Vitrophyre
Vitrophyre, vit′rō-fīr, n. a porphyritic variety of volcanic glass.—adj. Vitrophyr′ic. [L. vitrum, glass, porphyrites, porphyry.]
English · e-38700-8892Historical 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.
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Vitrophyre, vit′rō-fīr, n. a porphyritic variety of volcanic glass.—adj. Vitrophyr′ic. [L. vitrum, glass, porphyrites, porphyry.]
English · e-38700-8892Vitruvian, vi-trōō′vi-an, adj. denoting a peculiar kind of convoluted scrollwork, so named from Vitruvius, a Roman architect under Augustus.
English · e-38700-8893Vitta, vit′a, n. a fillet, or garland for the head:—pl. Vitt′æ (-ē). [L.]
English · e-38700-8894 · brief source recordVitular, vit′ū-lar, Vituline, vit′ū-līn, adj. relating to a calf or to veal. [From L. vitulus, a calf.]
English · e-38700-8895 · brief source recordVituperate, vī-tū′pe-rāt, v.t. to find fault with: to address with abuse: to rate soundly.—adj. Vitū′perable, deserving vituperation.—n. Vitūperā′tion, act of vituperating: censure: abuse.—adj. Vitū′perātive, containing
English · e-38700-8896Viure, vē′ūr, n. (her.) a thin ribbon crossing the field in any direction. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8897 · brief source recordViva, vē′va, interj. long live.—n. the exclamation Viva! [It., 'Let him live'—L. vivĕre, to live.]
English · e-38700-8898 · brief source recordViva voce, vī′va vō′sē, by word of mouth. [L., 'with living voice,'—vivus, living, vox, vocis, voice.]
English · e-38700-8904 · brief source recordVivace, vē-vä′che, adj. (mus.) lively:—superl. Vivacis′simo. [It.]
English · e-38700-8899 · brief source recordVivacious, vī-vā′shus, (or vi-), adj. lively or long-lived: active: sportive.—adv. Vivā′ciously.—ns. Vivā′ciousness; Vivac′ity, state of being vivacious: life: animation: liveliness or sprightliness of temper or behaviou
English · e-38700-8900Vivandière, vē-vong-di-ār′, n. in the French and some other Continental armies, a female attendant in a regiment, who sells spirits and other comforts, marching with the corps. [Fr., fem. of vivandier—It. vivandière, a s
English · e-38700-8901Vivarium, vī-vā′ri-um, n. an artificial enclosure for keeping or raising living animals, as a park, fish-pond, &c.—Also Vī′vary. [L. vivarium—vivus, alive—vivĕre, to live.]
English · e-38700-8902Vivat, vī′vat, n. an exclamation of applause. [L., 'let him live.']
English · e-38700-8903 · brief source recordVive, vēv, interj. long live. [Fr., 'let him live.']
English · e-38700-8905 · brief source recordVive, vīv, adj. (Bacon) lively, forcible. [Fr.,—L. vivus—vivĕre, to live.]
English · e-38700-8906 · brief source recordViverrine, vī-ver′in, adj. pertaining to the Viverridæ, one of the four families of the Æluroidea section of Carnivora.—n. one of the Viverridæ, and esp. of the division of Viverrinæ, including the civets, genets, &c.
English · e-38700-8907Vivers, vē′vėrz, n.pl. (Scot.) food, eatables. [Fr. vivres—L. vivĕre, to live.]
English · e-38700-8908 · brief source recordVives, vīvz, n.pl. a disease of horses, &c., seated in the glands under the ear. [O. Fr. avives, vives—Sp. avivas—Ar. addhība—al, the, dhība, she-wolf.]
English · e-38700-8909Vivid, viv′id, adj. lively or life-like: having the appearance of life: forming brilliant images in the mind: striking.—adv. Viv′idly.—ns. Viv′idness, Vivid′ity.—adj. Vivif′ic, vivifying.—ns. Vivificā′tion; Viv′ifier.—v.
English · e-38700-8910Viviparous, vī-vip′a-rus, adj. producing young alive: (bot.) germinating from a seed still on the parent plant.—ns. Vīvipar′ity, Vīvip′arousness.—adv. Vīvip′arously. [L., from vivus, alive, parĕre, to produce.]
English · e-38700-8911Vivisection, viv-i-sek′shun, n. the practice of making operations or painful experiments on living animals, for the purposes of physiological research or demonstration.—v.t. Vivisect′, to practise vivisection on.—adj. Vi
English · e-38700-8912Vivisepulture, viv-i-sep′ul-tūr, n. burial alive.
English · e-38700-8913 · brief source recordVixen, vik′sn, n. a she-fox: an ill-tempered woman.—adjs. Vix′en, Vix′enish, Vix′enly, ill-tempered, snarling. [Formerly also vixon; a form of fixen—A.S. fyxen, a she-fox.]
English · e-38700-8914Viz. See Videlicet.
English · e-38700-8915 · brief source recordVizament, viz′a-ment, n. (Shak.) advisement.
English · e-38700-8916 · brief source recordVizard, viz′ard, Vizor, viz′ur. Same as Visor.
English · e-38700-8917 · brief source recordVizir, Vizier, vi-zēr′, n. a minister or councillor of state in the Ottoman Empire and other Mohammedan states—also Visier′, Vezir′, Wizier′.—ns. Vizir′ate, Vizier′ate, Vizir′ship, Vizier′ship, the office of a vizir.—adj
English · e-38700-8918Vly, vlī, or flī, n. a swamp, a shallow pond which is sometimes dry.—Also Vleij, Vlei. [A word of Dutch origin used in South Africa, prob. derived from Dut. vallei, a valley.]
English · e-38700-8919Vocable, vō′ka-bl, n. that which is sounded with the voice: a word: a name.—ns. Vocab′ūlary, a list of vocables or words explained in alphabetical order: the words of a language: a dictionary: any list of words; Vocab′ūl
English · e-38700-8920Vocation, vō-kā′shun, n. call or act of calling: calling: occupation.—adj. Vocā′tional.—adv. Vocā′tionally. [L. vocatio—vocāre.]
English · e-38700-8921Vocative, vok′a-tiv, adj. pertaining to the act of calling, applied to the grammatical case used in personal address.—n. the case of a word when a person or thing is addressed. [L. vocativus—vocāre.]
English · e-38700-8922Vociferate, vō-sif′e-rāt, v.i. to cry with a loud voice.—v.t. to utter with a loud voice.—n. Vocif′erance, clamour.—adj. Vocif′erant, clamorous.—ns. Vociferā′tion, act of vociferating: a violent or loud outcry; Vocif′erā
English · e-38700-8923Vocular, vok′ū-lar, adj. vocal.—n. Voc′ule, a slight sound of the voice.
English · e-38700-8924 · brief source recordVodka, vōd′ka, n. a Russian spirit, properly distilled from rye, but sometimes from potatoes. [Russ., 'brandy,' dim. of voda, water.]
English · e-38700-8925Voe, vō, n. in Shetland, a bay, creek.—Also Vo, Vae. [Ice. vágr, vogr, a creek.]
English · e-38700-8926 · brief source recordVogie, vō′gi, adj. (Scot.) vain: merry.
English · e-38700-8927 · brief source recordVogue, vōg, n. mode or fashion at any particular time: practice: popular reception. [Fr. vogue, course of a ship—voguer, to row, from Old High Ger. wagōn (Ger. wogen, to fluctuate, float)—waga, a waving, akin to wāg, a w
English · e-38700-8928Voice, vois, n. sound from the mouth: sound given out by anything: utterance or mode of utterance: language: expression: expressed opinion: one who speaks: (Shak.) reputation: sound uttered with resonance of the vocal ch
English · e-38700-8929Void, void, adj. unoccupied: empty: destitute (with of): having no binding force: wanting: unsubstantial.—n. an empty space.—v.t. to make vacant: to quit: to send out, emit, empty out: to render of no effect, to nullify:
English · e-38700-8930Voivode, Vaivode, voi′vōd, vā′vōd, n. the leader of an army: in Poland the title of the head of an administrative division, in Moldavia and Wallachia the former title of the princes, in Turkey an inferior administrative
English · e-38700-8931Vol, vol, n. (her.) two wings displayed and conjoined in base. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8932 · brief source recordVolable, vol′a-bl, adj. (Shak.) nimble—willed. [L. volāre, to fly.]
English · e-38700-8933 · brief source recordVolant, vō′lant, adj. flying: nimble: (her.) represented as flying, or as in the air unsupported, or creeping.—n. Vō′lant-piece, a part of the helmet which could be removed at will.—adj. Vol′atile, evaporating very quick
English · e-38700-8934Volante, vō-lan′te, n. a two-wheeled covered vehicle with long shafts, with a chaise-body hung before the axle, driven by a postillion. [Sp.]
English · e-38700-8935Volapük, vō-la-pük′, n. a name given to a universal language invented in 1879 by Johann Schleyer of Constance, Baden, the vocabulary being mainly based on English, and the grammar being simplified to the utmost.—n. Volap
English · e-38700-8936Volar, vō′lar, adj. pertaining to the palm, palmar.—n. Vō′la, the hollow of the hand or foot:—pl. Vō′læ. [L.]
English · e-38700-8937 · brief source recordVolcano, vol-kā′no, n. a more or less conical hill or mountain, usually truncated, and communicating with the interior of the earth by a pipe or funnel, through which issue hot vapours and gases, and frequently loose fra
English · e-38700-8938Vole, vōl, n. in card-playing, the winning of all the tricks in one deal.—v.i. to win such. [Fr.,—L. volāre, to fly.]
English · e-38700-8939 · brief source recordVole, vōl, n. a genus of rodent quadrupeds of the subfamily Arvicolinæ, which also includes the lemmings, the musk-rats, &c., the Field-vole, the Water-vole, popularly called the water-rat, and the Bank-vole.
English · e-38700-8940Volery. See under Volant.
English · e-38700-8941 · brief source recordVolet, vol′ā, n. a veil: one of the wings of a triptych picture. [O. Fr., 'a shutter'—L. volāre, to fly.]
English · e-38700-8942 · brief source recordVolitant, vol′i-tant, adj. having the power of flight.—n. Volitā′tion, act of flying.
English · e-38700-8943 · brief source recordVolition, vō-lish′un, n. act of willing or choosing: the exercise of the will: the power of determining.—adjs. Voli′tient (rare), willing; Voli′tional, Voli′tionary.—adv. Voli′tionally.—adjs. Voli′tionless; Vol′itive, ha
English · e-38700-8944Volkslied, fōlks′lēt, n. a folk-song. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-8945 · brief source recordVolksraad, fōlks′rät, n. the name of the legislative assembly of the Orange Free State before its final annexation by England in 1900.
English · e-38700-8946Volley, vol′i, n. a flight of shot: the discharge of many small-arms at once: an outburst of many at once: in tennis and lawn-tennis, a hard return of the ball before it reaches the ground—half-volley is a return by stri
English · e-38700-8947Volsungs, vol′sungz, n.pl. a famous heroic race in old German legend, its founder Volsung or Wolsung, the grandson of Odin, and its brightest ornament Volsung's son, Siegmund.
English · e-38700-8948Volt, vōlt, n. a turn or bound: a sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust: a gait of two treads made by a horse going sideways round a centre.—n. Vol′tage. [Fr. volte—It. volta—L. volvĕre, volutum, to turn.]
English · e-38700-8949Volt, vōlt, n. the unit of electro-motive force now in universal use among electricians, defined legally in terms of the ohm and ampere.—adj. Vol′ta-elec′tric, of or pertaining to galvanism.—n. Vol′ta-electrom′eter, an i
English · e-38700-8950Volta, vōl′ta, n. an old dance: (mus.) turn, time:—pl. Vol′te (-te). [It.]
English · e-38700-8951 · brief source recordVoltairian, vol-tār′i-an, adj. pertaining to Voltaire, a famous French poet, dramatist, historian, and sceptic (1694-1778).—n. one who advocates the views and principles of Voltaire.—ns. Voltair′ianism, the spirit of Vol
English · e-38700-8952Voltigeur, vol-ti-zhėr′, n. a vaulter or tumbler: formerly in the French army, one of a light-armed company of picked men placed on the left of a battalion: under the Second Empire, a member of several special infantry r
English · e-38700-8953Voluble, vol′ū-bl, adj. easy to roll or move: flowing smoothly: fluent in speech.—adj. Vol′ubile (Milt.), rolling: revolving.—ns. Volubil′ity, Vol′ubleness, state or quality of being voluble: fluency of speech.—adv. Vol′
English · e-38700-8954Volucrine, vol′ū-krin, adj. pertaining to birds, bird-like. [L. volucris, a bird—volāre, to fly.]
English · e-38700-8955 · brief source recordVolume, vol′ūm, n. a roll or scroll, which was the form of ancient books: a book, whether complete in itself or part of a work: a rounded mass, convolution: cubical content: a quantity: dimensions: fullness of voice.—v.i
English · e-38700-8956Voluntary, vol′un-ta-ri, adj. willing: acting by choice: free: proceeding from the will: subject to the will: done by design or without compulsion: of or pertaining to voluntaryism.—n. one who does anything of his own fr
English · e-38700-8957Volunteer, vol-un-tēr′, n. one who enters any service, esp. military, voluntarily or of his own free choice: a soldier belonging to any body other than the regular army.—adj. entering into service voluntarily.—v.t. to of
English · e-38700-8958Voluptuary, vō-lup′tū-a-ri, n. a voluptuous person, or one excessively given to bodily enjoyments or luxury: a sensualist.—adj. promoting sensual pleasure. [L. voluptuarius—voluptas, pleasure.]
English · e-38700-8959Voluptuous, vō-lup′tū-us, adj. full of pleasure: given to excess of pleasure, esp. sensual: contributing to sensual pleasure.—adv. Volup′tuously.—n. Volup′tuousness. [L. voluptuosus—voluptas, pleasure.]
English · e-38700-8960Voluspa, vol-us-pä′, n. one of the poems of the Elder Edda: a sibyl or prophetess—a wrong use, though found in Scott's Pirate. [Ice. Völuspá, the song of the sibyl, völu, gen. of völva, a prophetess, spá, prophecy.]
English · e-38700-8961Volute, vō-lūt′, n. a spiral scroll used in the Ionic and Corinthian capitals: a kind of spiral shell, chiefly tropical: whorl of a spiral shell.—adj. (bot.) rolled up in any direction.—adj. Volū′ted, having a volute.—n.
English · e-38700-8962Volve, volv, v.t. (obs.) to turn over, ponder. [L. volvĕre, to turn.]
English · e-38700-8963 · brief source recordVolvox, vol′voks, n. a genus of simple organisms found in ponds, canals, &c., being fresh-water algæ, consisting of green flagellate cells, united by protoplasmic bridges in a hollow spherical colony. [Formed from L. vol
English · e-38700-8964Volvulus, vol′vū-lus; n. occlusion of the intestine through twisting.
English · e-38700-8965 · brief source recordVomer, vō′mėr, n. the thin flat bone forming part of the middle partition of the nose, separating the nostrils. [L., 'a ploughshare.']
English · e-38700-8966Vomit, vom′it, v.i. to throw up the contents of the stomach by the mouth, to spew.—v.t. to throw out with violence.—n. matter ejected from the stomach: something that excites vomiting.—adj. Vom′ic, purulent.—n. Vom′ica,
English · e-38700-8967Voodoo, Voudou, vōō-dōō, n. the name given in the southern United States to any practiser of witchcraft, or of any charm, incantation, &c., especially when tinctured with African rites or superstitions: the supreme evil
English · e-38700-8968Voracious, vō-rā′shus, adj. eager to devour: greedy: very hungry.—adv. Vorā′ciously.—ns. Vorac′ity, Vorā′ciousness, quality of being voracious. [L. vorax, voracis—vorāre, to devour.]
English · e-38700-8969Voraginous, vō-raj′i-nus, adj. pertaining to a whirlpool.—n. Vorā′go (-gō), a gulf. [L. vorago.]
English · e-38700-8970 · brief source recordVorant, vō′rant, adj. (her.) devouring. [L. vorans, pr.p. of vorare, to devour.]
English · e-38700-8971 · brief source recordVortex, vor′teks, n. a whirling motion of a fluid forming a cavity in the centre: a whirlpool: an eddy having a rotational motion of the smallest visible portion in the centre:—pl. Vor′tices, Vor′texes.—ns. Vor′tex-ring
English · e-38700-8972Vorticella, vor-ti-sel′a, n. a genus of ciliated Infusorians belonging to the order Peritricha, in which the cilia are restricted to a fringe round the mouth. [From L. vortex, a whirl.]
English · e-38700-8973Votary, vō′ta-ri, adj. bound or consecrated by a vow.—n. one devoted as by a vow to some service, worship, or way of life:—fem. Vō′taress.—n. Vō′tarist, a votary. [Low L. votarius—L. votum, to vow.]
English · e-38700-8974Vote, vōt, n. expression of a wish or opinion, as to a matter in which one has interest: that by which a choice is expressed, as a ballot: decision by a majority: something granted by the will of the majority.—v.i. to ex
English · e-38700-8975Votive, vō′tiv, adj. given by vow: vowed.—adv. Vō′tively.—Votive offering, a tablet, picture, &c. dedicated in fulfilment of a vow. [L. votivus—votum, a vow.]
English · e-38700-8976Vouch, vowch, v.t. to call upon to witness: to maintain by repeated affirmations: to warrant: to attest: to produce vouchers for: (Milt.) to second, support.—v.i. to bear witness: to give testimony.—n. confirmation, atte
English · e-38700-8977Vouchsafe, vowch-sāf, v.t. to vouch or warrant safe: to sanction or allow without danger: to condescend to grant.—v.i. to condescend.—n. Vouchsafe′ment.
English · e-38700-8978Voulge, vōōzh, n. a weapon carried by foot-soldiers in the 14th century, having a blade fixed on a long staff. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8979 · brief source recordVoussoir, vōō-swär′, n. one of the wedge-like stones which form part of an arch.—v.t. to form with such. [Fr., through Low L., from L. volutus—volvĕre, to roll.]
English · e-38700-8980Vow, vow, n. a voluntary promise made to God, and, as such, carrying with it the most stringent obligation to its fulfilment: a solemn or formal promise of fidelity or affection: (Shak.) a positive assertion.—v.t. to giv
English · e-38700-8981Vowel, vow′el, n. a sound or tone produced by the unimpeded passage of the breath, when modified by the glottis into voice, through the tube of the mouth, which is made to assume different shapes by altering the form and
English · e-38700-8982Vox, voks, n. voice: a voice or song part.—Vox angelica, or cælestis, in organ-building, a stop producing a wavy effect; Vox humana, in organ-building, a reed-stop producing tones resembling those of the human voice. [L.
English · e-38700-8983Voyage, voi′āj, n. passage by water: (Shak.) an enterprise.—v.i. to make a voyage, or to pass by water.—v.t. to traverse, pass over.—adj. Voy′age-able, navigable.—n. Voy′ager, one who voyages.—n.pl. Voyageurs (vwo-ya-zhe
English · e-38700-8984Vraisemblance, vrā-song-blongs′, n. verisimilitude. [Fr., vrai, true, semblance, appearance.]
English · e-38700-8985 · brief source recordVug, vug, n. a Cornish miner's name for a cavity in a rock.—adj. Vug′gy.
English · e-38700-8986 · brief source recordVulcan, vul′kan, n. (Roman myth.) the god of fire.—n. Vulcanā′lia, an ancient Roman, festival in honour of Vulcan, held on 23d August.—adjs. Vulcā′nian, pertaining to Vulcan, or to one who works in iron; Vulcan′ic (same
English · e-38700-8987Vulgar, vul′gar, adj. pertaining to or used by the common people, native: public: common; national, vernacular: mean or low: rude.—n. the common people: the common language of a country.—ns. Vulgā′rian, a vulgar person:
English · e-38700-8988Vulnerable, vul′ne-ra-bl, adj. capable of being wounded: liable to injury.—v.t. Vuln (her.), to wound.—adj. Vulned (her.).—ns. Vulnerabil′ity, Vul′nerableness.—adj. Vul′nerary, pertaining to wounds: useful in healing wou
English · e-38700-8989Vulpine, vul′pin, adj. relating to or like the fox: cunning.—adj. Vulpec′ūlar, vulpine.—ns. Vul′picide, the killing of a fox: a fox-killer; Vul′pinism, craftiness. [L.,—vulpes, a fox.]
English · e-38700-8990Vulsella, vul-sel′a, n. a forceps with toothed or clawed blades:—pl. Vulsell′æ (-ē). [L.]
English · e-38700-8991 · brief source recordVulture, vul′tūr, n. a large rapacious bird of prey, feeding largely on carrion: one who or that which resembles a vulture.—adjs. Vul′tūrine, Vul′tūrish, Vul′tūrous, like the vulture: rapacious.—ns. Vul′turism, rapacity;
English · e-38700-8992Vulva, vul′va, n. the orifice of the external organs of generation of the female.—adjs. Vul′var, Vul′vate; Vul′viform, oval.—ns. Vulvis′mus, vaginismus; Vulvī′tis, inflammation of the vulva.—adjs. Vulvo-ū′terine, pertain
English · e-38700-8993Vum, vum, v.i. (U.S.) a corruption of vow, in phrase 'I vum.'
English · e-38700-8994 · brief source recordVying, vī′ing, pr.p. of vie.
English · e-38700-8995 · brief source recordW, the twenty-third letter of our alphabet, like æ, a ligature rather than a letter, with a double value, as consonant and as vowel—when the sound is voiced we have w, as in 'we' or 'wen,' the corresponding unvoiced soun
English · e-38700-8996Wabble, Wobble, wob′l, v.i. to incline alternately to one side and the other: to rock, to vacillate.—n. a hobbling, unequal motion.—ns. Wabb′ler, Wobb′ler, one who or that which wabbles: a boiled leg of mutton.—adjs. Wab
English · e-38700-8997Wabster, wab′stėr, n. (Scot.) a webster, weaver.
English · e-38700-8998 · brief source recordWacke, wak′e, n. German miners' term for a soft, grayish kind of trap-rock.
English · e-38700-8999 · brief source recordWad, wod, n. a mass of loose matter thrust close together for packing, &c., as hay, tow, &c.: a little mass of paper, tow, or the like to keep the charge in a gun.—v.t. to form into a mass: to pad, stuff out: to stuff a
English · e-38700-9000Wad, wad, a Scotch form of wed, also of would.
English · e-38700-9001 · brief source recordWad, Wadd, wod, n. an earthy ore of manganese.
English · e-38700-9002 · brief source recordWaddle, wod′l, v.i. to take short steps and move from side to side in walking.—n. a clumsy, rocking gait.—n. Wadd′ler.—adv. Wadd′lingly, with a waddling gait. [Perh. wade.]
English · e-38700-9003Waddy, wad′i, n. a native Australian wooden war-club, a walking-stick—also Wadd′ie.—v.t. to strike with a waddy.
English · e-38700-9004 · brief source recordWade, wād, v.i. to walk through any substance that yields to the feet, as water: to pass with difficulty or labour.—n. (coll.) a ford.—n. Wā′der, one who wades: a bird that wades, e.g, the heron: (pl.) high waterproof bo
English · e-38700-9005Wadi, Wady, wod′i, n. the dry bed of a torrent: a river-valley. [Ar. wadī, a ravine (Sp. guad-, first syllable of many river-names).]
English · e-38700-9006Wadmal, wod′mal, n. (Scot.) a thick woollen cloth.—Also Wad′moll. [Ice. vadhmál—vadhr, cloth, mál, a measure.]
English · e-38700-9007 · brief source recordWadset, wod′set, n. a mortgage—also Wad′sett.—n. Wad′setter, a mortgagee. [Wad=wed, set.]
English · e-38700-9008 · brief source recordWae, wā, n. (Spens.) woe.—adj. (Scot.) sorrowful.—adjs. Wae′ful, Wae′some, woeful, pitiful.—n. Wae′ness, sadness.—interj. Wae′sucks, alas!
English · e-38700-9009Wafer, wā′fėr, n. a thin round cake of unleavened bread, usually stamped with a cross, an Agnus Dei, the letters I.H.S., &c., used in the Eucharist in the R.C. Church: a thin leaf of coloured paste for sealing letters, &
English · e-38700-9010Waff, waf, adj. (Scot.) weak, worthless, paltry.—n. a worthless person. [Waif.]
English · e-38700-9011 · brief source recordWaff, waf, n. (Scot.) a slight hasty motion: a quick light blow: a sudden ailment: a faint but disagreeable odour: a ghost.
English · e-38700-9012Waff, waf, n. an obsolete form of wave.
English · e-38700-9013 · brief source recordWaff, waf, v.i. (prov.) to bark.—Also Waugh.
English · e-38700-9014 · brief source recordWaffle, wof′l, n. a kind of batter-cake, baked over the fire in an iron utensil of hinged halves called a Waff′le-ī′ron. [Dut. wafel, wafer.]
English · e-38700-9015Waffle, wof′l, v.i. (prov.) to wave. [Waff (3).]
English · e-38700-9016 · brief source recordWaft, waft, v.t. to bear through a fluid medium, as air or water: (Shak.) to wave the hand, beckon, to turn.—v.i. to float.—n. a floating body: a signal made by moving something in the air, esp. an ensign, stopped togeth
English · e-38700-9017Wag, wag, v.t. and v.i. to move from side to side: to shake to and fro: (coll.) to depart: (Shak.) to move on, make progress:—pr.p. wag′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. wagged.—n. a shaking, moving to and fro. [Referred by Skeat to
English · e-38700-9018Wag, wag, n. a droll, mischievous fellow: a man full of sport and humour: a wit: a fellow generally.—n. Wag′gery, mischievous merriment.—adjs. Wag′gish—(rare) Wag′some.—adv. Wag′gishly.—ns. Wag′gishness; Wag′-wit, a woul
English · e-38700-9019Wage, wāj, v.t. to pledge: to engage in as if by pledge: to carry on, esp. of war: to venture: (prov.) to hire for pay: (Shak.) to pay wages to: (Spens.) to let out for pay.—v.i. (Shak.) to be equal in value, to contend,
English · e-38700-9020Waggle, wag′l, v.i. and v.t. to wag or move from side to side. [Freq. of wag (1).]
English · e-38700-9021 · brief source recordWagmoire, wag′moir, n. (Spens.) a quagmire.
English · e-38700-9022 · brief source recordWagnerian, vag-nē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to or characterised by the ideas or style of Richard Wagner (1813-83), a famous German composer of music-dramas: pertaining to Rudolf Wagner (1805-64), a famous physiologist.—ns.
English · e-38700-9023Wagon, Waggon, wag′un, n. a four-wheeled vehicle for carrying heavy goods: (Shak.) a chariot.—v.t. to transport by wagon.—ns. Wag′onage, money, paid for conveyance by wagon; Wag′on-box, -bed, the carrying part of a wagon
English · e-38700-9024Wahabee, Wahabai, wä-hä′bē, n. one of a sect of Puritan Moslems founded in Central Arabia about 1760 by Abd-el-Wahhab (1691-1787), whose aim was to restore primitive Mohammedanism—also Wahä′bite.—n. Wahä′biism, the doctr
English · e-38700-9025Wahoo, wa-hōō′, n. the burning bush, a richly ornamental shrub: the bear-berry, which yields cascara sagrada: the winged elm, with valuable hard-grained wood.
English · e-38700-9026Waid, Waide. Old spellings of weighed.
English · e-38700-9027 · brief source recordWaif, wāf, n. a stray article: anything found astray without an owner: a worthless wanderer.—adj. vagabond, worthless. [O. Fr. waif, wef—Ice. veif, any flapping or waving thing.]
English · e-38700-9028Waift, wāft, n. (Spens.) a waif.
English · e-38700-9029 · brief source recordWail, wāl, v.i. to lament or sorrow audibly.—v.t. to bemoan: to grieve over.—n. a cry of woe: loud weeping.—n. Wail′er.—adj. Wail′ful, sorrowful, mournful.—n. Wail′ing.—adv. Wail′ingly. [M. E. weilen—Ice. vaela, vála, to
English · e-38700-9030Wain, wān, n. a wagon.—v.t. (rare) to carry.—ns. Wain′age, the team and implements necessary for the cultivation of land; Wain′-rope, a rope for binding a load on a wain or wagon; Wain′wright, a wagon-maker.—The lesser w
English · e-38700-9031Wainscot, wān′skot, n. the panelled boards on the walls of apartments: a collector's name for certain noctuoid moths.—v.t. to line with, or as if with, boards or panels.—ns. Wain′scoting, Wain′scotting, the act of lining
English · e-38700-9032Waist, wāst, n. the smallest part of the human trunk, between the ribs and the hips: the bodice of a woman's dress: the middle part, as of a ship, of a musical instrument—(Shak.) of a period of time; (Shak.) something th
English · e-38700-9033Wait, wāt, v.i. to stay in expectation (with for): to remain: to attend (with on): to follow: to lie in ambush.—v.t. to stay for: to await: (coll.) to defer: (obs.) to accompany.—n. ambush, now used only in such phrases
English · e-38700-9034Waive, wāv, v.t. to relinquish for the present: to give up claim to: not to insist on a right or claim.—n. Wai′ver, the act of waiving: renouncement of a claim: process by which a woman was outlawed. [O. Fr. guever, to r
English · e-38700-9035Waivode, Waiwode, Waiwodeship. Same as Voivode, &c.
English · e-38700-9036 · brief source recordWake, wāk, v.i. to cease from sleep: to lie awake: (B.) to watch: to be roused up, active, or vigilant: to return to life: (Shak.) to hold a late revel: to keep vigil.—v.t. to rouse from sleep: to keep vigil over: to exc
English · e-38700-9037Wake, wāk, n. the streak of smooth water left in the track of a ship: hence (fig.) 'in the wake of,' in the train of, immediately after. [Ice. vök, a hole in the ice, vökr, moist. The root is seen in L. humēre, to be moi
English · e-38700-9038Wake-robin, wāk′-rob′in, n. the cuckoo-pint, Arum maculatum: in America, any species of trillium.
English · e-38700-9039 · brief source recordWaldenses, wol-den′sēz, n.pl. a famous Christian community of austere morality and devotion to the simplicity of the Gospel, which originally grew out of an anti-sacerdotal movement originated by Peter Waldo of Lyons in
English · e-38700-9040Waldgrave, wold′grāv, n. an old German title of nobility, originally a head forest-ranger. [Ger. waldgraf.]
English · e-38700-9041 · brief source recordWaldhorn, wold′horn, n. a hunting-horn, a French horn without valves. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-9042 · brief source recordWale, wāl, n. a raised streak left by a stripe: a ridge on the surface of cloth: a plank all along the outer timbers on a ship's side.—v.t. to mark with wales.—n. Wā′ler, one who chastises severely. [A.S. walu, the mark
English · e-38700-9043Wale, wāl, n. (Scot.) the choice or pick of anything.—v.t. to choose. [Ice. val, choice; Ger. wahl, choice; from the root of will.]
English · e-38700-9044Waler, wā′lėr, n. in India, a horse imported from New South Wales, or from Australia generally.
English · e-38700-9045 · brief source recordWalhalla, wal-hal′la, n. Same as Valhalla.
English · e-38700-9046 · brief source recordWalk, wawk, v.i. to move along leisurely on foot with alternate steps: to pace: to travel on foot: to conduct one's self: to act or behave: to live: to be guided by: (coll.) to move off, depart: to be stirring, move abou
English · e-38700-9047Walking, wawk′ing, n. the act or process of fulling cloth.—n. Walk′mill, a fulling-mill.
English · e-38700-9048 · brief source recordWalkyr, wol′kir. Same as Valkyr.
English · e-38700-9049 · brief source recordWall, wawl, n. an erection of brick, stone, &c. for a fence or security: the side of a building: (fig.) defence, means of security: in mining, one of the surfaces of rock enclosing the lode: (anat.) a paries or containin
English · e-38700-9050Wall-eye, wawl′-ī, n. an eye in which the white part is very large: the popular name for the disease of the eye called glaucoma.—adj. Wall′-eyed, very light gray in the eyes, esp. of horses: (Shak.) glaring, fierce. [The
English · e-38700-9056Walla, Wallah, wol′a, n. a worker, agent: fellow.—Competition wallah, a term applied in Anglo-Indian colloquial speech to a member of the Civil Service who obtained appointment by the competitive system instituted in 185
English · e-38700-9051Wallaba, wol′a-ba, n. a Guiana tree with winged leaves and streaked reddish wood.
English · e-38700-9052 · brief source recordWallaby, wol′ab-i, n. a small kangaroo.—On the wallaby, On the wallaby track, out of employment, a slang Australian phrase derived from the shy habits of the kangaroo.
English · e-38700-9053Wallachian, wäl-ā′ki-an, adj. of or pertaining to Wallachia, a Danubian principality, since 1878 forming with Moldavia the kingdom of Roumania.—ns. Wall′ach, Wall′ack, a native or inhabitant of Wallachia. [From a Slavoni
English · e-38700-9054Wallet, wol′et, n. a bag for carrying necessaries on a journey: a knapsack: a pocket-book: a bag for tools: (Shak.) anything protuberant. [M. E. walet, possibly from watel, a bag.]
English · e-38700-9055Walloon, wal′ōōn, adj. of or pertaining to a population of mixed Celtic and Romanic stock akin to the French, occupying the tract along the frontiers of the Teutonic-speaking territory in the South Netherlands, from Dunk
English · e-38700-9057Wallop, wol′op, v.i. (dial.) to boil and bubble: to move clumsily, to waddle about, to kick about as one does for a little when hung up by the neck—also n. [O. Fr. galoper, to boil, gallop—Old Flem. walop, a gallop; perh
English · e-38700-9058Wallop, wol′op, v.t. (slang) to beat, flog.—n. a blow.—ns. Wall′oper, one that wallops; Wall′oping, a thrashing.—adj. (slang) great, bouncing. [Orig. dubious; most prob. a particular use of preceding word.]
English · e-38700-9059Wallow, wol′ō, v.i. to roll about, as in mire: to live in filth or gross vice.—n. the place an animal wallows in.—n. Wall′ower. [A.S. wealwian—L. volvĕre.]
English · e-38700-9060Wallow, wol′ō, v.i. (prov.) to fade away.
English · e-38700-9061 · brief source recordWallsend, wawlz′end, n. a kind of coal originally dug at Wallsend on the Tyne.
English · e-38700-9062 · brief source recordWalnut, wawl′nut, n. a genus (Juglans) comprising seven or eight species of beautiful trees of natural order Juglandaceæ—the wood of the common walnut is much used for furniture and gunstocks; its ripe fruit is one of th
English · e-38700-9063Walpurgis night, val-pōōr′gis nīt, the night before the first of May, during which German witches rode on broomsticks and he-goats to hold revel with their master the devil at the ancient places of sacrifice, esp. the Br
English · e-38700-9064Walrus, wol′rus, n. a genus of aquatic, web-footed (pinniped) Carnivores, representative of a family (Trichechidæ) intermediate between the sea-lions and the seals—the upper canine teeth developed into enormous tusks—als
English · e-38700-9065Walty, wol′ti, adj. (naut.) inclined to lean or roll over.
English · e-38700-9066 · brief source recordWaltz, wawlts, n. a German national dance performed by two persons with a rapid whirling motion, introduced into England in 1813: the music for such.—v.i. to dance a waltz: (slang) to move trippingly.—ns. Waltz′er; Waltz
English · e-38700-9067Waly, Walie, wä′li, adj. (Scot.) beautiful: strong, large. [Conn. with wale, choice, and perh. influenced by A. S. welig, rich—wel, well.]
English · e-38700-9068Waly, wā′li, interj. (Scot.) alas! [Wellaway.]
English · e-38700-9069 · brief source recordWamble, wom′bl, v.i. (prov.) to rumble, of the stomach.—n. a rumbling, a feeling of nausea.—adj. Wam′ble-cropped, sick at stomach.
English · e-38700-9070Wame, wām, n. a provincial form of womb.—n. Wame′-tow, a belly-band, girth.
English · e-38700-9071 · brief source recordWammus, wam′us, n. (U.S.) a warm knitted jacket.
English · e-38700-9072 · brief source recordWampish, wom′pish, v.t. (Scot.) to brandish, flourish.
English · e-38700-9073 · brief source recordWampum, wom′pum, n. the North American Indian name for shells or beads used as money.—Wampum peag (wom′pum pēg), lit. 'white strung beads,' strings of wampum.
English · e-38700-9074Wan, won, adj. faint: wanting colour: pale and sickly: languid: gloomy, dark.—v.i. to become wan.—adv. Wan′ly.—n. Wan′ness.—adj. Wan′nish, somewhat wan. [A.S. wann, dark, lurid; but perh. conn, with A.S. wan, deficient.]
English · e-38700-9075Wan, wan, old pa.t. of win.
English · e-38700-9076 · brief source recordWanchancy, won-chan′si, adj. (Scot.) unlucky, wicked. [Old pfx. wan-, still Seen in wanton (q.v.).]
English · e-38700-9077 · brief source recordWand, wond, n. a long slender rod: a rod of authority, or of conjurers.—adj. Wand′y, long and flexible. [Ice. vöndr, a shoot of a tree; Dan. vaand.]
English · e-38700-9078Wander, won′dėr, v.i. to ramble with no definite object: (lit. or fig.) to go astray: to leave home; to depart from the subject: to be delirious: (coll.) to lose one's way.—v.t. to traverse: (coll.) to lead astray.—n. Wa
English · e-38700-9079Wanderoo, won-de-rōō′, n. a catarrhine monkey, a native of the Malabar coast of India. [Cingalese.]
English · e-38700-9080 · brief source recordWandle, won′dl, adj. (prov.) supple, pliant, nimble.
English · e-38700-9081 · brief source recordWandoo, won′dōō, n. the white-gum of Western Australia.
English · e-38700-9082 · brief source recordWane, wān, v.i. to decrease, esp. of the moon—opp. to Wax: to decline, to fail.—n. decline: decrease. [A.S. wanian (Ice. vana), to decrease—wan, deficient, lacking.]
English · e-38700-9083Wang, wang, n. (obs.) the jaw.—n. Wang′-tooth, a grinder. [A.S. wange, cheek.]
English · e-38700-9084 · brief source recordWanhope, won′hōp, n. (obs.) despair.
English · e-38700-9085 · brief source recordWanion, wan′yon, n. (obs. or Scot.) found only in phrases—e.g. With a wanion, bad luck to you: with a vengeance, vehemently. [Prob. conn. with wane, to decline.]
English · e-38700-9086Wankle, wang′kl, adj. (prov.) unstable, not to be depended on.
English · e-38700-9087 · brief source recordWannish, won′ish, adj. See Wan.
English · e-38700-9088 · brief source recordWanrestful, won-rest′fool, adj. (Scot.) restless. [Wan-, negative pfx., and restful.]
English · e-38700-9089 · brief source recordWant, wont, n. state of being without anything: absence of what is needful or desired: poverty: scarcity: need.—v.t. to be destitute of: to need: to dispense with: to feel need of: to fall short: to wish for.—v.i. to be
English · e-38700-9090Wanthriven, won-thriv′n, adj. (Scot.) decayed.
English · e-38700-9091 · 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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