possessed or realised.—ns. Tangib′ilē, a tactile sensation or object; Tangibil′ity, quality of being tangible or perceptible to the touch; Tan′giblenes
English · e-38700-4344Tangie
Tangie, tang′i, n. an Orcadian water-spirit, appearing as a seahorse, or man covered with seaweed.
English · e-38700-4345 · brief source recordTangle
Tangle, tang′gl, n. a knot of things united confusedly: an edible seaweed: a perplexity, complication: (Scot.) any long hanging thing, even a lank person: an apparatus for dredging.—v.t. to unite together confusedly: to
English · e-38700-4346Tangram
Tangram, tan′gram, n. a Chinese puzzle, consisting of a square of wood cut into seven pieces of various shapes.
English · e-38700-4347 · brief source recordTangum
Tangum, tang′gum, n. the Tibetan piebald horse.
English · e-38700-4348 · brief source recordTanist
Tanist, tan′ist, n. the chief or holder of lands, &c., in certain Celtic races, also the chief's elective successor.—n. Tan′istry, an ancient Celtic mode of tenure, according to which the right of succession lay not with
English · e-38700-4349Tanite
Tanite, tan′īt, n. an emery cement.
English · e-38700-4350 · brief source recordTanjib
Tanjib, tan′jib, n. a kind of figured muslin made in Oude.—Also Tan′zib.
English · e-38700-4351 · brief source recordTank
Tank, tangk, n. a large basin or cistern: a reservoir of water.—v.t. to cause to flow into a tank: to plunge into a tank.—ns. Tank′age, the act of storing oil, &c., in tanks: the price charged for such storage: the capac
English · e-38700-4352Tanka
Tanka, tan′ka, n. the boat population of Canton, inhabiting permanently the so-called tanka-boats, about 25 feet long.—Also Tan′kia.
English · e-38700-4353Tankard
Tankard, tangk′ard, n. a large vessel for holding liquors: a drinking-vessel with a lid. [O. Fr. tanquard, prob. from L. cantharus—Gr. kantharos.]
English · e-38700-4354Tanner
Tanner, tan′ėr, n. (slang) a sixpence. [Said to be Gipsy tano, little.]
English · e-38700-4355 · brief source recordTannin
Tannin, tan′in, n. an astringent substance found largely in oak-bark or gall-nuts, of great use in tanning.—n. Tann′ate, a salt of tannic acid.—adjs. Tann′ic; Tannif′erous, yielding tannin.—n. Tan′-ride, an enclosure spr
English · e-38700-4356Tanrec
Tanrec=Tenrec (q.v.).
English · e-38700-4357 · brief source recordTansy
Tansy, tan′zi, n. a genus of composite plants allied to Artemisia—Common tansy is a bitter, aromatic plant with small yellow flowers, common on old pasture: a pudding or cake flavoured with tansy, eaten at Easter. [O. Fr
English · e-38700-4358Tantalise
Tantalise, tan′ta-līz, v.t. to torment by presenting something to excite desire, but keeping it out of reach.—ns. Tantalisā′tion, the act of tantalising: state of being tantalised; Tan′taliser, one who, or that which, ta
English · e-38700-4359Tantalum
Tantalum, tan′tal-um, n. a very rare metal of no practical importance, discovered in 1801, closely allied to columbium or niobium.
English · e-38700-4360Tantalus
Tantalus, tan′ta-lus, n. the wood-ibis, a genus of birds of the stork family, quite distinct from the true ibises.
English · e-38700-4361 · brief source recordTantamount
Tantamount, tan′ta-mownt, adj. amounting to so much or to the same: equivalent: equal in value or meaning.—n. Tan′tity, the fact of being or having so much.—adv. Tan′to (mus.), so much or too much. [O. Fr., tant—L. tantu
English · e-38700-4362Tantara
Tantara, tan-tar′a, n. a blast on a trumpet or horn. [Imit.]
English · e-38700-4363 · brief source recordTantivy
Tantivy, tan-tiv′i, adv. with great speed.—adj. swift, hasty.—v.i. to hurry off.—n. a hunting cry: a rapid movement, a rush. [Imit.]
English · e-38700-4364Tantony
Tantony, tan′tō-ni, n. the smallest pig in the litter—also Tantony pig: a petted servant or follower. [From St Anthony, who was attended by a pig.]
English · e-38700-4365Tantra
Tantra, tan′tra, n. in Sanscrit literature, one of the religious text-books of the numerous sects of S'âktas—i.e. worshippers of the S'akti, or active divine energy, personified in some female deity, esp. in one of the m
English · e-38700-4366Tantrum
Tantrum, tan′trum, n. a capricious fit of ill-temper without adequate cause. [Prob. W. tant, a passion.]
English · e-38700-4367 · brief source recordTantum Ergo
Tantum Ergo, tan′tum er′gō, n. the fifth stanza of the hymn 'Pange, lingua, gloriosi corporis mysterium,' written for the office of the Festival of Corpus Christi, which St Thomas of Aquino drew up in 1263. [From its ope
English · e-38700-4368Tanzimat
Tanzimat, tan′zi-mat, n. an organic statute of the Turkish empire, introducing reforms and granting fuller personal liberty, esp. applied to the hatti-sherif of the sultan Abdul Medjid in 1839. [Turk.]
English · e-38700-4369Tao-tai
Tao-tai, tä′ō-tī′, n. an officer presiding over a Chinese tao, or circuit, containing two or more fu, or departments.
English · e-38700-4371 · brief source recordTâoism
Tâoism, tä′ō-izm, or tow′izm, n. the religious system founded by the Chinese philosopher Lâo-tsze (born 604 B.C.), set forth in the Tâo Teh King.—n. Tâ′ōist, an adherent of Tâoism.—adj. Tâoist′ic.
English · e-38700-4370Tap
Tap, tap, n. a gentle blow or touch, esp. with something small: a signal with a drum to put lights out.—v.t. to strike lightly, touch gently.—v.i. to give a gentle knock:—pr.p. tap′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. tapped. [O. Fr. t
English · e-38700-4372Tap
Tap, tap, n. a hole or short pipe through which liquor is drawn: a place where liquor is drawn: any particular liquor drawn through a tap.—v.t. to pierce, so as to let out fluid: to open a cask and draw off liquor: to br
English · e-38700-4373Tap
Tap, tap, n. a Scotch form of top.
English · e-38700-4374 · brief source recordTap
Tap, tap, n. an Indian malarial fever. [Hind.]
English · e-38700-4375 · brief source recordTapa
Tapa, tä′pä, n. the bark of the paper-mulberry, much used in the South Seas for mats, &c.—Also Tap′pa.
English · e-38700-4376 · brief source recordTapadera
Tapadera, tap-a-dā′ra, n. a leather guard for the stirrup of the Californian saddle. [Sp., 'a cover'—tapar, to cover.]
English · e-38700-4377 · brief source recordTape
Tape, tāp, n. a narrow fillet or band of woven work, used for strings, &c.: a strong flexible band rotating on pulleys for directing the sheets in a printing-machine: the strip of paper used in a printing-telegraph instr
English · e-38700-4378Taper
Taper, tā′pėr, n. a small wax-candle or light: tapering form.—adj. narrowed towards the point, like a taper: long and slender.—v.i. to become gradually smaller towards one end.—v.t. to make to taper.—adj. Tā′pering, grow
English · e-38700-4379Tapestry
Tapestry, tap′es-tri, n. an ornamental textile used for the covering of walls and furniture, and for curtains and hangings—divided into two classes, according as they are made in high-warp (haute lisse) or low-warp (bass
English · e-38700-4380Tapeti
Tapeti, tap′e-ti, n. the Brazilian hare.
English · e-38700-4381 · brief source recordTapetum
Tapetum, tā-pē′tum, n. (bot.) the cells on the outside of an archesporium: the pigmentary layer of the retina:—pl. Tā′peta. [L. tapete—Gr. tapēs, tapētos, a carpet.]
English · e-38700-4382Tapeworm
Tapeworm, tāp′wurm, n. a term sometimes used as a popular synonym for Cestoda or Cestoid Worms, but especially for those which belong to the families Tæniadæ and Bothriocephalidæ.
English · e-38700-4383Tapioca
Tapioca, tap-i-ō′ka, n. a farinaceous substance obtained from cassava or manioc by drying it while moist on hot plates, so that the starch grains swell or burst, and the whole agglomerates in small lumps. [Braz. tipioka,
English · e-38700-4384Tapir
Tapir, tā′pir, n. a genus of Ungulata, of the section Perissodactyla, thick-skinned, short-necked, with a short flexible proboscis, found in South America.—adjs. Tapir′odont, having teeth like the tapir; Tap′iroid, relat
English · e-38700-4385Tapis
Tapis, tap′is, or ta-pē′, n. tapestry, carpeting: formerly, the cover of a council-table.—vs.i. (obs.) Tap′pish, Tap′pice, to hide.—Upon the tapis, on the table: under consideration. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-4386Tappet
Tappet, tap′et, n. (Spens.) tapestry.
English · e-38700-4387 · brief source recordTappet
Tappet, tap′et, n. a projecting arm, lever, &c. from any moving part of a machine supplying intermittent motion to some other part.—ns. Tapp′et-loom, -mo′tion, -ring, -rod, &c.
English · e-38700-4388Tappit
Tappit, tap′it, adj. (Scot.) having a top or crest.—n. Tapp′it-hen, a crested hen: a vessel for liquor holding about three quarts, a liberal allowance of drink generally.
English · e-38700-4389Tapsalteerie
Tapsalteerie, tap-sal-tē′ri, adj. (Scot.) topsy-turvy.—Also Tapsieteer′ie.
English · e-38700-4390 · brief source recordTapsman
Tapsman, taps′man, n. (Scot.) a servant with principal charge, the chief of a company of drovers.
English · e-38700-4391 · brief source recordTapu
Tapu. See Taboo.
English · e-38700-4392 · brief source recordTar
Tar, tär, v.t. to set on, incite to fight. [M. E. tarien, to irritate—A.S. tergan, to provoke.]
English · e-38700-4393 · brief source recordTar
Tar, tär, n. a viscous, liquid, resinous substance of a dark colour, obtained from pine-trees: a sailor, so called from his tarred clothes.—v.t. to smear with tar:—pr.p. tar′ring; pa.t. and pa.p. tarred.—ns. Tar′heel, a
English · e-38700-4394Tar-water
Tar-water, tär′-waw′tèr, n. cold infusion of tar in water, once used as a medicine for chest complaints.
English · e-38700-4442 · brief source recordTara-fern
Tara-fern, tä′rä-fern, n. a New Zealand brake, with a thickened edible rhizome.
English · e-38700-4396 · brief source recordTarabooka
Tarabooka, ta-ra-bōō′ka, n. a drum-like instrument.
English · e-38700-4395 · brief source recordTarantass
Tarantass, tar-an-tas′, n. a four-wheeled vehicle having a boat-shaped body, without springs. [Russ.]
English · e-38700-4397 · brief source recordTarantella
Tarantella. See under Tarantism.
English · e-38700-4398 · brief source recordTarantism
Tarantism, tar′ant-izm, n. an epidemic leaping or dancing mania, somewhat resembling chorea—also Tar′entism.—ns. Tarantel′la, Tarentel′la, a lively Neapolitan dance in triplets for one couple—thought a remedy for taranti
English · e-38700-4399Taratantara
Taratantara, tar-a-tan-tar′a, n. or adv. a word imitative of the sound of a trumpet.—Also Tantar′a, Tarantar′a.
English · e-38700-4400 · brief source recordTaraxacum
Taraxacum, tar-aks′a-kum, n. the root of the dandelion, a tonic laxative in diseases of the liver.—n. Tarax′acine, a crystallisable substance extracted from the foregoing. [A botanical Latin word, coined from Gr. taraxis
English · e-38700-4401Tarboosh
Tarboosh, Tarbouche, tär-boosh′, n. a red cap with dark tassel worn by Moslem men. [Ar. tarbūsh.]
English · e-38700-4402 · brief source recordTardigrade
Tardigrade, tär′di-grād, adj. slow in pace; belonging to the Tar′digrada, a group or suborder of mammals containing the two genera of sloth.—n. one of the Tardigrada. [L. tardus, slow, gradi, to step.]
English · e-38700-4403Tardy
Tardy, tär′di, adj. slow, late, sluggish: out of season.—advs. Tardamen′te (mus.), slowly; Tar′dily, slowly: reluctantly: late.—n. Tar′diness.—adj. Tar′dy-gait′ed (Shak.) slow-paced. [Fr. tardif—tard—L. tardus, slow.]
English · e-38700-4404Tare
Tare, tār, n. any one of several species of vetch: (B.) an unidentified weed, prob. darnel. [Prob. tear.]
English · e-38700-4405 · brief source recordTare
Tare, tār, n. the weight of the vessel or package in which goods are contained: an allowance made for it, the remainder being the net weight. [Fr.,—Sp. tara—Ar. tarha, thrown away.]
English · e-38700-4406Tare
Tare, tār, obsolete, pa.p. of tear (2).
English · e-38700-4407 · brief source recordTarget
Target, tär′get, n. a small buckler or shield: a mark to fire at for practice or competition: any object of desire or ambition: the frame holding railway-signals: (her.) a bearing representing a buckler: (Scot.) a pendan
English · e-38700-4408Targum
Targum, tār′gum, n. a general term for the Aramaic versions—often paraphrases—of the Old Testament, which became necessary when, after and perhaps during the Babylonian Exile, Hebrew began to die out as the popular langu
English · e-38700-4409Tariff
Tariff, tar′if, n. a list of the duties, &c., fixed by law on merchandise: a list of charges, fees, or prices. [Fr.,—Sp.,—Ar. ta‛rīf, giving information, from ‛arafa, to explain.]
English · e-38700-4410Tarlatan
Tarlatan, tär′la-tan, n. a fine, open, transparent muslin for women's dresses, often coarse in texture, made at Tarare in the department of Rhône.—Also Tar′letan. [Prob. Milanese tarlantanna.]
English · e-38700-4411Tarn
Tarn, tärn, n. a small lake among the mountains. [Ice. tjörn.]
English · e-38700-4412 · brief source recordTarnation
Tarnation, tär-nā′shun, adj. and adv. a softened form of damnation, as Tar′nal, of eternal or infernal.
English · e-38700-4413 · brief source recordTarnish
Tarnish, tär′nish, v.t. to soil by exposure to the air, &c.: to diminish the lustre or purity of, to stain, sully.—v.i. to become dull: to lose lustre.—n. a spot, stain, change in lustre of a mineral.—n. Tar′nisher. [Fr.
English · e-38700-4414Taro
Taro, tä′rō, n. a plant of the arum family, widely cultivated for its edible roots in the islands of the Pacific. [Polynesian.]
English · e-38700-4415Tarot
Tarot, tar′ot, n. a kind of playing card used, and probably invented, in Italy about the middle of the 14th century, 78 to the pack: a game played with such.—Also Tar′oc. [Fr., so called prob. because tarotée on the back
English · e-38700-4416Tarpan
Tarpan, tar′pan, n. the small wild horse of the steppes of Russia. [Tatar.]
English · e-38700-4417 · brief source recordTarpaulin
Tarpaulin, tär-paw′lin, n. strong linen or hempen cloth coated with tar or pitch to render it waterproof: a sailor's wide-brimmed storm-hat: (coll.) a sailor.—Also Tarpau′ling. [From tar, and prov. Eng. pauling, a cart c
English · e-38700-4418Tarpeian
Tarpeian, tär-pē′an, adj. designating a cliff—the Tarpeian Rock upon the Capitoline Hill at Rome, from which state criminals were thrown—from the Roman traitress Tarpeia.
English · e-38700-4419Tarpon
Tarpon, tär′pon, Tarpum, tär′pum, n. a food-fish of America, of the herring family, common in the warmer Atlantic waters, and six feet long.—Also Jew-fish. [Amer. Ind.]
English · e-38700-4420Tarradiddle
Tarradiddle, tar-a-did′l, n. a fib, a lie. [App. a coined word, the last part being the slang word diddle, to cheat.]
English · e-38700-4421 · brief source recordTarragon
Tarragon, tar′a-gon, n. the herb-dragon, an aromatic plant used for flavouring vinegar, sauces, &c. [Sp. taragontia—Ar. tarkhūn—Gr. drakōn, a dragon.]
English · e-38700-4422Tarras
Tarras, tar′ras, n. (Spens.) terrace.
English · e-38700-4423 · brief source recordTarre
Tarre, tär, v.t. (Shak.) to set on, to encourage.
English · e-38700-4424 · brief source recordTarriance
Tarriance, tar′i-ans, n. (arch.) act of tarrying, delay.
English · e-38700-4425 · brief source recordTarrier
Tarrier, tar′i-ėr, n. old form of terrier: (slang) a rough fellow, a tough.
English · e-38700-4426 · brief source recordTarrock
Tarrock, tar′ok, n. the young of the kittiwake: the tern: guillemot.
English · e-38700-4427 · brief source recordTarry
Tarry, tär′i, adj. consisting of, covered with, or like tar.—n. Tarr′y-breeks, a sailor.—adj. Tarr′y-fing′ered, thievish.—n.pl. Tarr′y-fing′ers, thieving fingers.
English · e-38700-4428Tarry
Tarry, tar′i, v.i. to be tardy or slow: to loiter or stay behind: to delay:—pa.t. and pa.p. tarr′ied.—n. Tarr′ier, one who tarries or delays.—v.i. Tarr′ow (Scot.), to hesitate, refuse. [M. E. targen, to delay (confused i
English · e-38700-4429Tarsia
Tarsia, tär′si-a, n. an Italian mosaic, at first dealing with geometrical patterns in wood, but which developed into inlaid representations of architecture, views, figures, and drapery, and finally into foliaceous scroll
English · e-38700-4430Tarsier
Tarsier, tär′si-er, n. a small arboreal East Indian lemuroid, the malmag.—adj. Tar′siped, having the same tarsal structure as the foregoing. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-4431Tarsus
Tarsus, tär′sus, n. the part of the foot to which the leg is articulated:—pl. Tar′sī.—adj. Tar′sal, relating to the tarsus or ankle.—ns. Tarsal′gia, pain in the tarsus: a neuralgic affection of the foot from which person
English · e-38700-4432Tart
Tart, tärt, adj. sharp or sour to the taste: (fig.) sharp: severe.—adj. Tart′ish, somewhat tart.—adv. Tart′ly.—n. Tart′ness. [A.S. teart—teran, to tear.]
English · e-38700-4433Tart
Tart, tärt, n. a small pie, containing fruit or jelly baked in paste.—n. Tart′let, a small tart. [O. Fr. tarte—L. torta, fem. of pa.p. of torquēre, twist.]
English · e-38700-4434Tartan
Tartan, tär′tan, n. a woollen or worsted stuff checked with various colours, once the distinctive dress of the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own pattern. [Fr. tiretaine, linsey-woolsey—Sp. tiritaña, a thin w
English · e-38700-4435Tartan
Tartan, tär′tan, n. a Mediterranean vessel with lateen sail: a kind of long covered carriage [Fr.,—Ar. taridah, a small ship.]
English · e-38700-4436Tartar
Tartar, tär′tar, n. a mixture of bitartrate of potash and tartrate of lime, being a deposit formed from wine, and known in its crude form as argol: a concretion which sometimes forms on the teeth.—adjs. Tar-tā′reous, Tar
English · e-38700-4437Tartar
Tartar, tär′tar, n. a native of Tartary in Asia: an irritable person, or one too strong for his assailant.
English · e-38700-4438 · brief source recordTartarus
Tartarus, tär′ta-rus, n. the lower world generally, but esp. the place of punishment for the wicked, according to Homer, a deep and sunless abyss, as far below Hades as earth is below heaven, and closed in by iron gates—
English · e-38700-4439Tartuffe
Tartuffe, tär-tōōf′, n. a hypocritical pretender to religion, from the chief character in Molière's most celebrated comedy (1669).—adjs. Tartuff′ish, Tar-tuf′ish.—ns. Tartuff′ism, Tartuf′ism.
English · e-38700-4440Tarve
Tarve, tärv, n. (prov.) a curve, bend.
English · e-38700-4441 · brief source recordTascal
Tascal, tas′kal, n. a reward for information about cattle-stealing.—Also Tas′call. [Gael, taisgeal.]
English · e-38700-4443 · brief source recordTaseometer
Taseometer, tas-ē-om′e-tèr, n. an instrument for measuring strains in a structure. [Gr. tasis, a stretching, metron, measure.]
English · e-38700-4444Tash
Tash, tash, n. an Oriental silk fabric, with gold or silver thread.—Also Tass. [Hind, tāsh, tās.]
English · e-38700-4445 · brief source recordTasimeter
Tasimeter, ta-sim′e-tėr, n. an apparatus for detecting changes in pressure by the variations in the electrical conductivity of carbon.—adj. Tasimet′ric.—n. Tasim′etry. [Gr. tasis—teinein, stretch.]
English · e-38700-4446Task
Task, task, n. a set amount of work, esp. of study, given by another: work: drudgery.—v.t. to impose a task on: to burden with severe work.—ns. Task′er, one who imposes a task, or who performs it; Task′ing, task-work; Ta
English · e-38700-4447Taslet
Taslet, tas′let, n. a tass or piece of armour for the thigh—prob. the same as Tasset.
English · e-38700-4448 · brief source recordTasmanian
Tasmanian, tas-mā′ni-an, adj. of or belonging to Tasmania or Van Diemen's Land.—n. a native of Tasmania.—Tasmanian devil, or Dasyure (see Devil); Tasmanian Wolf, a nocturnal carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania. [From Abel
English · e-38700-4449Tass
Tass, tas, n. (prov.) a hay-mow, a heap. [O. Fr. tas, a heap, most prob. Teut.]
English · e-38700-4450 · brief source recordTass
Tass, tas, n. (obs.) a pouch. [Tasset.]
English · e-38700-4451 · brief source recordTass
Tass, tas, n. a drinking-cup or its contents. [Fr. tasse—Ar. tās, a cup.]
English · e-38700-4452 · brief source recordTass
Tass, tas, n. a piece of armour for the thigh. [Tasset.]
English · e-38700-4453 · brief source recordTassel
Tassel, tas′el, n. a hanging ornament consisting of a bunch of silk or other material: anything like a tassel: the silk or ribbon-marker of a book: a thin plate of gold on the back of a bishop's gloves.—v.t. to attach a
English · e-38700-4454Tassel-gentle
Tassel-gentle, tas′el-jen′tl, n. (Shak.) the tiercel or male goshawk—also Tass′el-gent—properly Tier′cel-gen′tle.
English · e-38700-4455 · brief source recordTasset
Tasset, tas′et, n. an overlapping plate from the cuirass protecting the thigh. [O. Fr. tassette—tasse, n pouch—Teut., Old High Ger. tasca, a pouch.]
English · e-38700-4456Tassie
Tassie, tas′i, n. (Scot.) a drinking-cup. [See Tass (3).]
English · e-38700-4457 · brief source recordTaste
Taste, tāst, v.t. to try or perceive by the touch of the tongue or palate: to try by eating a little: to eat a little of: to partake of: to relish, enjoy: to experience: (Shak.) to enjoy carnally.—v.i. to try or perceive
English · e-38700-4458Tat
Tat, tat, v.t. to make by hand, as an edging with a shuttle by knotting and looping thread.—v.i. to make tatting.—n. Tat′ting, a kind of lace edging woven or knit from common sewing-thread. [Prob. Scand., Ice. tæta, to t
English · e-38700-4459Tat
Tat, tat, n. East Indian matting, gunny-cloth.
English · e-38700-4460 · brief source recordTat
Tat, tat, n. a native-bred pony. [Anglo-Ind.]
English · e-38700-4461 · brief source recordTatar
Tatar, tä′tar, n. a name originally applied to a native of certain Tungustic tribes in Chinese Tartary, but extended to the Mongol, Turkish, and other warriors, who swept over Asia under Genghis Khan. The term Tatars is
English · e-38700-4463Tate
Tate, tāt, n. (Scot.) a small portion of anything fibrous.—Also Tait.
English · e-38700-4464 · brief source recordTater
Tater, tā′tėr, n. a vulgar form of potato.—Also Tā′tie.
English · e-38700-4465 · brief source recordTath
Tath, tath, n. (prov.) the dung of cattle.—v.t. to manure.
English · e-38700-4466 · brief source recordTatter
Tatter, tat′ėr, n. a torn piece: a loose hanging rag.—v.t. and v.i. to tear to tatters: to fall into tatters.—n. Tatterdemā′lion, a ragged fellow.—p.adj. Tatt′ered, in tatters or rags: torn.—adj. Tatt′ery, very ragged. [
English · e-38700-4467Tattersalls
Tattersalls, tat′ėr-salz, n. a famous mart in London for the sale of racing and other high-class horses, and one of the principal haunts of racing men—so called from Richard Tattersall (1724-95).
English · e-38700-4468Tattle
Tattle, tat′l, n. trifling talk or chat.—v.i. to talk idly or triflingly: to tell tales or secrets.—n. idle talk.—ns. Tatt′ler, one given to tattling; Tatt′lery, idle talk.—p.adj. Tatt′ling, given to tattling or telling
English · e-38700-4469Tattoo
Tattoo, tat-tōō′, n. a beat of drum and a bugle-call to call soldiers to quarters, originally to shut the taps or drinking-houses against them.—The devil's tattoo, the act of drumming with the fingers on a table, &c.; in
English · e-38700-4470Tattoo
Tattoo, tat-tōō′, v.t. to mark permanently (as the skin) with figures, by pricking in colouring-matter.—n. marks or figures made by pricking colouring-matter into the skin.—ns. Tattoo′āge; Tattoo′er; Tattoo′ing. [Tahitia
English · e-38700-4471Tatty
Tatty, tat′i, n. an East Indian screen or mat made of the roots of the fragrant cuscus-grass, with which door or window openings are filled up in the season of hot winds. [Hind. tātī.]
English · e-38700-4472Tau
Tau, taw, n. the toad-fish: a tau-cross.—ns. Tau′-bone, a Τ-shaped bone, as the interclavicle of a monotreme; Tau′-cross, a cross in the form of a Τ—also Cross-tau and Cross of St Anthony; Tau′-staff, a staff with a cros
English · e-38700-4473Taught
Taught, tawt, pa.t. and pa.p. of teach.
English · e-38700-4474 · brief source recordTaunt
Taunt, tawnt, v.t. to reproach or upbraid with severe or insulting words: to censure sarcastically.—n. upbraiding, sarcastic, or insulting words: a bitter reproach.—n. Taunt′er.—adj. Taunt′ing.—adv. Taunt′ingly. [O. Fr.
English · e-38700-4475Taupie
Taupie, Tawpie, taw′pi, n. (Scot.) a thoughtless girl. [Ice. tópi, a fool.]
English · e-38700-4476 · brief source recordTaurus
Taurus, taw′rus, n. the Bull, one of the signs of the zodiac.—adjs. Tau′rian, pertaining to a bull; Tau′riform, having the form of a bull; Tau′rīne, bull-like.—ns. Taurobō′lium, the slaughter of a bull in the Mithraic ri
English · e-38700-4477Taut
Taut, Taught, tawt, adj. tightly drawn: in good condition.—v.t. Taut′en, to make tight.—n. Taut′ness. [A form of tight.]
English · e-38700-4478Tauted
Tauted, taw′ted, adj. (Scot.) matted.—Also Taw′tie, Tau′tie, Tat′ty. [See Tat (1).]
English · e-38700-4479 · brief source recordTautochronous
Tautochronous, taw-tok′rō-nus, adj. isochronous.—n. Tau′tochrone.
English · e-38700-4480 · brief source recordTautog
Tautog, taw-tog′, n. a labroid fish of the United States Atlantic coast.
English · e-38700-4481 · brief source recordTautology
Tautology, taw-tol′ō-ji, n. needless repetition of the same thing in different words.—adjs. Tautolog′ic, -al, containing tautology.—adv. Tautolog′ically.—v.i. Tautol′ogise, to use tautology: to repeat the same thing in d
English · e-38700-4482Tavern
Tavern, tav′ėrn, n. a licensed house for the sale of liquors, with accommodation for travellers: an inn.—ns. Tav′erner, an innkeeper; Tav′erning. [Fr. taverne—L. taberna, from root of tabula, a board.]
English · e-38700-4483Tavers
Tavers, Taivers, tā′vers, n.pl. (Scot.) tatters.
English · e-38700-4484 · brief source recordTavert
Tavert, Taivert, tā′vert, adj. (Scot.) muddled: fuddled.
English · e-38700-4485 · brief source recordTaw
Taw, taw, n. a marble chosen to be played with, a game at marbles, also the line from which to play.
English · e-38700-4486 · brief source recordTaw
Taw, taw, v.t. to prepare and dress, as skins into white leather.—ns. Taw′er, a maker of white leather; Taw′ery, a place where skins are dressed; Taw′ing. [A.S. tawian, to prepare; Old High Ger. zoujan, make, Dut. touwen
English · e-38700-4487Tawdry
Tawdry, taw′dri, adj. showy without taste: gaudily dressed.—adj. Taw′dered, tawdrily dressed.—adv. Taw′drily.—n. Taw′driness.—n.pl. Taw′drums, finery. [Said to be corr. from St Awdrey=St Ethelreda, at whose fair (17th Oc
English · e-38700-4488Tawie
Tawie, taw′i, adj. (Scot.) tame.
English · e-38700-4489 · brief source recordJump to a source dictionary page
Keep the source and the verdict separate
A historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
Inspect acquisition and rights →