Historical source · 1908
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.
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 ↗
Tergal, ter′gal, adj. pertaining to the back, dorsal.—adjs. Ter′gant (her.), turning the back, recursant; Tergif′erous, bearing on the back.—n. Ter′gite, the tergum or back of one of the somites or segments of an arthrop
English · e-38700-4687Tergeminate, ter-jem′i-nāt, adj. thrice double.—Also Tergem′inal, Tergem′inous.
English · e-38700-4688 · brief source recordTergiversation, tėr-ji-vėr-sā′shun, n. a shuffling or shifting: subterfuge: fickleness of conduct.—v.i. Ter′giversate, to practise or use evasion.—n. Ter′giversātor. [L., from tergum, the back, versāri, to turn.]
English · e-38700-4689Term, tėrm, n. any limited period: the time for which anything lasts: the time during which the courts of law are open: certain days on which rent is paid: that by which a thought is expressed, a word or expression: a co
English · e-38700-4690Terma, ter′ma, n. the terminal lamina of the brain.—adj. Termat′ic.—n. the termatic artery. [Gr., 'a limit.']
English · e-38700-4691 · brief source recordTermagant, tėr′ma-gant, n. a boisterous, bold woman.—adj. boisterous: brawling: tumultuous.—n. Ter′magancy, state or quality of being a termagant: turbulence.—adv. Ter′magantly. [M. E. Termagant or Tervagant, a supposed
English · e-38700-4692Termes, tėr′mēz, n. a genus of pseudoneuropterous insects. [Termite.]
English · e-38700-4693 · brief source recordTerminate, tėr′min-āt, v.t. to set a limit to: to set the boundary: to put an end to: to finish.—v.i. to be limited: to end either in space or time: to close.—adj. Ter′minable, that may be limited: that may terminate or
English · e-38700-4694Terminus, tėr′mi-nus, n. the end or extreme point: one of the extreme points of a railway, &c.: the ancient Roman god of boundaries:—pl. Ter′mini (ī).—ns. Ter′miner (law), the act of determining; Ter′minism, the theologi
English · e-38700-4695Termite, ter′mīt, n. the white ant.—ns. Termitā′rium, Ter′mitary, a mound of termites.—adj. Ter′mitine. [L. termes, termitis, a wood-worm.]
English · e-38700-4696Tern, tėrn, n. a long-winged aquatic fowl allied to the gull.—n. Ter′nery, a place where terns breed. [Allied to Dan. terne, sea-swallow, Ice. therna.]
English · e-38700-4697Tern, tėrn, adj. threefold: consisting of three: growing in threes.—n. that which consists of three things or numbers together: a prize in a lottery got by drawing three favourable numbers.—adjs. Ter′nal, threefold; Ter′
English · e-38700-4698Terne, tėrn, n. an inferior tin-plate for roofs and the inside of packing-cases. [Fr. terne, dull.]
English · e-38700-4699 · brief source recordTerpene, ter′pēn, n. one of several isomeric oily hydrocarbons. [Terebene.]
English · e-38700-4700 · brief source recordTerpsichore, tėrp-sik′ō-rē, n. one of the nine muses, who presided over choral song and dancing.—adj. Terpsichorē′an, relating to Terpsichore, or to dancing. [Gr. terpsichorē, delighting in dancing—terpsis, delight—terpe
English · e-38700-4701Terra, ter′a, n. earth.—ns. Terr′a-cot′ta, a composition of clay and sand used for statues, hardened like bricks by fire; Terr′aculture, agriculture; Terr′æ-fil′ius, a person of humble origin: formerly the title of a sch
English · e-38700-4702Terrace, ter′ās, n. a raised level bank of earth: any raised flat place: the flat roof of a house:—pl. (geol.) comparatively level strips of land near the sea, lakes, or rivers, with a sharp descent at the edge towards t
English · e-38700-4703Terrain, ter′ān, n. (geol.) any series of rocks continuously related: any tract considered in relation to its fitness for some purpose. [Fr.,—L. terrenum.]
English · e-38700-4704Terrapin, ter′a-pin, n. the popular name of many species of fresh-water and tidal tortoises of the family Emydidæ, natives of tropical and the warmer temperate countries. [Supposed to be Amer. Ind. in origin.]
English · e-38700-4705Terraqueous, ter-ā′kwē-us, adj. consisting of land and water.—Also Terrā′quēan. [Coined from L. terra, earth, aqua, water.]
English · e-38700-4706Terreen, ter-ēn′, n. less common form of tureen.
English · e-38700-4707 · brief source recordTerremotive, ter-e-mō′tiv, adj. seismic.
English · e-38700-4708 · brief source recordTerrene, te-rēn′, adj. pertaining to the earth: earthy: earthly.—adv. Terrene′ly.—n. Terren′ity. [L. terrenus—terra, the earth.]
English · e-38700-4709Terrestrial, te-res′tri-al, adj. pertaining to, or existing on, the earth: earthly: living on the ground: representing the earth.—adv. Terres′trially.—n. Terres′trialness.—adj. Terres′trious, terrestrial. [L. terrestris—
English · e-38700-4710Terret, ter′et, n. one of the two round loops or rings on a pad-tree, through which the driving reins pass.—Also Terr′it.
English · e-38700-4711Terrible, ter′i-bl, adj. fitted to excite terror or awe: awful: dreadful.—ns. Terr′ible-in′fant, an inconveniently outspoken child—the Fr. enfant terrible; Terr′ibleness, state of being terrible: terror, dread.—adv. Terr
English · e-38700-4712Terricolous, te-rik′ō-lus, adj. terrestrial.—Also Ter′ricole, Terric′oline. [L. terra, earth, colĕre, to inhabit.]
English · e-38700-4713 · brief source recordTerrier, ter′i-ėr, n. a name originally applied to any breed of dog used to burrow underground, but now applied to any small dog—varieties are the Fox terrier, Scotch terrier (sometimes Skye terrier), Dandie Dinmont (fro
English · e-38700-4714Terrier, ter′i-ėr, n. a register or roll of a landed estate. [O. Fr.,—L. terrarius—terra, land.]
English · e-38700-4715 · brief source recordTerrify, ter′i-fī, v.t. to cause terror in: to frighten greatly: to alarm:—pa.t. and pa.p. terr′ifīed.—adj. Terrif′ic, creating or causing terror: fitted to terrify: dreadful.—adv. Terrif′ically. [L. terrēre, to terrify,
English · e-38700-4716Terrigenous, te-rij′e-nus, adj. produced by the earth.
English · e-38700-4717 · brief source recordTerrine, te-rēn′, n. an earthenware vessel for containing some dainty: a tureen for soup. [Fr.,—L. terra, earth.]
English · e-38700-4718 · brief source recordTerritory, ter′i-tō-ri, n. the extent of land around or belonging to a city or state: domain: (U.S.) a portion of the country not yet admitted as a State into the Union, and still under a provisional government.—adj. Ter
English · e-38700-4719Terror, ter′or, n. extreme fear: an object of fear or dread—(Milt.) Terr′our.—adj. Terr′or-haunt′ed, haunted with terror.—n. Terrorisā′tion.—v.t. Terr′orise, to terrify: to govern by terror.—ns. Terr′oriser, one who terr
English · e-38700-4720Terry, ter′i, n. a pile fabric with uncut loops.
English · e-38700-4721 · brief source recordTersanctus. See Trisagion.
English · e-38700-4722 · brief source recordTerse, tėrs, adj. compact or concise, with smoothness or elegance: neat.—adv. Terse′ly.—ns. Terse′ness, conciseness, brevity; Ter′sion, act of wiping. [L. tersus—tergēre, tersum, to rub clean.]
English · e-38700-4723Tertial, ter′shal, adj. of the third rank among the flight-feathers of a bird's wing.—n. a tertiary flight-feather.
English · e-38700-4724 · brief source recordTertian, tėr′shi-an, adj. occurring every third day.—n. an ague or fever with paroxysms every third day. [L. tertianus—tertius, third—tres, three.]
English · e-38700-4725Tertiary, tėr′shi-ar-i, adj. of the third degree, order, or formation: pertaining to the series of sedimentary rocks or strata lying above the chalk and other secondary strata, and abounding in organic remains—the Cainoz
English · e-38700-4726Teru-tero, ter′ōō-ter′ō, n. the Cayenne lapwing.
English · e-38700-4728 · brief source recordTeruncius, te-run′shi-us, n. an ancient Roman coin, ¼ as, weighing 3 oz.
English · e-38700-4727 · brief source recordTervy, ter′vi, v.i. (prov.) to struggle.
English · e-38700-4729 · brief source recordTerza-rima, ter′tsa-rē′ma, n. a form of Italian triplet in iambic decasyllables, in which the middle line of the first triplet rhymes with the first and third lines of the next triplet, as in Dante's Divina Commedia and
English · e-38700-4730Tesho-lama. See Lama.
English · e-38700-4731 · brief source recordTessera, tes′e-ra, n. one of the small square tiles or cut stones used in forming tessellated pavements:—pl. Tess′eræ—also Tessel′la:—pl. Tessel′læ.—adjs. Tess′ellar, composed of, or like, tessellæ; Tess′ellar, Tesserā′i
English · e-38700-4732Test, test, n. a pot in which metals are tried and refined: any critical trial: means of trial: (chem.) anything used to distinguish substances or detect their presence, a reagent: standard: proof: distinction: a witness
English · e-38700-4733Test, test, v.t. to attest legally and date.—v.i. to make a will.—adj. Tes′table, capable of being given by will, capable of witnessing. [Fr. tester—L. testāri, to testify.]
English · e-38700-4734Testa, tes′ta, n. the outer integument of a seed.
English · e-38700-4735 · brief source recordTestacea, tes-tā′sē-a, n.pl. shelled or crustaceous animals.—adjs. Testā′cean (also n.), Testā′ceous, consisting of, or having, a hard shell.—ns. Testacell′a, a genus of molluscs belonging to the Pulmonifera, and represe
English · e-38700-4736Testament, tes′ta-ment, n. that which testifies, or in which an attestation is made: the solemn declaration in writing of one's will: a will: a dispensation, as of the Mosaic or old and the Christian or new, one of the t
English · e-38700-4737Testamur, tes-tā′mur, n. a certificate that one has passed an examination at an English university—from the opening word. [L., 'we testify.']
English · e-38700-4738Tester, tes′tėr, n. a flat canopy, esp. over the head of a bed. [O. Fr. teste (Fr. tête), the head—L. testa, an earthen pot, the skull.]
English · e-38700-4739Tester, tes′tėr, n. a sixpence—also Tes′tern.—v.t. Tes′tern (Shak.), to present or reward with a sixpence. [O. Fr. teston—teste (Fr. tête), the head, from that of Louis XII. on it.]
English · e-38700-4740Testicle, tes′ti-kl, n. a gland which secretes the seminal fluid in males, a testis, one of the stones.—adjs. Tes′ticond, having the testes concealed; Testic′ular, pertaining to a testicle; Testic′ulate, -d, shaped like
English · e-38700-4741Testiere, tes-ti-ār′, n. complete armour for a horse's head. [O. Fr.]
English · e-38700-4742 · brief source recordTestify, tes′ti-fī, v.t. to bear witness: to make a solemn declaration: to protest or declare a charge (with against).—v.t. to bear witness to: to affirm or declare solemnly or on oath:—pa.t. and pa.p. tes′tifīed.—ns. Te
English · e-38700-4743Testimony, tes′ti-mō-ni, n. evidence: declaration to prove some fact: proof: (B.) the two tables of the law: the whole divine revelation.—v.t. (Shak.) to witness.—adj. Testimō′nial, containing testimony.—n. a writing or
English · e-38700-4744Testing, tes′ting, n. the act of trying for proof: the operation of refining gold and silver: chemical analysis.—Testing clause, in a Scotch deed, the last clause which narrates when and where the parties signed the deed
English · e-38700-4745Testril, tes′tril, n. (Shak.) same as Tester, a sixpence.
English · e-38700-4746 · brief source recordTestudinal, tes-tū′din-al, adj. relating to, or resembling, the tortoise.—adjs. Testū′dinate, -d, Testudin′eous, arched, vaulted, resembling the carapace of a tortoise.—n. Testū′do, a cover for the protection of Roman so
English · e-38700-4747Testy, tes′ti, adj. heady: easily irritated: fretful: peevish.—adv. Tes′tily.—n. Tes′tiness. [From O. Fr. teste (Fr. tête), the head.]
English · e-38700-4748Tetanus, tet′a-nus, n. an involuntary, persistent, intense, and painful contraction or cramp of more or less extensive groups of the voluntary muscles: lockjaw: the state of prolonged contraction of a muscle under stimul
English · e-38700-4749Tetchy, Techy, tech′i, adj. touchy, peevish, fretful.—adv. Tetch′ily, in a tetchy or fretful manner.—n. Tetch′iness, the state of being tetchy or fretful. [Touchy.]
English · e-38700-4750Tête, tāt, n. a head, head-dress.—n. Tête-à-tête (tāt′-a-tāt′), a private confidential interview: a sofa for two.—adj. confidential, secret.—adv. in private conversation: face to face. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-4751Tether, teth′ėr, n. a rope or chain for tying a beast, while feeding, within certain limits.—v.t. to confine with a tether: to restrain within certain limits. [M. E. tedir, acc. to Skeat, prob. Celt., Gael. teadhair, a t
English · e-38700-4752Tetrabranchiate, tet-ra-brang′ki-āt, adj. having four gills.—n.pl. Tetrabranch′iāta.
English · e-38700-4753 · brief source recordTetrachord, tet′ra-kord, n. a series of four sounds, forming a scale of two tones and a half.—adj. Tet′rachordal. [Gr. tetrachordos, four-stringed—tetra, for tetara=tessares, four, chordē, chord.]
English · e-38700-4754Tetrachotomous, tet-ra-kot′ō-mus, adj. doubly dichotomous, arranged in four rows.—n. Tetrac′tomy, a division into four parts. [Gr. tetracha, in four parts, temnein, to cut.]
English · e-38700-4755Tetract, tet′rakt, adj. having four rays.—Also Tetrac′tinal, Tetrac′tine. [Gr., tetra-, four, aktis, a ray.]
English · e-38700-4756 · brief source recordTetrad, tet′rad, n. a group of four: (chem.) an atom, radical, or element having a combining power of four.—adjs. Tet′rad, Tetrad′ic.—n. Tet′radite, one who attaches mystic properties to the number four, one born in the
English · e-38700-4757Tetradactyl, tet-ra-dak′til. adj. having four fingers or toes—also Tetradac′tylous.—n. Tetradac′tyl, a four-toed animal.
English · e-38700-4758Tetradecapod, tet-ra-dek′a-pod, adj. having fourteen feet.—n.pl. Tetradecap′oda, fourteen-footed crustaceans.—adj. Tetradecap′odous.
English · e-38700-4759Tetragamy, te-trag′a-mi, n. marriage for the fourth time. [Gr., tetra-, four, gamos, marriage.]
English · e-38700-4760 · brief source recordTetragon, tet′ra-gon, n. a figure of four angles.—adj. Tetrag′onal. [Gr. tetragonon—tetra-, four gōnia, an angle.]
English · e-38700-4761 · brief source recordTetragram, tet′ra-gram, n. a word of four letters: the Tetragrammaton: (geom.) a quadrilateral.—n. Tetragram′maton, the name JeHoVaH as written with four Hebrew letters, regarded as a mystic symbol: similarly some other
English · e-38700-4762Tetragynous, tet-raj′i-nus, adj. (bot.) having four styles or pistils—also Tetragyn′ian.—n.pl. Tetragyn′ia.
English · e-38700-4763 · brief source recordTetrahedron, tet-ra-hē′dron, n. a solid figure enclosed by four bases or triangles.—adjs. Tetrahē′dral, having four sides: bounded by four triangles; Tetrahexahē′dral.—n. Tetrahex′ahēdron, a solid of twenty-four triangul
English · e-38700-4764Tetralogy, te-tral′ō-ji, n. a group of four dramas, three tragic and one satiric, exhibited together at the festivals of Dionysos at Athens: any series of four related dramatic or operatic works.
English · e-38700-4765Tetramera, te-tram′e-ra, n.pl. a division of beetles with four-jointed tarsi.—adj. Tetram′eral, four-parted.—n. Tetram′erism, division into four parts.—adj. Tetram′erous, having four parts. [Gr., tetra-, four, meros, par
English · e-38700-4766Tetrameter, te-tram′e-tėr, adj. having four measures, each of two iambic or trochaic feet.—n. a verse of four measures. [Gr. tetrametros—tetra-, four, metron, measure.]
English · e-38700-4767Tetrandria, te-tran′dri-a, n. the fourth class of the Linnæan classification of plants, containing those with four stamens in a flower.—adjs. Tetran′drian, Tetran′drous. [Gr., tetra-, four, anēr, andros, a man.]
English · e-38700-4768Tetrao, tet′rā-o, n. the chief genus of the family Tetraonidæ, which also includes quails and partridges. From these the grouse (forming a subfamily, Tetraoninæ) are distinguished. The genus Tetrao is represented by the
English · e-38700-4769Tetrapetalous, tet-ra-pet′a-lus, adj. (bot.) having four distinct petals or flower-leaves.
English · e-38700-4770 · brief source recordTetraphyllous, tet-ra-fil′us, adj. having four leaves: consisting of four distinct leaves or leaflets. [Gr., tetra-, four, phyllon, a leaf.]
English · e-38700-4771Tetrapla, tet′ra-pla, n. a Bible consisting of four different versions in parallel columns, originally the edition of the Old Testament published by Origen, containing four Greek versions (those of Aquila, Symmachus, The
English · e-38700-4772Tetrapod, tet′ra-pod, n. an insect distinguished by having but four perfect legs.—adj. four-footed, with four legs—also Tetrap′odous.—n. Tetrap′ody, a group of four feet. [Gr., tetra-, four, pous, podos, foot.]
English · e-38700-4773Tetrapolitan, tet-ra-pol′i-tan, adj. pertaining to a Tetrap′olis or a group of four towns.—Tetrapolitan Confession, the Confession which the four cities of Strasburg, Constance, Memmingen, and Lindau presented to the Die
English · e-38700-4774Tetrapterous, te-trap′te-rus, adj. having four wings.—Also Tetrap′teran. [Gr., tetra-, four, pteron, a wing.]
English · e-38700-4775 · brief source recordTetraptote, tet′rap-tōt, n. a noun with but four cases. [Gr., tetra-, four, ptōsis, a case.]
English · e-38700-4776 · brief source recordTetrarch, tet′rärk, or tē′, n. under the Romans, the ruler of the fourth part of a province: a subordinate prince: the commander of a subdivision of a Greek phalanx.—ns. Tet′rarchate, Tet′rarchy, office or jurisdiction o
English · e-38700-4777Tetrasemic, tet-ra-sē′mik, adj. (pros.) equivalent to four short syllables, as a dactyl, anapæst, or spondee. [Gr., tetra-, four, sēma, a sign.]
English · e-38700-4778Tetraspermous, tet-ra-sper′mus, adj. four-seeded. [Gr., tetra-, four, sperma, seed.]
English · e-38700-4779 · brief source recordTetraspore, tet′ra-spōr, n. a reproductive body, composed of four spores or germs, found in algæ.—adjs. Tetraspor′ic, Tet′rasporous. [Gr., tetra-, four, spora, seed.]
English · e-38700-4780Tetrastich, tet′ra-stik, n. a stanza, &c., of four lines, a quartet.—adjs. Tetrastich′ic, Tetras′tichous. [Gr., tetra-, four, stichos, a row.]
English · e-38700-4781Tetrastyle, tet′ra-stīl, n. a temple or other building having four front columns in its portico: a group of four pillars.—adj. having four pillars. [Gr., tetra-, four, stylos, a column.]
English · e-38700-4782Tetrasyllable, tet′ra-sil-a-bl, n. a word of four syllables.—adjs. Tetrasyllab′ic, -al, consisting of four syllables.
English · e-38700-4783 · brief source recordTetratheism, tet′ra-thē-izm, n. the belief in four elements in the Godhead—the three persons of the Trinity and a divine essence out of which each of these originates. [Gr., tetra-, four, theos, God.]
English · e-38700-4784Tett, tet, n. (obs.) a plait.
English · e-38700-4785 · brief source recordTetter, tet′ėr, n. a popular name for several eruptive diseases of the skin.—v.t. to affect with such.—adj. Tett′erous. [A.S. teter.]
English · e-38700-4786Tettix, tet′iks, n. a cicada: an ornament for the hair of that shape. [Gr., 'grasshopper.']
English · e-38700-4787 · brief source recordTeuch, Teugh, tūh, adj. a Scotch form of tough.
English · e-38700-4788 · brief source recordTeucrian, tū′kri-an, adj. relating to the ancient Trojans (Teucri) or to the Troad.—n. a Trojan.
English · e-38700-4789 · brief source recordTeuton, tū′ton, n. one of the ancient inhabitants of Germany, esp. of a tribe living north of the Elbe who invaded Gaul, along with the Cimbri, and were cut to pieces by Marius near Aix in 102 B.C.: one belonging to that
English · e-38700-4790Tew, tū, v.t. to make anything ready, to work up: to beat, mix, pound: to taw, as leather: to scourge, drub.—v.i. to work, to bustle, to potter about.—n. trouble, worry.
English · e-38700-4791Text, tekst, n. the original words of an author: that on which a comment is written: a passage of Scripture on which a sermon is supposed to be based.—ns. Text′-book, a book containing the leading principles of a science
English · e-38700-4792Textile, teks′til, adj. woven: capable of being woven.—n. a woven fabric.—adj. Textō′rial, pertaining to weaving. [L. textilis—texĕre, textum, to weave.]
English · e-38700-4793Texture, teks′tūr, n. anything woven, a web: manner of weaving or connecting: disposition of the parts of a body.—adj. Tex′tūral. [L. textura—texĕre.]
English · e-38700-4794Thack, thak, n. a Scotch form of thatch.—Under thack and rape, safely secured under thatch and rope, snug generally.
English · e-38700-4795 · brief source recordThairm, thārm, n. (Scot.) an intestine: catgut, a musical string.
English · e-38700-4796 · brief source recordThalamus, thal′a-mus, n. the receptacle of a flower, the thallus of a fungus: an inner room, nuptial chamber:—pl. Thal′amī.—adjs. Thal′amic, pertaining to the optic thalamus, a part of the brain near the origin of the op
English · e-38700-4797Thalassic, tha-las′ik, adj. pertaining to the smaller seas—opp. to Oceanic: (zool.) pelagic.—ns. Thalassoc′racy, Thalassoc′raty, the sovereignty of the seas; Thalassog′rapher, a student of the phenomena of the ocean.—adj
English · e-38700-4798Thaler, tä′lėr, n. a dollar, in Germany a silver coin worth about 3s. [Ger. Cf. Dollar.]
English · e-38700-4799 · brief source recordThalia, thā-lī′a, n. one of the nine muses, who presided over pastoral and comic poetry.—adj. Thālī′an. [Gr. Thaleia, Thalia—thallein, to bloom.]
English · e-38700-4800Thalictrum, thā-lik′trum, n. a genus of perennial herbs of the Crowfoot family, the meadow-rues: a plant of this genus. [Gr. thaliktron—thallein, to bloom.]
English · e-38700-4801Thallium, thal′i-um, n. a metal closely resembling lead in colour and softness, but slightly heavier, first discovered in 1861, and so called from the presence of an intense green line in the spectrum of the flame in whi
English · e-38700-4802Thallus, thal′us, n. a vegetative body showing little or no differentiation into leaf, stem, and root, and characteristic of the Thall′ophytes or lower Cryptogamia, including algæ, fungi, and lichens.—adjs. Thall′iform,
English · e-38700-4803Thalweg, tal′vāh, n. the deepest part of a valley. [Ger., thal, valley, weg, way.]
English · e-38700-4804 · brief source recordThammuz=Tammuz (q.v.).
English · e-38700-4805 · brief source recordThan, than, conj. when, as, if compared with—a word placed after the comparative of an adjective or adverb between the things compared. [A.S. thonne, in its use a relative or conjunctive adverb, equivalent to our when, u
English · e-38700-4806Thanatoid, than′a-toid, adj. looking like dead: deadly.—adj. Thanatognomon′ic, indicating death.—ns. Thanatog′raphy, an account of one's death; Thanatol′ogy, the scientific consideration of death; Thanatophō′bia, a morbi
English · e-38700-4807Thane, thān, n. a member of a class in the old English community that stood distinctly below the old nobility (eorlas, &c.), but above the mere landowners or ceorls—a kind of nobility of service rather than blood.—ns. Th
English · e-38700-4808Thank, thangk, v.t. to express gratitude for a favour.—n. (usually in pl.) expression of gratitude for favour received, often elliptically=My thanks to you.—adj. Thank′ful, full of thanks: grateful.—adv. Thank′fully.—n.
English · e-38700-4809Thapsia, thap′si-a, n. a genus of umbelliferous plants round the Mediterranean. [L.,—Gr., a plant that dyed yellow, prob. Thapsia garganica, brought from Thapsus, Sicily.]
English · e-38700-4810Thargelia, thar-gē′li-a, n.pl. one of the more important ancient Greek festivals, held at Athens in honour of Apollo; in the month of Thargelion (May-June).
English · e-38700-4811That, that, pron. demons. and rel.—as a demons. (pl. Those) it points out a person or thing: the former or more distant thing: not this but the other: as a rel., who or which.—conj. used to introduce a clause: because: f
English · e-38700-4812Thatch, thach, v.t. to cover, as a roof, with straw, reeds, &c.—n. straw, &c., used to cover the roofs of buildings and stacks.—ns. Thatch′er; Thatch′ing, the act or art of covering with thatch: the materials used for th
English · e-38700-4813Thaumasite, thaw′ma-sīt, n. a dull white mineral calcium compound. [Gr. thaumazein, to wonder.]
English · e-38700-4814 · brief source recordThaumatrope, thaw′ma-trōp, n. a variation of the Zoetrope (q.v.). [Gr. thauma, wonder, tropos—trepein, to turn.]
English · e-38700-4815 · brief source recordThaumaturgy, thaw′ma-tur-ji, n. the art of working wonders or miracles.—adj. Thauman′tian (Ruskin), wonderful.—ns. Thaumatog′eny, the doctrine of the miraculous origination of life; Thaumatog′raphy, description of natura
English · e-38700-4816Thaw, thaw, v.i. to melt or grow liquid, as ice: to become so warm as to melt ice.—v.t. to cause to melt.—n. the melting of ice or snow by heat: the change of weather which causes it.—adj. Thaw′y, inclined to thaw. [A.S.
English · e-38700-4817The, the, or (when emphatic) thē, demons. pron. usually called the definite article, used to denote a particular person or thing: also to denote a species. [A.S. the, rarely used as nom. masc. of def. art., but common as
English · e-38700-4818The, the, adv. used before comparatives, as, 'the more the better.' [A.S. thý, by that, by that much, the instrumental case of the def. art.]
English · e-38700-4819Theandric, thē-an′drik, adj. pertaining to the union and co-operation of the divine and human natures. [Gr., theos, a god, anēr, andros, man.]
English · e-38700-4820Theanthropos, thē-an-thrō′pos, n. the God-man, Christ as having both a divine and human person.—adjs. Theanthrop′ic, -al, being at once divine and human: embodying deity in human forms.—ns. Thean′thropism, Thean′thropy,
English · e-38700-4821Thearchy, thē′ärk-i, n. a theocracy: a body of divine rulers.—adj. Thear′chic. [Gr. thearchia—theos, a god, archein, to be first, to rule—archē, beginning.]
English · e-38700-4822Theatin, thē′a-tin, n. a member of a R.C. religious brotherhood founded in 1524, taking its name from Theate (It. Chieti), of which one of its first founders, John Peter Caraffa, was bishop.
English · e-38700-4823Theatre, thē′a-tėr, n. a place where public representations, chiefly dramatic or musical, are seen, a play-house: any place rising by steps like the seats of a theatre: a building adapted for scholastic exercises, anatom
English · e-38700-4824Theave, thēv, n. (prov.) a ewe of the first year.
English · e-38700-4825 · brief source recordThebaine, thē′ba-in, n. an alkaloid obtained from opium.—Also Thebā′ia.
English · e-38700-4826 · brief source recordTheban, thē′ban, n. a native of Thebes: (Shak.) a wise man.—adjs. Thebā′ic, Thē′ban.—n. Thebā′id, the district around Egyptian Thebes.—Theban year, the Egyptian year of 365¼ days.
English · e-38700-4827Theca, thē′ka, n. a sheath, case, or sac, a spore-case: a case for a corporal-cloth:—pl. Thē′cæ.—adjs. Thē′cal, Thē′cate.—ns. Thē′caphore, a receptacle bearing thecæ; Thē′caspore, a spore produced in a theca.—adjs. Theca
English · e-38700-4828Thecla, thek′la, n. a genus of butterflies, containing the hair-streaks.
English · e-38700-4829 · brief source recordThee, thē, pron. objective of thou. [A.S. the, dat. accus. of thu (cf. Thou).]
English · e-38700-4830 · brief source recordThee, thē, v.i. (Spens.) to prosper, to thrive. [A.S. theón, thión, to thrive, to grow; Ger. ge-deihen, to increase.]
English · e-38700-4831 · brief source recordTheft, theft, n. act of thieving.—adj. Theft′ūous, thievish.—adv. Theft′ūously. [A.S. theófth, thýfth—theóf, thief.]
English · e-38700-4832 · brief source recordTheine, thē′in, n. a bitter crystallisable volatile principle found in tea.—ns. Thē′ic, a tea-drunkard; Thē′ism, a morbid state resulting from over-much tea-drinking.
English · e-38700-4833Their, thār, poss. adj. pron. of or belonging to them. [A.S. þára, gen. pl. of the def. art. (replaced the older hira).]
English · e-38700-4834Theirs, thārz, poss. of they. [Like hers, ours, yours, a double genitive containing a plural suffix r + a sing. -s. These forms were confined in the 13th and 14th centuries to the Northern dialects, and are probably due
English · e-38700-4835Theism, thē′izm, n. belief in the existence of God with or without a belief in a special revelation.—n. Thē′ist, one who believes in God.—adjs. Thēist′ic, -al, pertaining to theism, or to a theist: according to the doctr
English · e-38700-4836Them, them, pron. objective of they. [A.S. ðám, dat. pl. of the def. art. (this replaced the older heom, hem). It is the result of two cross influences; the th is taken from Old Norse þeim, the e from A.S. hem.]
English · e-38700-4837Theme, thēm, n. a subject set or proposed for discussion, or on which a person speaks or writes, a thesis, a brief essay: a verb in its radical form unmodified by inflections: (mus.) subject, a short melody developed wit
English · e-38700-4838Themis, them′is, n. daughter of Uranus and Gē, mother of the Hours and the Fates, the personification of the order of things established by law, custom, and equity. [Gr.]
English · e-38700-4839Themselves, them-selvz′, pron. pl. of himself, herself, and itself. [Them and self.]
English · e-38700-4840 · brief source recordThen, then, adv. at that time: afterward: immediately: at another time.—conj. for that reason, therefore: in that case.—adj. being at that time.—n. a specific time already mentioned.—By then, by that time. [A doublet of
English · e-38700-4841Thenar, thē′nar, n. the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot.—adj. of or pertaining to the thenar. [Gr. thenar—theinein, to stretch.]
English · e-38700-4842Thence, thens, adv. from that time or place: for that reason.—advs. Thence′forth, from that time forth or forward; Thencefor′ward, from that time forward or onward. [M. E. thenne-s, thenne (cf. Then), with the gen. endin
English · e-38700-4843Theobroma, thē-ō-brō′ma, n. a small tropical American genus of trees of the sterculia or kola-nut family. The best-known species, Theobroma cacao, yields the cocoa and chocolate of commerce.—n. Theobrō′mine, an alkaloid
English · e-38700-4844Theocracy, thē-ok′ra-si, n. that constitution of a state in which the Almighty is regarded as the sole sovereign, and the laws of the realm as divine commands rather than human ordinances—the priesthood necessarily becom
English · e-38700-4845Theocrasy, thē-ō-krā′si, n. the mixed worship of polytheism: a mystic intimacy with deity reached through profound contemplation. [Gr. theos, a god, krasis, a mixing.]
English · e-38700-4846Theocritean, thē-ok-ri-tē′an, adj. after the manner of Theocritus (3d century B.C.), the greatest of Greek pastoral poets: pastoral, idyllic.
English · e-38700-4847Theodicy, thē-od′i-si, n. a name given to the exposition of the theory of Divine Providence, with a view especially to the vindication of the sanctity and justice of God in establishing the present order of things, in wh
English · e-38700-4848Theodolite, thē-od′ō-līt, n. an instrument used in land-surveying for the measurement of angles horizontal and vertical, being neither more nor less than an altitude and azimuth instrument, proportioned and constructed s
English · e-38700-4849Theogony, thē-og′ō-ni, n. the birth and genealogy of the gods, esp. as told in ancient poetry.—adj. Theogon′ic.—n. Theog′onist, a writer on theogony. [Gr. theogonia—theos, a god, gonē, genos, race—genein, to beget.]
English · e-38700-4850Theology, thē-ol′ō-ji, n. the science which treats of God, and of man's duty to Him—Natural, as discoverable by the light of reason alone; or Positive or Revealed, based on the study of divine revelation.—ns. Theol′ogast
English · e-38700-4851Theomachy, thē-om′a-ki, n. a fighting against the gods, as by the Titans and giants: (Bacon) opposition to the divine will.—n. Theom′achist. [Gr. theomachia—theos, a god, machē, a battle.]
English · e-38700-4852Theomancy, thē′ō-man-si, n. divination by means of oracles, sibyls, and other persons inspired immediately by some divinity.—adj. Thēōman′tic. [Gr., theos, a god, manteia, divination.]
English · e-38700-4853Theomania, thē-ō-mā′ni-a, n. a madman's belief that he himself is God, or that God dwells in him.—n. Theomā′niac, one who shows theomania. [Gr., theos, God, mania, madness.]
English · e-38700-4854Theomorphic, thē-ō-mor′fik, adj. having the form or likeness of a god.—n. Theomor′phism. [Gr., theos, a god, morphē, form.]
English · e-38700-4855Theopaschite, thē-ō-pas′kīt, n. a by-name applied to such as accepted the formula, that, in the passion of Christ, 'God had suffered and been crucified.' It was applied to the Monophysites.—n. Theopas′chitism. [Gr., theo
English · e-38700-4856Theopathy, thē-ōp′a-thi, n. religious emotion aroused by meditation about God.—adj. Theopathet′ic.
English · e-38700-4857 · brief source recordTheophany, thē-of′a-ni, n. a manifestation or appearance of deity or the gods to man, esp. the appearance of God to the patriarchs in the form of an angel or in human form: the incarnation and second coming of Christ.—ad
English · e-38700-4858Theophilanthropy, thē-ō-fil-an′thrō-pi, n. a deistical system of religion drawn up under the French Directory in 1796, and designed to take the place of Christianity.—adj. Theophilanthrop′ic.—ns. Theophilan′thropism; The
English · e-38700-4859Theopneusty, thē′op-nūs-ti, n. divine inspiration.—adj. Theopneus′tic. [Gr., theos, God, pneustos, inspired—pnein, to breathe.]
English · e-38700-4860Theorbo, thē-orb′ō, n. a large lute with two necks, one above the other, formerly used for the bass.—n. Theorb′ist. [It. tiorba.]
English · e-38700-4861Theorem, thē′ō-rem, n. a proposition to be proved.—adjs. Theoremat′ic, Theorem′ic.—n. Theorem′atīst.—adjs. Theoret′ic, -al, pertaining to theory: not practical: speculative.—adv. Theoret′ically.—n.pl. Theoret′ics, the sp
English · e-38700-4862Theosophy, thē-os′ō-fi, n. immediate divine illumination or inspiration claimed to be possessed by specially gifted men, who also possess abnormal control over natural forces.—ns. Thē′ōsoph, Theos′opher, Theos′ophist, on
English · e-38700-4863Theotechny, thē-ō-tek′ni, n. the scheme of divine intervention, the art of introducing deities into poetry.—adj. Theotech′nic. [Gr., theos, a god, technē, art.]
English · e-38700-4864Theotocos, thē-ot′ō-kos, n. the mother of God, a title of the Virgin Mary repudiated by Nestorius—it being not God the Logos but only the human nature which had a mother and suffered pain and death.—Also Theot′okos. [Gr.
English · e-38700-4865Therapeutæ, ther-a-pū′tē, n.pl. a traditional ascetic sect, allied to the Essenes, living chiefly on the Lake Mareotis, near Alexandria.
English · e-38700-4866Therapeutic, ther-a-pū′tik, adj. pertaining to the healing art: curative.—adv. Therapeu′tically.—n.sing. Therapeu′tics, that part of medicine concerned with the treatment and cure of diseases.—n. Therapeu′tist, one verse
English · e-38700-4867There, thār, adv. in that place—opp. to Here, at that point—it is used to begin sentences when the subject comes after the verb.—interj. expressing certainty, alarm, &c., and in interjectional phrases equivalent to that,
English · e-38700-4868Thereology, ther-ē-ol′ō-ji, n. the art of healing, therapeutics.—n. Thereol′ogist, one versed in thereology. [Gr. therein=therapeuein, to tend the sick, logia—legein, to speak.]
English · e-38700-4869Theriaca, thē-rī′a-ka, n. one of the various preparations of opium: a medicine in the form of an electuary, supposed to be an antidote to snakebites, &c.—also Thē′riac.—adjs. Thē′riac, -al, Thē′rial, medicinal. [L.,—Gr.
English · e-38700-4870Therianthropism, thē-ri-an′thrō-pizm, n. the representation of deities in combined man and beast forms.—adj. Therianthrop′ic, pertaining to super human beings of combined human and bestial forms, or their worship.—n. Thē
English · e-38700-4871Theriatrica, thē-ri-at′ri-ka, n. the art of veterinary medicine.
English · e-38700-4872 · brief source recordThermal, thėr′mal, adj. pertaining to heat: warm.—n. Therm, a thermal unit.—n.pl. Ther′mæ, hot springs or baths.—adv. Ther′mally.—n. Thermatol′ogy, the science of the treatment of disease by heat, esp. by thermal mineral
English · e-38700-4873Thermidor, ther-mi-dōr′, n. the eleventh month in the calendar of the first French Republic, lasting from the 19th of July to the 18th of August. The 9th Thermidor of the Republican year 2 (July 27, 1794) is historically
English · e-38700-4874Thermometer, thėr-mom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the variations of sensible heat or temperature.—adjs. Thermomet′ric, -al, pertaining to, or made with, a thermometer.—adv. Thermomet′rically.—For the Centigrade
English · e-38700-4875Thesaurus, thē-saw′rus, n. a treasury or repository, esp. of knowledge: a lexicon or cyclopædia. [L.,—Gr. thēsauros—tithēmi, I place.]
English · e-38700-4876These, thēz, demons. pron., pl. of this. [A.S. thǽs, pl. of thes, this. Doublet those.]
English · e-38700-4877 · brief source recordThesis, thē′sis, n. a position or that which is set down or advanced for argument: a subject for a scholastic exercise: an essay on a theme:—pl. Theses (thē′sēz).—adj. Thet′ic.—adv. Thet′ically. [L.—Gr. ti-thē-mi, I set.
English · e-38700-4878Thesmophoria, thes-mō-phō′ri-a, n.pl. an ancient Greek festival with mysteries, celebrated by married women in honour of Demeter (Ceres) five days about October.
English · e-38700-4879Thesmothete, thes′mō-thēt, n. a lawgiver, esp. one of the six junior archons in ancient Athens.
English · e-38700-4880 · brief source recordThespian, thes′pi-an, adj. pertaining to tragedy: tragic. [Gr. Thespis, founder of the Greek drama.]
English · e-38700-4881 · brief source recordThetch, thech, n. (Spens.). Same as Thatch.
English · e-38700-4882 · brief source recordThether, theth′ėr, adv. (Spens.). Same as Thither.
English · e-38700-4883 · brief source recordTheurgy, thē′ur-ji, n. that kind of magic which affects to work by supernatural agency, as distinguished from natural magic and necromancy.—adjs. Theur′gic, -al.—n. Theur′gist, a magician. [Gr. theourgia—theos, a god, er
English · e-38700-4884Thew, thū, n. (used chiefly in pl.) muscle or strength: sinews.—adjs. Thewed (Spens.), furnished with thews or sinews; Thew′less, weak; Thew′y, muscular, strong. [Perh. a form of thigh.]
English · e-38700-4885Thewed, thūd, adj. (Spens.) mannered, behaved, educated. [A.S. théaw, manner, habit.]
English · e-38700-4886 · brief source recordA 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.
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