Whemmle
Whemmle, hwem′l, Whummle, hwum′l, n. an overthrow: (Scot.) confusion.—v.t. to whelm, overthrow. [Freq. form of whelm.]
English · e-38700-9292 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 176
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 176 of 179When
When, hwen, adv. and conj. at what time? at which time: at or after the time that: while.—interj. (Shak.) an exclamation of impatience, like what!—conj. When′as (Shak.), when: whereas.—adv. and conj. Whence (also From wh
English · e-38700-9293Where
Where, hwār, adv. and conj. at which place, at what place? to what place, to which place? (Shak.) whence, whereas: wherever.—n. (Shak.) situation, place.—adv. and conj. Whereabout′, about which, about where: near what?—a
English · e-38700-9294Wherry
Wherry, hwer′i, n. a shallow, light boat, sharp at both ends for speed:—pl. Wherr′ies.—n. Wherr′y-man, one who rows a wherry. [Ety. dub.; perh. conn. with Ice. hverfr, crank—hverfa, to turn.]
English · e-38700-9295Wherry
Wherry, hwer′i, n. a liquor made from the pulp of crab-apples.
English · e-38700-9296 · brief source recordWhet
Whet, hwet, v.t. to sharpen by rubbing: to make keen: to excite: (obs.) to preen:—pr.p. whet′ting: pa.t. and pa.p. whet′ted.—n. act of sharpening: something that sharpens the appetite.—ns. Whet′-stone, a stone for sharpe
English · e-38700-9297Whether
Whether, hweth′ėr, interrog. and rel. pron. signifying which of two.—conj. which of two alternatives.—interrog. adv. introducing the first of two questions, the second being introduced by or—also conj.—Whether or no (col
English · e-38700-9298Whethering
Whethering, hweth′ėr-ing, n. (prov.) the retention of the afterbirth in cows.
English · e-38700-9299 · brief source recordWhew
Whew, Wheugh, hwū, interj. expressing wonder or dismay.—n. a whistling sound noting astonishment.—v.i. to utter such a sound.
English · e-38700-9300Whew
Whew, hwū, v.i. (prov.) to bustle about.
English · e-38700-9301 · brief source recordWhey
Whey, hwā, n. the watery part of milk, separated from the curd, esp. in making cheese.—adjs. Whey′ey, Whey′ish, of whey: like whey.—n. Whey′-face, a pale or white face, caused by fright.—adj. Whey′-faced.—ns. Whey′ishnes
English · e-38700-9302Which
Which, hwich, interrog. pron. what one of a number?—also used adjectively.—rel. pron. (obs.) who, whom: now used of things only.—prons. Whichev′er, Whichsoev′er, every one which: whether one or other.—(obs.) Which...he,
English · e-38700-9303Whid
Whid, hwid, n. (Scot.) a rapid movement.—v.i. to move quickly, to whisk.—v.i. Whid′der, to whiz. [Prob. conn. with W. chwid, a jerk; or perh. A.S. hwitha, a breeze.]
English · e-38700-9304Whid
Whid, hwid, n. (Scot.) a lie: (obs.) a word: (prov.) a quarrel.—v.i. to lie.—Cut boon whids, to speak good words. [Perh. A.S. cwide, a word—cwethan, to say.]
English · e-38700-9305Whidah-bird
Whidah-bird. See Whydah.
English · e-38700-9306 · brief source recordWhiff
Whiff, hwif, n. a sudden puff of air or smoke from the mouth: a slight blast: a light kind of outrigger boat: (prov.) a glimpse.—v.t. to throw out in whiffs: to puff.—v.i. to go out or off in a whiff.—ns. Whiff′er; Whiff
English · e-38700-9307Whiff
Whiff, hwif, v.i. to fish with a hand-line.—n. Whiff′ing. [Whip.]
English · e-38700-9308 · brief source recordWhiffletree
Whiffletree, hwif′l-trē, n. a swingletree.—Also Whip′pletree. [From whifle, to turn. Cf. Whiff.]
English · e-38700-9309 · brief source recordWhig
Whig, hwig, n. the name, since 1830 almost superseded by 'Liberal,' of one of the great English political parties: a Scotch Presbyterian, first so called in the middle of the 17th century: (U.S.) one of those who in the
English · e-38700-9310Whig
Whig, hwig, v.i. (Scot.) to jog along.
English · e-38700-9311 · brief source recordWhig
Whig, hwig, n. (prov.) sour whey, buttermilk.
English · e-38700-9312 · brief source recordWhiggamore
Whiggamore, hwig′a-mōr, n. originally a person who came from the west and south-west of Scotland to Leith to buy corn: one of the 7000 Western Covenanters who marched on Edinburgh in 1648, sealing the doom of Charles I.:
English · e-38700-9313Whigmaleerie
Whigmaleerie, hwig-ma-lē′ri, n. (Scot.) a trinket, knick-knack: a whim. [Orig. uncertain.]
English · e-38700-9314 · brief source recordWhile
While, hwīl, n. a space of time: trouble spent.—adv. during the time that: at the same time that, as long as.—v.t. to cause to pass without irksomeness (with away).—conjs. While, Whilst, as long as: at the same time that
English · e-38700-9315Whilk
Whilk, hwilk, pron. an obsolete form of which.
English · e-38700-9316 · brief source recordWhilly
Whilly, hwil′i, v.t. (Scot.) to cajole.—v.i. Whill′y-whaw, to make wheedling speeches.—n. cajolery.—adv. smooth-tongued, wheedling. [Prob. a mixture of wile and wheedle.]
English · e-38700-9317Whim
Whim, hwim, n. a caprice: a fancy: a machine for raising ore, a mine.—v.i. to turn round, to be seized with a whim.—v.t. to cause to turn.—adjs. Whim′my, Whim′sical, full of whims, odd, fantastical.—ns. Whimsical′ity, Wh
English · e-38700-9318Whimbrel
Whimbrel, hwim′brel, n. a bird of the family Scolopacidæ, allied to the curlew and like it in form, plumage, and habits, but smaller, and having a shorter bill.—Also Wim′brel. [Prob. imit.]
English · e-38700-9319Whimper
Whimper, hwim′pėr, v.i. to cry with a low, whining voice.—n. a peevish cry.—ns. Whim′perer, one who whimpers; Whim′pering, peevish crying.—adv. Whim′peringly.—Be on the whimper, to be peevish and ready to cry. [Scot. whi
English · e-38700-9320Whimple
Whimple, hwim′pl (Spens.). Same as Wimple.
English · e-38700-9321 · brief source recordWhin
Whin, hwin, n. gorse, furze.—n. Whin′-chat, a bird very similar in appearance, esp. when it assumes its duller autumn plumage, to the Stone-chat, a summer visitant of Britain.—adj. Whin′ny, abounding in whins. [W. chwyn,
English · e-38700-9322Whin
Whin, hwin, n. See Whinstone.
English · e-38700-9323 · brief source recordWhine
Whine, hwīn, v.i. to utter a plaintive, shrill cry: to complain in an unmanly way.—n. a plaintive cry: an affected nasal tone of complaint.—ns. Whī′ner; Whī′ning.—adv. Whī′ningly. [A.S. hwínan, to whine; Ice. hvína.]
English · e-38700-9324Whinge
Whinge, hwinj, v.i. (Scot.) to whine. [Whine.]
English · e-38700-9325 · brief source recordWhinger
Whinger, hwing′ėr, n. a dirk.—Also Whin′iard and Whin′yard. [Prob. a corr. of hanger.]
English · e-38700-9326 · brief source recordWhinnock
Whinnock, hwin′ok, n. (prov.) the smallest pig in a litter: a milk-pail.
English · e-38700-9327 · brief source recordWhinny
Whinny, hwin′i, v.i, to neigh:—pa.t. and pa.p. whinn′ied.—n. a neigh. [Freq. of whine.]
English · e-38700-9328 · brief source recordWhinstone
Whinstone, hwin′stōn, n. a popular name in Scotland for any hard and compact kind of stone, as distinguished from sandstone or freestone and rocks of slaty structure.—Also Whin. [Perh. corr. from whernstone, quernstone,
English · e-38700-9329Whinyard
Whinyard. See Whinger.
English · e-38700-9330 · brief source recordWhip
Whip, hwip, n. that which whips: a lash with a handle for punishing or driving: a driver, coachman: one who enforces the attendance of a political party: a whipper-in, the person who manages the hounds: a call made on me
English · e-38700-9331Whip-poor-will
Whip-poor-will, hwip′-pōōr-wil′, n. a species of goat-sucker, a native of North America. [So named from the fancied resemblance of its notes to the words whip poor Will.]
English · e-38700-9334Whippet
Whippet, hwip′et, n. (obs.) a kind of dog, a cross between a greyhound and spaniel.
English · e-38700-9332 · brief source recordWhippletree
Whippletree. See Whiffletree.
English · e-38700-9333 · brief source recordWhippy
Whippy, hwip′i, adj. (Scot.) active, nimble.—n. a pert young woman.
English · e-38700-9335 · brief source recordWhir
Whir, hwėr, n. a sound from rapid whirling.—v.i. to whirl round with a noise.—v.t. (Shak.) to hurry away with a whizzing sound:—pr.p. whir′ring; pa.t. and pa.p. whirred.—n. Whir′ring. [Dan. hvirre, to whirl; ult. imit.]
English · e-38700-9336Whirl
Whirl, hwėrl, n. a turning with rapidity: anything that turns with velocity.—v.i. to revolve rapidly.—v.t. to turn round rapidly: to carry away rapidly, as on wheels.—ns. Whirl′-about′, anything that turns round rapidly;
English · e-38700-9337Whirret
Whirret, hwir′et, n. (obs.) a blow.—v.t. to give a box on the ear to: to vex.—Also Whirr′ick.
English · e-38700-9338 · brief source recordWhirry
Whirry, hwėr′i, v.i. (Scot.) to fly rapidly.
English · e-38700-9339 · brief source recordWhish
Whish, hwish, v.i. to move with the whizzing sound of rapid motion. [Imit.]
English · e-38700-9340 · brief source recordWhish
Whish, hwish, interj. hush!—also Whisht.—adj. (obs.) silent.
English · e-38700-9341 · brief source recordWhisk
Whisk, hwisk, v.t. to move with a quick motion: to sweep or stir rapidly.—v.i. to move nimbly and rapidly.—n. a rapid sweeping motion: a small bunch of anything used for a brush: a small instrument for beating or whiskin
English · e-38700-9342Whisk
Whisk, hwisk, n. whist. [So called from the rapid action of sweeping the cards off the table after a trick has been won.]
English · e-38700-9343Whisket
Whisket, hwis′ket, n. (prov.) a basket.
English · e-38700-9344 · brief source recordWhisky
Whisky, Whiskey, hwis′ki, n. a spirit made by the distillation of the fermented extract from malted and unmalted cereals, potatoes, or any starch-yielding material—the best qualities made either from malted barley alone,
English · e-38700-9345Whisky
Whisky, Whiskey, hwis′ki, n. a light gig.
English · e-38700-9346 · brief source recordWhisky-jack
Whisky-jack, hwis′ki-jak, n. the gray or Canada jay.—Also Whis′ky-john. [Amer. Ind. wiss-ka-tjan.]
English · e-38700-9347 · brief source recordWhisper
Whisper, hwis′pėr, v.i. to speak with a low sound: to speak very softly: to plot secretly.—v.t. to utter in a low voice or under the breath.—n. a low, hissing voice or sound: cautious or timorous speaking: a secret hint:
English · e-38700-9348Whist
Whist, hwist, adj. hushed: silent.—v.i. to become silent.—v.t. (Spens.) to hush or silence.—interj. hush! silence! be still! [Akin to hist!]
English · e-38700-9349Whist
Whist, hwist, n. a well-known game at cards, played with the whole pack, by two against two.—ns. Whist′-play, play in the game of whist; Whist′-play′er.—Dummy whist (see Dummy); Five point Whist, whist played without cou
English · e-38700-9350Whistle
Whistle, hwis′l, v.i. to make a shrill sound by forcing the breath through the lips contracted: to make a like sound with an instrument: to sound shrill: to inform by whistling, to become informer.—v.t. to form or utter
English · e-38700-9351Whit
Whit, hwit, n. the smallest particle imaginable: a bit. [By-form of wight, a creature.]
English · e-38700-9352 · brief source recordWhit-Monday
Whit-Monday, hwit′-mun′dā, n. the Monday following Whitsunday.
English · e-38700-9357 · brief source recordWhite
White, hwīt, adj. of the colour of pure snow: pale, pallid: colourless: pure: unblemished: purified from sin: bright: burnished without ornament: transparent and colourless, as of wine: pertaining to the Carmelite monks:
English · e-38700-9353Whither
Whither, hwith′ėr, adv. to what place? to which place: to what: whithersoever.—adv. Whithersoev′er, to whatever place.—No whither, to no place. [A.S. hwider, from the stem of who. Cf. Thither, There.]
English · e-38700-9354Whitleather
Whitleather, hwit′leth-ėr, n. leather dressed with alum, white leather: the paxwax or nuchal ligament of the ox.
English · e-38700-9355 · brief source recordWhitlow
Whitlow, hwit′lō, n. a painful inflammatory affection of the fingers, almost always proceeding to suppuration, paronychia.—n. Whit′low-grass, a small British saxifrage: the small Draba verna of America. [A corr. of whick
English · e-38700-9356Whitsour
Whitsour, hwit′sowr, n. a kind of summer apple.
English · e-38700-9358 · brief source recordWhitsun
Whitsun, hwit′sun, adj. pertaining to, or observed at, Whitsuntide.—ns. Whit′sun-ale, a festival formerly held at Whitsuntide; Whit′sunday, Whit′suntide, the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the day of Pentecos
English · e-38700-9359Whittaw
Whittaw, hwit′aw, n. (prov.) a saddler.—Also Whitt′awer.
English · e-38700-9360 · brief source recordWhittie-whattie
Whittie-whattie, hwit′i-hwot′i, v.i. (Scot.) to mutter, whisper.—n. language intended to deceive.
English · e-38700-9361 · brief source recordWhittle
Whittle, hwit′l, v.t. to pare or cut with a knife: to cut to an edge.—v.i. to cut wood aimlessly: (obs. slang) to confess at the gallows.—n. a small pocket-knife. [M. E. thwitel—A.S. thwítan, to cut.]
English · e-38700-9362Whittle
Whittle, hwit′l, n. (prov.) a woollen shawl: a blanket. [A.S. hwítel, a white mantle—hwít, white.]
English · e-38700-9363 · brief source recordWhiz
Whiz, hwiz, v.i. to make a hissing sound, like an arrow or ball flying through the air:—pr.p. whiz′zing; pa.t. and pa.p. whizzed.—n. a hissing sound.—ns. Whiz′zer; Whiz′zing.—adv. Whiz′zingly. [Imit.; cf. Wheeze, Whist,
English · e-38700-9364Who
Who, hōō, pron. (both rel. and interrog.) what person? which person.—pron. Whoev′er, every one who: whatever person.—Who but he, who else? he only.—As who should say, as if one should say.—The who (Shak.), who. [A.S. hwá
English · e-38700-9365Whoa
Whoa, hwō, interj. stop!
English · e-38700-9366 · brief source recordWhole
Whole, hōl, adj. sound, as in health (so in B.): unimpaired: containing the total amount, number, &c.: all: not defective: complete: in mining, as yet unworked.—n. the entire thing: a system or combination of parts.—adv.
English · e-38700-9367Whom
Whom, hōōm, pron. objective case of who.—prons. Whomev′er, Whomsoev′er, objective case of whoever, whosoever. [A.S. hwám, which was orig. dat. of hwá, who, and replaced in the 12th and 13th centuries the older accus. hwo
English · e-38700-9368Whommle
Whommle, hwom′l, Whomble, hwomb′l, v.t. (prov.). Same as Whemmle.
English · e-38700-9369 · brief source recordWhoobub
Whoobub, hōō′bub, n. (Shak.). Same as Hubbub.
English · e-38700-9370 · brief source recordWhoop
Whoop, hwōōp, or hōōp, n. a loud eager cry.—v.i. to give a clear, sharp cry: to shout in scorn, eagerness, &c.—v.t. to insult with shouts.—interj. (Shak.) ho!—ns. Whoop′er, one who whoops: a species of swan; Whoop′ing-co
English · e-38700-9371Whoot
Whoot. See Hoot.
English · e-38700-9372 · brief source recordWhop
Whop, Whap, hwop, v.t. (coll.) to whip.—v.i. to flop on the ground.—n. Whop′per, one who whops: anything very large, esp. a monstrous lie.—adj. Whop′ping (slang), very large. [Whip.]
English · e-38700-9373Whore
Whore, hōr, n. a woman who prostitutes her body for hire, a prostitute, harlot, strumpet, hence any unchaste woman.—v.i. to practise lewdness.—v.t. to corrupt by lewd commerce.—ns. Whore′dom, unlawful sexual intercourse:
English · e-38700-9374Whorl
Whorl, hworl, n. a number of leaves in a circle round the stem: a turn in a spiral shell: a volution—e.g. in the ear: the fly of a spindle.—p.adj. Whorled, having whorls: arranged in the form of a whorl or whorls. [By-fo
English · e-38700-9375Whortleberry
Whortleberry, hwor′tl-ber-i, n. a widely-spread health plant with a purple edible berry, called also the Bilberry—in Scotland, Blaeberry—sometimes abbrev. Whort. [A.S. wyrtil, a shrub (Ger. wurzel, root), dim. of wyrt, r
English · e-38700-9376Whose
Whose, hōōz, pron. the possessive case of who or which.—pron. Whosesoev′er (B.), of whomsoever. [M. E. hwas—A.S. hwæs, gen. of hwá, who.]
English · e-38700-9377Whoso
Whoso, hōō′so, Whosoever, hōō-so-ev′ėr, indef. rel. pron. every one who: whoever.
English · e-38700-9378 · brief source recordWhot
Whot, hwot, adj. (Spens.). Same as Hot.
English · e-38700-9379 · brief source recordWhummle
Whummle, a form of whemmle.
English · e-38700-9380 · brief source recordWhunstane
Whunstane, a form of whinstone.
English · e-38700-9381 · brief source recordWhy
Why, hwī, adv. and conj. for what cause or reason? on which account: wherefore.—interj. used us an expletive or exclamation.—n. Why′-not (obs.), a dilemma.—Why, so (Shak.), an expression of unwilling consent.—The cause w
English · e-38700-9382Whydah
Whydah, Whidah, hwid′a, n. a genus of birds of the Weaver family, natives of the tropical parts of Africa, often brought to Britain as cage-birds. [From the country of Whydah in Dahomey.]
English · e-38700-9383Wick
Wick, wik, n. a creek. [Ice. vík, a bay. Cf. Viking.]
English · e-38700-9384 · brief source recordWick
Wick, wik, v.t. in curling, to strike a stone in an oblique direction. [Prob. A.S. wícan, to bend.]
English · e-38700-9385 · brief source recordWick
Wick, wik, n. the twisted threads of cotton or other substance in a candle or lamp which draw up the inflammable liquid to a flame. [A.S. weoca; allied to weak—A.S. wác.]
English · e-38700-9386Wick
Wick, wik, adj. (prov.) quick, alive.—n. a lively person.
English · e-38700-9387 · brief source recordWick
Wick, wik, n. a village or town, as in Berwick, Greenwich. [A.S. wíc—L. vicus, a village.]
English · e-38700-9388 · brief source recordWicked
Wicked, wik′ed, adj. evil in principle or practice: deviating from morality: sinful: ungodly: mischievous: (prov.) active, brisk.—n. (B.) a wicked person, (pl.) wicked persons collectively.—adv. Wick′edly.—n. Wick′edness
English · e-38700-9389Wicken
Wicken, wik′n, n. the mountain-ash or rowan-tree.—Also Wick′y.
English · e-38700-9390 · brief source recordWicker
Wicker, wik′ėr, n. a small pliant twig or osier: wickerwork.—adj. made of twigs or osiers.—adj. Wick′ered, made of wicker: covered with wickerwork.—n. Wick′erwork, basketwork of any kind. [M. E. wiker—A.S. wicen, pa.p. o
English · e-38700-9391Wicket
Wicket, wik′et, n. a small gate: one of three upright rods bowled at in cricket: a batsman's stay at the wicket: the ground where the wickets are placed.—ns. Wick′et-door, -gate, a wicket; Wick′et-keep′er, in cricket, th
English · e-38700-9392Widdershins
Widdershins, Widershins, &c. See Withershins.
English · e-38700-9393 · brief source recordWiddy
Widdy, wid′i, provincial form of widow and of withy (see Withe).
English · e-38700-9394 · brief source recordWide
Wide, wīd, adj. extended far: having a considerable distance between: broad: distant: bulging, expanded: deviating, errant, wild.—n. wideness: in cricket, a ball that goes wide of the wicket, counting one to the batting
English · e-38700-9395Widgeon
Widgeon, Wigeon, wij′on, n. a genus of Ducks having the bill shorter than the head, the legs short, the feet rather small, the wings long and pointed, and the tail wedge-shaped: a fool. [O. Fr. vigeon—L. vipio, vipionis,
English · e-38700-9396Widow
Widow, wid′ō, n. a woman who has lost her husband by death.—v.t. to bereave of a husband: to strip of anything valued: (Shak.) to endow with a widow's right: to be widow to.—ns. Wid′ow-bench, a widow's share of her husba
English · e-38700-9397Wield
Wield, wēld, v.t. to use with full command: to manage: to use.—adj. Wiel′dable, capable of being wielded.—ns. Wiel′der; Wiel′diness.—adjs. Wield′less (Spens.), not capable of being wielded, unmanageable; Wiel′dy, capable
English · e-38700-9398Wiery
Wiery, wē′ri, adj. (obs.) wet, marshy, moist. [A.S. wær, a pond.]
English · e-38700-9399 · brief source recordWife
Wife, wīf, n. a woman: a married woman: the mistress of a house, a hostess—often in this sense 'goodwife.'—n. Wife′hood, the state of being a wife.—adjs. Wife′less, without a wife; Wife′-like, Wife′ly. [A.S. wíf; Ice. ví
English · e-38700-9400Wig
Wig, wig, n. an artificial covering of hair for the head, worn to conceal baldness, formerly for fashion's sake, as in the full-dress full-bottomed form of Queen Anne's time, still worn by the Speaker and by judges, and
English · e-38700-9401Wig
Wig, wig, v.t. (coll.) to scold.—n. Wig′ging, a scolding. [Prob. derived from 'to snatch at one's wig,' to handle roughly.]
English · e-38700-9402Wigan
Wigan, wig′an, n. a stiff canvas-like fabric for stiffening shirts, borders, &c. [Wigan, the town.]
English · e-38700-9403 · brief source recordWigeon
Wigeon. See Widgeon.
English · e-38700-9404 · brief source recordWiggle
Wiggle, wig′l, v.i. (prov.) to waggle, wriggle.—n. a wiggling motion.—n. Wigg′ler, one who wriggles.
English · e-38700-9405 · brief source recordWight
Wight, wīt, n. a creature or a person—used chiefly in sport or irony. [A.S. wiht, a creature, prob. from wegan, to move, carry; Ger. wicht. Cf. Whit.]
English · e-38700-9406Wight
Wight, wīt, adj. swift, nimble: courageous, strong.—adv. Wight′ly, swiftly, nimbly. [Ice. vígr, warlike—víg, war (A.S. wíg).]
English · e-38700-9407Wigwag
Wigwag, wig′wag, v.i. to twist about, to signal by means of flags.—adj. twisting.—adv. to and fro.
English · e-38700-9408 · brief source recordWigwam
Wigwam, wig′wam, n. an Indian hut. [Eng. corr. of Algonkin word.]
English · e-38700-9409 · brief source recordWild
Wild, wīld, adj. frolicsome, light-hearted: being in a state of nature: not tamed or cultivated: uncivilised: desert: unsheltered: violent: eager, keen: licentious: fantastic: wide of the mark.—n. an uncultivated region:
English · e-38700-9410Wild
Wild, wīld, a variety of weald.
English · e-38700-9411 · brief source recordWildgrave
Wildgrave, wīld′grāv, n. a German noble, whose office was connected with hunting. [Ger. wild, game, graf, count.]
English · e-38700-9412 · brief source recordWile
Wile, wīl, n. a trick: a sly artifice.—v.t. to beguile, inveigle: coax, cajole: to make to pass easily or pleasantly (confused with while).—adj. Wile′ful, full of wiles. [A.S. wíl, wíle; Ice. vél, væl, a trick. Doublet g
English · e-38700-9413Will
Will, wil, n. power of choosing or determining: volition: choice or determination: pleasure: command: arbitrary disposal: feeling towards, as in good or ill will: disposition of one's effects at death, the written docume
English · e-38700-9414Will-o'-the-wisp
Will-o'-the-wisp, wil′-o-the-wisp′, n. the ignis-fatuus: any deluding person or thing.
English · e-38700-9417 · brief source recordWill-worship
Will-worship, wil′-wur′ship, n. (B.) worship that is self-invented, superstitious observance without divine authority.
English · e-38700-9419 · brief source recordWillet
Willet, wil′et, n. a North American bird of the snipe family, belonging to the tattler group—also Stone-curlew.
English · e-38700-9415 · brief source recordWilliewaught
Williewaught, wil′i-wäht, n. (Scot.), for gude-willie waught. [See Waught.]
English · e-38700-9416 · brief source recordWillow
Willow, wil′ō, n. any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, having slender, pliant branches: the wood of the willow: a cricket-bat.—v.t. to beat with willow rods, as in cleaning cotton, &c.—adj. Will′owed, abounding with, or
English · e-38700-9418Willy
Willy, wil′i, n. (prov.) a willow basket.
English · e-38700-9420 · brief source recordWilly-nilly
Willy-nilly, wil′i-nil′i, adv. willing or unwilling.—adj. vacillating. [Will and nill.]
English · e-38700-9421 · brief source recordWilt
Wilt, wilt, v.i. to droop, lose energy.—v.t. to render limp or pithless. [Cf. Welk; cf. Ger. welk, withered.]
English · e-38700-9422 · brief source recordWilt
Wilt, wilt, 2d pers. sing. of will.
English · e-38700-9423 · brief source recordWily
Wily, wī′li, adj. full of wiles or tricks: using craft or stratagem: artful: sly.—adv. Wī′lily.—n. Wī′liness, cunning.
English · e-38700-9424 · brief source recordWimble
Wimble, wim′bl, n. an instrument for boring holes, turned by a handle.—v.t. to bore through with such. [Scand., Dan. vimmel, auger; conn. with Old Dut. weme, a wimble, and wemelen, to whirl.]
English · e-38700-9425Wimble
Wimble, wim′bl, adj. (Spens.) active, nimble. [Sw. vimmel, giddy—vima, to be giddy; allied to whim.]
English · e-38700-9426 · brief source recordWimple
Wimple, wim′pl, n. a hood or veil folded round the neck and face (still a part of a nun's dress): a flag.—v.t. to hide with a wimple: (Shak.) to hoodwink: to lay in folds.—v.i. to ripple: (Spens.) to lie in folds. [A.S.
English · e-38700-9427Win
Win, win, v.t. to get by labour: to gain in contest: to allure to kindness, to gain: to achieve, effect: to attain: to induce: in mining, to sink down to a bed of coal: to obtain the favour of.—v.i. to gain the victory:
English · e-38700-9428Win
Win, win, v.t. (Scot.) to dry by exposure to the wind. [Wind.]
English · e-38700-9429 · brief source recordWince
Wince, wins, v.i. to shrink or start back: to be affected acutely, as by a sarcasm: to be restive, as a horse uneasy at its rider.—n. Win′cer, one who winces. [O. Fr. guinchir, ganchir, to wince—Old High Ger. wenkan (Ger
English · e-38700-9430Wincey
Wincey, Winsey, win′si, n. a cloth, plain or twilled, usually with a cotton warp and woollen filling—same as linsey-woolsey (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9431Winch
Winch, winsh, n. the crank of a wheel or axle: a kind of hoisting machine: a dyer's reel suspended horizontally by the ends of its axis over the vat, so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment of the bat
English · e-38700-9432Wind
Wind, wind (poet. wīnd), n. air in motion: breath: flatulence: anything insignificant: the wind instruments in an orchestra: air impregnated with scent: a hint or suggestion of something secret, publicity: (slang) a part
English · e-38700-9433Wind
Wind, wīnd, v.t. to turn: to twist: to coil: to haul or hoist, as by a winch: to encircle: to change: (Spens.) to weave.—v.i. to turn completely or often: to turn round something: to twist: to move spirally: to meander:
English · e-38700-9434Windlass
Windlass, wind′las, n. a modification of the wheel and axle, used for raising weights, consisting of a revolving cylinder.—v.i. to use a windlass.—v.t. to hoist by means of such. [Skeat explains as a corruption, due to c
English · e-38700-9435Windlass
Windlass, wind′las, n. (Shak.) indirect, crafty action.—v.i. to take a round-about course. [For wind-lace, a winding course; from wind (n.) and lace, a twist.]
English · e-38700-9436Windle
Windle, win′dl, n. an engine for turning: a dry measure. [A.S. windel—windan, to turn.]
English · e-38700-9437 · brief source recordWindlestraw
Windlestraw, win′dl-straw, n. the stalk of various grasses. [A.S. windel, a woven basket, streów, straw.]
English · e-38700-9438 · brief source recordWindow
Window, win′dō, n. an opening in the wall of a building for air and light: the frame in the opening: a cover, lid.—v.t. to furnish with windows: (Shak.) to make rents in: (Shak.) to place in a window.—ns. Wind′ow-bar, a
English · e-38700-9439Windring
Windring, wīnd′ring, adj. (Shak.) winding.
English · e-38700-9440 · brief source recordWindsor
Windsor, win′zor, adj. pertaining to Windsor, as in Wind′sor-chair, a kind of strong, plain, polished chair, made entirely of wood; Wind′sor-soap, a kind of perfumed brown toilet-soap.
English · e-38700-9441Wine
Wine, wīn, n. the fermented juice of the grape: a liquor made from other fruits: (fig.) intoxication: a wine-drinking, a wine-party.—ns. Wine′-bag, a wine-skin: a tippler; Wine′-bibb′er, a bibber or drinker of wine: a dr
English · e-38700-9442Wing
Wing, wing, n. the organ of a bird, or other animal or insect, by which it flies: flight, means of flying: anything resembling a wing, any side-piece, the side of a building, &c.: one of the longer sides of crown-works o
English · e-38700-9443Wink
Wink, wingk, v.i. to move the eyelids quickly: to give a hint by winking: to seem not to see, connive at (gener. with at): to flicker, twinkle, sparkle.—v.t. to close and open quickly.—n. act of winking: a hint given by
English · e-38700-9444Winkle
Winkle=Periwinkle (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9445 · brief source recordWinna
Winna, win′a, a Scotch form for will not.
English · e-38700-9446 · brief source recordWinning
Winning, win′ing, adj. and n.—n. Win′ner.—adv. Win′ningly. [Win.]
English · e-38700-9447 · brief source recordWinnock
Winnock, win′ok, n. (Scot.) a window.—Also Win′dock.
English · e-38700-9448 · brief source recordWinnow
Winnow, win′ō, v.i. to separate the chaff from the grain by wind: to fan: to examine: to sift: to blow upon: (Milt.) to set in motion: (rare) to flap, flutter.—v.i. to separate chaff from grain.—n. a fan for winnowing.—n
English · e-38700-9449Winsey
Winsey=Wincey (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9450 · brief source recordWinsome
Winsome, win′sum, adj. cheerful: pleasant: attractive.—adv. Win′somely.—n. Win′someness. [A.S. wyn-sum, pleasant—wyn, joy (Ger. wonne).]
English · e-38700-9451Winter
Winter, win′tėr, n. the cold season of the year: a year: any season of cheerlessness: the last corn of the harvest, a harvest festival.—adj. wintry.—v.i. to pass the winter.—v.t. to feed, or to detain, during winter.—ns.
English · e-38700-9452Winter
Winter, win′tėr, n. an appliance for fixing on the front of a grate, to keep warm a tea-kettle or the like.
English · e-38700-9453 · brief source recordWinter's-bark
Winter's-bark, win′tėrs-bärk, n. a stimulant, aromatic, and tonic bark, named from Captain Winter, who first brought it from the Strait of Magellan in 1579.
English · e-38700-9454Wintle
Wintle, win′tl v.i. (Scot.) to stagger.—n. a stagger.
English · e-38700-9455 · brief source recordWiny
Winy, wī′ni, adj. having the qualities of, or resembling, wine: influenced by wine.
English · e-38700-9456 · brief source recordWinze
Winze, winz, n. (Scot.) a curse. [Wish.]
English · e-38700-9457 · brief source recordWinze
Winze, winz, n. in mining, a small ventilating shaft between two levels. [Prob. related to winnow.]
English · e-38700-9458 · brief source recordWipe
Wipe, wīp, v.t. to clean by rubbing (with away, off, out): cleanse, clear away: to apply solder to with a piece of cloth or leather: (coll.) to beat.—n. act of cleaning by rubbing: a blow: a scar: (slang) handkerchief.—n
English · e-38700-9459Wire
Wire, wīr, n. a thread of metal: the metal thread used in telegraphy, &c.: the string of an instrument: the slender shaft of the plumage of certain birds: a telegram: (slang) a clever pickpocket: (Shak.) the lash, scourg
English · e-38700-9460Wis
Wis, wis, v. (in the form I wis) erroneously used as 'I know.' [I wis is the M. E. adv. i-wis—A.S. ge-wis, certainly; cf. Ger. ge-wiss.]
English · e-38700-9461Wisard
Wisard, wiz′ard, n. Same as Wizard.
English · e-38700-9462 · brief source recordWisdom
Wisdom, wiz′dum, n. quality of being wise: judgment: right use of knowledge: learning: (B.) skilfulness, speculation, spiritual perception: the apocryphal Book of the Wisdom of Solomon (see Apocrypha).—n. Wis′dom-tooth,
English · e-38700-9463Wise
Wise, wīz, adj. having wit or knowledge: able to make use of knowledge well: judging rightly: discreet: learned: skilful: dictated by wisdom: containing wisdom: pious, godly.—adjs. Wise′-heart′ed, having wisdom: prudent;
English · e-38700-9464Wise
Wise, wīz, v.t. (Scot.) to guide in a certain direction, to incline.
English · e-38700-9465 · brief source recordWise
Wise, wīz, n. way, manner.—In any wise, In no wise, in any way, in no way; On this wise, in this way. [A.S. wíse, orig. wiseness; Ger. weise; akin to wise (1) and wit. Doublet guise.]
English · e-38700-9466Wiseacre
Wiseacre, wī′zā-kėr, n. one who pretends to wisdom without grounds, a simpleton quite unconscious of being such. [Perh. through the medium of Dutch from Ger. weissager, a soothsayer, weissagen, to foretell—Old High Ger.
English · e-38700-9467Wish
Wish, wish, v.i. to have a desire: to long (so in B.): to be inclined.—v.t. to desire or long for: to ask: to invoke: (Shak.) to recommend.—n. desire, longing: thing desired: expression of desire.—n. Wish′er.—adj. Wish′f
English · e-38700-9468Wish-wash
Wish-wash, wish′-wosh, n. (coll.) anything wishy-washy.—adj. Wish′y-wash′y, thin and weak, diluted, feeble. [Formed from wash.]
English · e-38700-9470Wishtonwish
Wishtonwish, wish′ton-wish, n. the North American prairie-dog. [Amer. Ind.]
English · e-38700-9469 · brief source recordWisket
Wisket, wis′ket, n. (prov.) a basket.
English · e-38700-9471 · brief source recordWisp
Wisp, wisp, n. a small bundle of straw or hay: a small broom: will-o'-the-wisp: a disease affecting the feet of cattle.—v.t. to rub down with a wisp.—adj. Wis′py, like a wisp. [M. E. wisp, wips, conn. with wipe; cf. Low
English · e-38700-9472Wist
Wist, wist, v.pa.t. (B.) knew. [A.S. wiste, pa.t. of witan, 3d pers. sing. pr.t. wát, to know. Cf. Wit.]
English · e-38700-9473 · brief source recordWistaria
Wistaria, wis-tā′ri-a, n. a genus of leguminous plants, some of the species amongst the most magnificent ornamental climbers known in English gardens, named from the American anatomist, Caspar Wistar (1761-1818).
English · e-38700-9474Wistful
Wistful, wist′fōōl, adj. hushed: full of thought: thoughtful: earnest: eager, wishful, longing.—adv. Wist′fully.—n. Wist′fulness.—adv. Wist′ly (Shak.), silently, earnestly. [Most prob. for whistful, whistly—i.e. silently
English · e-38700-9475Wistiti
Wistiti=Ouistiti (q.v.)—Wis′tit (obs.).
English · e-38700-9476 · brief source recordWit
Wit, wit, v.i. to know:—pr.t. 1st pers. sing. Wot; 2d, Wost (erroneously Wot′test); 3d, Wot (erroneously Wot′teth):—pl. 1st, 2d, 3d, Wot; pa.t. Wist (erroneously Wot′ted); pr.p. Wit′ting, Weet′ing (erroneously Wot′ting);
English · e-38700-9477Wit
Wit, wit, n. understanding: a mental faculty (chiefly in pl.): the power of combining ideas with a ludicrous effect, the result of this power: ingenuity: (rare) imagination: (obs.) information.—adj. Wit′less, wanting wit
English · e-38700-9478Wit
Wit, wit, n. a person of understanding or judgment, esp. a person who has a keen perception of the ludicrous and can express it neatly. [Perh. a use of the preceding word; others trace through A.S. wita, gewita, a counse
English · e-38700-9479Wit-cracker
Wit-cracker, wit′-krak′ėr, n. (Shak.) a joker, jester.
English · e-38700-9483 · brief source recordWitan
Witan, wit′an, n.pl. members of the Witenagemot. [Pl. of A.S. wita, a man of knowledge. See preceding words.]
English · e-38700-9480 · brief source recordWitch
Witch, wich, n. a woman regarded as having supernatural or magical power and knowledge through compact with the devil or some minor evil spirit: a hag, crone: (coll.) a fascinating young girl: (Shak.) a wizard.—v.t. to b
English · e-38700-9481Witch
Witch, Witch-elm, wich, wich′-elm, n. the common wild elm—also Witch′-hā′zel.—n. Witch′en, the mountain-ash or rowan. [A.S. wice, the service-tree—wícan, to bend.]
English · e-38700-9482Wite
Wite, wīt, v.t. (Spens.) to blame, to reproach.—n. (Spens.) blame, reproach.—adj. Wite′less (Spens.), blameless. [A.S. wítan, to punish, fine (Ice. víta); ult. conn. with witan, to know.]
English · e-38700-9484Witenagemot
Witenagemot, wit′e-na-ge-mōt′, n. the supreme council of England in Anglo-Saxon times, composed of the bishops, the ealdormen of shires, and a number of the king's friends and dependents, the king's thanes. It was thus p
English · e-38700-9485With
With, n. Same as Withe.
English · e-38700-9486 · brief source recordWith
With, with, prep. denoting nearness, agreement, or connection: by: in competition or contrast: on the side of: immediately after: among: possessing: in respect of, in the regard of: like: by, by means of, through: showin
English · e-38700-9487Withdraw
Withdraw, with-draw′, v.t. to draw back or away: to take back: to recall.—v.i. to retire: to go away.—ns. Withdraw′al, Withdraw′ment; Withdraw′er; Withdraw′ing-room, a room used to retire into: a drawing-room. [Pfx. with
English · e-38700-9488Withe
Withe, with, or wīth, Withy, with′y, n. a flexible twig, esp. of willow: a band of twisted twigs: an elastic handle to a tool to save the hand from the shock of blows: a boom-iron.—adj. Withy (with′i or wī′thi), made of
English · e-38700-9489Wither
Wither, with′ėr, v.i. to fade or become dry: to lose freshness: to shrink: waste.—v.t. to cause to dry up: to cause to decay, perish, waste.—adj. With′ered, dried up.—n. With′eredness.—adj. With′ering, blasting, blightin
English · e-38700-9490Withers
Withers, with′ėrz, n.pl. the ridge between the shoulder-bones of a horse and behind the root of the neck.—adj. With′er-wrung, injured in the withers. [A.S. wither, against, an extension of with, against.]
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