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 ↗
Withershins, Widdershins, with′-, wid′ėr-shinz, adv. (Scot.) in the contrary direction—to the left, contrary to the course of the sun, in the wrong way.—Also Widd′ersins, Widd′ersinnis. Cf. the Gaelic deiseil, to the rig
English · e-38700-9492Withhold, with-hōld′, v.t. to hold back: to keep back.—v.i. to stay back:—pa.t. and pa.p. Withheld′ (arch. pa.p. Withhol′den).—ns. Withhol′der; Withhold′ment. [Pfx. with-, against, and hold.]
English · e-38700-9493Within, with-in′, prep. in the inner part: inside: in the reach of: not going outside of.—adv. in the inner part: inwardly: at home.—Within call, hail, not too far to hear a call, hail. [A.S. wiðinnan—wið, against, with,
English · e-38700-9494Without, with-owt′, prep. outside or out of: beyond: not with: in absence of: not having: except: all but.—adv. on the outside: out of doors.—conj. except.—adj. Without′-door (Shak.), being out of doors.—prep. Without′en
English · e-38700-9495Withstand, with-stand′, v.t. to stand against: to oppose or resist:—pa.t. and pa.p. Withstood′.—n. Withstand′er.
English · e-38700-9496 · brief source recordWithwind, with′wīnd, n. the bindweed.
English · e-38700-9497 · brief source recordWitloof, wit′lōf, n. a kind of chicory with large roots. [Dut.]
English · e-38700-9498 · brief source recordWitness, wit′nes, n. knowledge brought in proof: testimony of a fact: that which furnishes proof: one who sees or has personal knowledge of a thing: one who attests.—v.t. to have direct knowledge of: to see: to give test
English · e-38700-9499Wittol, wit′ol, n. one who knows his wife's faithlessness, and submits to it.—adj. Witt′olly (Shak.), like a wittol or contented cuckold. [Formerly also wittal, wittold, a particular use of witwal, the popinjay; cf. the
English · e-38700-9500Witwal, wit′wawl, n. the popinjay, or green woodpecker, the greater spotted woodpecker. [Var. of woodwale, a woodpecker.]
English · e-38700-9501Wive, wīv, v.t. to take for a wife: to provide with a wife.—v.i. to marry.—n. Wive′hood (Spens.), wifehood. [A.S. wífian—wíf, wife.]
English · e-38700-9502Wivern, wī′vern, n. Same as Wyvern.
English · e-38700-9503 · brief source recordWives, wīvz, pl. of wife.
English · e-38700-9504 · brief source recordWizard, wiz′ard, n. one who practises witchcraft or magic: (obs.) a wise man.—adj. with magical powers.—adv. Wiz′ardly, like a wizard.—n. Wiz′ardry, sorcery. [O. Fr. guiscart—Ice. vizkr (for vitskr), from vita, to know.]
English · e-38700-9505Wizen, wiz′n, Wizened, wiz′nd, adj. dried up: thin: shrivelled.—v.i. and v.t. to become dry, to make dry.—adj. Wiz′en-faced, having a thin, shrivelled face. [A.S. wisnian, to wither; cog. with Ice. visinn, wizened, visna
English · e-38700-9506Wizier=Vizir.
English · e-38700-9507 · brief source recordWo. Same as Woe.
English · e-38700-9508 · brief source recordWoad, wōd, n. a genus of cruciferous plants, whose few species are mostly natives of the countries around the Mediterranean—Dyer's woad yields a good and very permanent dye, but is now largely superseded by indigo.—adj.
English · e-38700-9509Wobble, Wobbler, Wobbling. See Wabble.
English · e-38700-9510 · brief source recordWoden, wō′den, n. the Anglo-Saxon form of the Norse Odin.—n. Wō′denism, the worship of Woden.
English · e-38700-9511 · brief source recordWoe, Wo, wō, n. grief: misery: a heavy calamity: a curse: an exclamation of grief.—adj. sad, wretched.—adjs. Woe′begone, Wō′begone, beset with woe (see Begone); Woe′ful, Wō′ful, Woe′some (Scot. Wae′some), sorrowful: brin
English · e-38700-9512Woiwode. See Voivode.
English · e-38700-9513 · brief source recordWold, wōld, n. an open tract of country. [A.S. weald, wald, a wood, perh. ultimately conn. with wealdan, to possess, wield.]
English · e-38700-9514Wolf, woolf, n. the common name of certain species of the genus Canis—including the ravenous Common Wolf, the Abyssinian Wolf, the Antarctic Wolf, the Maned Wolf, and the Prairie Wolf or Coyote: anything very ravenous: a
English · e-38700-9515Wolffian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to, or associated with, the name of the German embryologist K. F. Wolff (1733-94)—applied to the primordial renal organs in the embryo of the higher vertebrates, performing the funct
English · e-38700-9516Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to the philosophy of Johann Christian von Wolf (1679-1754). He systematised and popularised the philosophy of Leibnitz, and gave a strong impulse to that development of natural theolo
English · e-38700-9517Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an, adj. pertaining to, or associated with, the name of Friedrich August Wolf (1759-1824), the most gifted classical scholar and first critic of his age—applied esp. to his theory that the Odyssey and Il
English · e-38700-9518Wolfram, wol′fram, n. a native compound of tungstate of iron and manganese. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-9519 · brief source recordWolverene, Wolverine, wool-ve-rēn′, n. a name given to the American glutton or carcajou, from its rapacity. [Extension of wolf.]
English · e-38700-9520Woman, woom′an, n. the female of man, an adult female of the human race: the female sex, women collectively: a female attendant:—pl. Women (wim′en).—v.t. to cause to act like a woman, to unite to a woman (both Shak.): to
English · e-38700-9521Womb, wōōm, n. the uterus, the organ in which the young of mammals are developed and kept till birth: (Shak.) the stomach: the place where anything is produced: any deep cavity.—v.t. (Shak.) to contain.—adj. Womb′y (Shak
English · e-38700-9522Wombat, wom′bat, n. an Australian marsupial mammal of the opossum family. [Native name.]
English · e-38700-9523 · brief source recordWon, wun, v.i. to dwell: to abide: to be accustomed.—n. a dwelling: an abode.—n. Won′ing, dwelling. [A.S. wunian, Dut. wonen, Ger. wohnen, to dwell.]
English · e-38700-9524Won, wun, pa.t. and pa.p. of win.
English · e-38700-9525 · brief source recordWon′t, wōnt, will not. [Contr. of M. E. wol not.]
English · e-38700-9529 · brief source recordWonder, wun′dėr, n. the state of mind produced by something new, unexpected, or extraordinary: a strange thing: a prodigy: a sweet fried cake—also Cruller.—v.i. to feel wonder: to be amazed (with at): to speculate expect
English · e-38700-9526Wonga-wonga, wong′ga-wong′ga, n. the large Australian white-faced pigeon—a table delicacy.
English · e-38700-9527 · brief source recordWont, wunt, adj. used or accustomed.—n. habit.—v.i. to be accustomed.—adj. Won′ted, accustomed: usual.—n. Won′tedness.—adj. Wont′less (Spens.), unaccustomed. [Orig. pa.p. of won, to dwell—A.S. wunian; Ger. wohnen.]
English · e-38700-9528Woo, wōō, v.t. to ask in order to marriage: to court: to solicit eagerly, to seek.—v.i. to court or make love: to ask.—ns. Woo′er; Woo′ing. [A.S. wógian, to woo—wóg, wóh, bent.]
English · e-38700-9530Wood, wood, n. the solid part of trees: trees cut or sawed: timber: a collection of growing trees: the cask or barrel, as distinguished from the bottle: (print.) a woodblock.—v.t. to supply with wood.—ns. Wood′-ac′id, wo
English · e-38700-9531Wood, wood, adj. (Shak.) mad, furious.—n. Wood′ness. [A.S. wód; Ice. ódhr, Goth. wods, frantic, Ger. wuth, madness.]
English · e-38700-9532 · brief source recordWoodburytype, wood′ber-i-tīp, n. a method of photograph printing in which a sensitised gelatine film, developed under a negative to an extra relief, is impressed on soft metal by hydraulic pressure. This in turn can be p
English · e-38700-9533Woodchuck, wood′chuk, n. the marmot. [Corr. from an Amer. Ind. name.]
English · e-38700-9534 · brief source recordWoodie, wood′i, n. (Scot.) the gallows. [A form of widdy, withy,]
English · e-38700-9535 · brief source recordWoof, woof, n. same as Weft (q.v.).—adj. Woof′y, dense. [A.S. ówef, áweb—áwefan, to weave—á-, prefix, wefan, to weave.]
English · e-38700-9536 · brief source recordWooingly, wōō′ing-li, adv. in a wooing or persuasive manner. [Woo.]
English · e-38700-9537 · brief source recordWool, wool, n. the soft, curly hair of sheep and other animals: short, thick hair: any light, fleecy substance resembling wool.—n. Wool′ball, a ball of wool, such as is sometimes found in a sheep's stomach.—adj. Wool′-be
English · e-38700-9538Woold, wōōld, v.t. to wind about.—adj. Wool′ded.—ns. Wool′der, a stick used in woolding a mast or yard, or a pin in a rope-maker's top; Wool′ding.
English · e-38700-9539Woom, wōōm, n. beaver fur.
English · e-38700-9540 · brief source recordWoomera, wōōm′ėr-a, n. a stick for spear-throwing (Austral.).
English · e-38700-9541 · brief source recordWoon, wōōn, n. a governor of a province. [Burmese.]
English · e-38700-9542 · brief source recordWoon, wōōn, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Won (1).
English · e-38700-9543 · brief source recordWoorali, woo′ra-li, n. a S. American poison for arrows.—Also Woo′rara, Wou′rali, same as Curari (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9544 · brief source recordWootz, woots, n. steel made by fusing iron with carbonaceous matter. [Perh. the Canarese ukku, steel.]
English · e-38700-9545 · brief source recordWop, wop, v.t. See Whop.
English · e-38700-9546 · brief source recordWord, wurd, n. an oral or written sign expressing an idea or notion: talk, discourse: signal or sign: message: promise: declaration: a pass-word, a watch-word, a war-cry: the Holy Scripture, or a part of it: (pl.) verbal
English · e-38700-9547Wordsworthian, wurds-wur′thi-an, adj. pertaining to the style of the sovereign poet of nature, William Wordsworth (1770-1850).—n. an admirer of Wordsworth.
English · e-38700-9548Wore, wōr, pa.t. of wear.
English · e-38700-9549 · brief source recordWork, wurk, n. effort directed to an end: employment: the result of work: that on which one works: anything made or done: embroidery: deed: effect: a literary composition: a book: management: an establishment for any man
English · e-38700-9550World, wurld, n. the earth and its inhabitants: the system of things: present state of existence: any planet or heavenly body: public life or society: an organic whole: business: the public: a secular life: course of lif
English · e-38700-9551Worm, wurm, n. a term destitute of scientific precision, but often applied to any one of the members of numerous classes of invertebrate animals which are more or less earthworm-like in appearance, the earthworm, a grub,
English · e-38700-9552Wormian, wurm′i-an, adj. associated with the name of the Danish anatomist Olaus Worm (1588-1654), applied esp. to the supernumerary bones developed in the sutures of the skull.
English · e-38700-9553Wormwood, wurm′wood, n. the bitter plant Artemisia absinthium: bitterness. [A.S. wermod (Ger. wermuth), wormwood; perh. lit. 'keep-mind,' in allusion to its medicinal (anthelmintic and tonic) properties—werian, to protec
English · e-38700-9554Worn, wōrn, pa.p. of wear.
English · e-38700-9555 · brief source recordWorn-out, wōrn′-owt, adj. much injured or rendered useless by wear: wearied: past, gone.
English · e-38700-9556 · brief source recordWorricow, wur′i-kow, n. (Scot.) a hobgoblin: the devil: anything frightful or even only grotesque.
English · e-38700-9557 · brief source recordWorry, wur′i, v.t. to tear with the teeth: to harass: to tease: (Scot.) to choke.—v.i. to trouble one's self: to be unduly anxious: to fret:—pa.t. and pa.p. worr′ied.—n. act of worrying: trouble, perplexity, vexation.—ns
English · e-38700-9558Worse, wurs, adj. (used as comp. of bad) bad or evil in a greater degree: more sick.—adv. bad in a higher degree: less: (Shak.) with more severity.—v.t. (obs.) to worst.—v.i. Wor′sen, to grow worse.—v.t. to make worse.—a
English · e-38700-9559Worship, wur′ship, n. religious service: fervent esteem: adoration paid to God: a title of honour in addressing certain magistrates, &c.: submissive respect.—v.t. to respect highly: to treat with civil reverence: to pay
English · e-38700-9560Worst, wurst, adj. bad or evil in the highest degree.—adv. to a very bad or very evil degree.—n. the highest degree of badness: the most evil state.—v.t. to get the advantage over in a contest: to defeat.—v.i. (obs.) to
English · e-38700-9561Worsted, woost′ed, or woorst′ed, n. twisted thread or yarn spun out of long, combed wool: woollen yarn for ornamental needlework.—adj. made of worsted yarn.—n. Worst′ed-work, needlework done with worsted. [From Worstead,
English · e-38700-9562Wort, wurt, n. a plant of the cabbage kind. [A.S. wyrt; Ger. wurz, wurzel, a root.]
English · e-38700-9563 · brief source recordWort, wurt, n. new beer unfermented or in the act of fermentation: the sweet infusion of malt. [A.S. wyrte, new beer (Ice. virtr)—wyrt, root. See preceding word.]
English · e-38700-9564Worth, wurth, n. value: possessions: that quality which renders a thing valuable: price: moral excellence: importance.—adj. equal in value to: having a certain moral value: deserving of.—adj. Worth′ful.—adv. Worth′ily (t
English · e-38700-9565Worth, wurth, v.i. to be, happen, as in the phrase Woe worth=woe be to (with the noun in the dative). [A.S. weorthan, to become; cf. Ger. werden.]
English · e-38700-9566Wot, wot, Wotteth, wot′eth, v.t. (B.) pr.t. of obsolete wit, to know. [Wit.]
English · e-38700-9567 · brief source recordWould, wood, pa.t. of will.—adj. Would′-be, aspiring, trying, or merely professing to be.—n. a vain pretender. [A.S. wolde, pa.t. of willan.]
English · e-38700-9568Woulfe-bottle, woolf′-bot′l, n. a form of three-necked bottle, generally arranged in a series known as Woulfe's apparatus, used for the purpose of purifying gases, or of dissolving them in suitable solvents—from the name
English · e-38700-9569Wound, wownd, pa.t. and pa.p. of wind.
English · e-38700-9570 · brief source recordWound, wōōnd, n. any division of soft parts, including the skin, produced by external mechanical force—whether incised, punctured, contused, lacerated, or poisoned: any cut, bruise, hurt, or injury.—v.t. to make a wound
English · e-38700-9571Wourali. See Woorali.
English · e-38700-9572 · brief source recordWove, Woven, pa.t. and pa.p. of weave.
English · e-38700-9573 · brief source recordWow, wow, v.i. (Spens.) to woo.
English · e-38700-9574 · brief source recordWow, wow, interj. an exclamation of wonder.
English · e-38700-9575 · brief source recordWow-Wow, wow′-wow, n. the gibbon of Sumatra.
English · e-38700-9577 · brief source recordWowf, wowf, adj. (Scot.) crazy.
English · e-38700-9576 · brief source recordWox, Woxen. (Spens.), pa.t. and pa.p. of wax.
English · e-38700-9578 · brief source recordWrack, Rack, rak, n. a term loosely given to various seaweeds, esp. to the Fucaceæ, common on British shores, long valuable as a source of kelp, and utilised as manure: shipwreck: ruin.—adj. Wrack′ful, destructive. [Lit.
English · e-38700-9579Wrack, rak, by-form of wreck.
English · e-38700-9580 · brief source recordWraith, rāth, n. a spectre: an apparition in the exact likeness of a person seen before or soon after his death. [Cf. dial. form warth, an apparition; prob. orig. having the sense of 'guardian spirit'—Ice. vörthr, a guar
English · e-38700-9581Wrangle, rang′gl, v.i. to make a disturbance: to dispute: to dispute noisily or peevishly.—n. a noisy dispute.—ns. Wrang′ler, one who wrangles or disputes angrily: (Shak.) a stubborn foe: in the University of Cambridge,
English · e-38700-9582Wrap, rap, v.t. to roll or fold together: to enfold: hide: to cover by winding something round (often with up):—pr.p. wrap′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. wrapped.—n. a wrapper, as a shawl, &c.—ns. Wrap′page, act of wrapping: thin
English · e-38700-9583Wrap. Same as Rap.
English · e-38700-9584 · brief source recordWrasse, ras, n. a genus of bony fishes representative of the large family Labridæ, and including many species on European and North African coasts. Common British species are the ballan-wrasse, the red wrasse, and the gi
English · e-38700-9585Wrath, räth, n. violent anger: holy indignation: heat.—adj. violently angry.—adj. Wrath′ful, full of wrath: very angry: springing from, or expressing, wrath.—adv. Wrath′fully.—n. Wrath′fulness.—adv. Wrath′ily.—adjs. Wrat
English · e-38700-9586Wrawl, rawl, v.i. (Spens.) to cry as a cat, to caterwaul. [Imit.]
English · e-38700-9587 · brief source recordWraxling, raks′ling, n. wrestling.
English · e-38700-9588 · brief source recordWreak, rēk, v.t. to inflict: avenge.—n. Wreak′er.—adjs. Wreak′ful, revengeful: angry; Wreak′less, unpunished. [A.S. wrecan, orig. to drive, and so to punish, avenge; Ice. reka, to drive, pursue, Ger. rächen; conn. with L
English · e-38700-9589Wreak, rēk, v.i. (Shak.). Same as Reck.
English · e-38700-9590 · brief source recordWreath, rēth, n. a chaplet: a garland: anything long and circular: a defect in glass.—v.t. Wreathe (rēth), to form by twisting: to form into a wreath: to twine about or encircle.—v.i. to be interwoven.—adj. Wreath′en (th
English · e-38700-9591Wreck, rek, n. destruction: destruction of a ship: ruins of a destroyed ship: remains of anything ruined: shipwrecked property.—v.t. to destroy or disable: to ruin.—v.i. to suffer wreck or ruin.—ns. Wreck′age, the act of
English · e-38700-9592Wreck, rek, n. (Spens.) same as Wreak.—v.t. (Milt.) to wreak.
English · e-38700-9593 · brief source recordWren, ren, n. a genus (Troglodytes) and family (Troglodytidæ) of birds, having a slender, slightly curved and pointed bill, the wings very short and rounded, the tail short and carried erect, the legs slender and rather
English · e-38700-9594Wrench, rensh, v.t. to wring or pull with a twist: to force by violence: to sprain.—v.i. to undergo a violent wrenching.—n. a violent twist: a sprain: an instrument for turning bolts, &c.: in coursing, bringing the hare
English · e-38700-9595Wrest, rest, v.t, to twist from by force: to twist from truth or from its natural meaning.—n. violent pulling and twisting: distortion: an instrument, like a wrench, for tuning the piano, &c.—n. Wrest′er. [A.S. wrǽstan—w
English · e-38700-9596Wrestle, res′l, v.i. to contend by grappling and trying to throw the other down: to struggle: to apply one's self keenly to: (Scot.) to pray earnestly.—v.t. to contend with in wrestling.—n. a bout at wrestling: a struggl
English · e-38700-9597Wretch, rech, n. a most miserable person: one sunk in vice: a worthless person: body, creature (in pity, sometimes admiration).—adj. Wretch′ed, very miserable: distressingly bad: despicable: worthless.—adv. Wretch′edly.—
English · e-38700-9598Wrethe, rēth, v.t. and v.i. (Spens.). Same as Wreathe.
English · e-38700-9599 · brief source recordWrick, rik, v.t. (prov.) to twist, turn. [Low Ger. wrikken, to turn.]
English · e-38700-9600 · brief source recordWriggle, rig′l, v.i. to twist to and fro: to move sinuously: to use crooked means.—v.t. to cause to wriggle.—n. the motion of wriggling.—ns. Wrigg′ler, one who wriggles: one who uses trickery; Wrigg′ling;. [A freq. of ob
English · e-38700-9601Wright, rīt, n. a maker (chiefly used in compounds, as ship-wright, &c.). [A.S. wyrhta—wyrht, a work—wyrcan, to work.]
English · e-38700-9602 · brief source recordWring, ring, v.t. to twist: to force, or force out, by twisting: to force or compress: to pain: to extort: to bend out of its position.—v.i. to writhe: to twist:—pa.t. and pa.p. wrung, (B.) wringed.—ns. Wring′-bolt, a bo
English · e-38700-9603Wrinkle, ring′kl, n. (coll.) a tip, valuable hint. [Perh. from A.S. wrenc, a trick. Cf. Wrench.]
English · e-38700-9604 · brief source recordWrinkle, ring′kl, n. a small ridge on a surface caused by twisting or shrinking: unevenness.—v.t. to contract into wrinkles or furrows: to make rough.—v.i. to shrink into ridges.—adj. Wrink′ly, full of wrinkles: liable t
English · e-38700-9605Wrist, rist, n. the joint by which the hand is united to the arm: a stud or pin projecting from the side of a crank.—ns. Wrist′band, the band or part of a sleeve which covers the wrist; Wrist′-drop, inability to extend t
English · e-38700-9606Writ, rit, obsolete pa.t. and pa.p. of write.
English · e-38700-9607 · brief source recordWrit, rit, n. a writing: (law) a written document by which one is summoned or required to do something: a formal document, any writing.—Holy Writ, the Scriptures.—Serve a writ on, to deliver a summons to.
English · e-38700-9608Write, rīt, v.t. to form letters with a pen or pencil: to express in writing: to compose: to engrave: to record: to communicate by letter.—v.i. to perform the act of writing: to be employed as a clerk: to compose books:
English · e-38700-9609Writhe, rīth, v.t. to turn to and fro: to twist violently: to wrest: (obs.) to extort.—v.i. to twist.—n. (rare) a contortion.—adv. Wrī′thingly. [A.S. wríthan, to twist; Ice. rítha. Cf. Wreath, Wrest, Wrist.]
English · e-38700-9610Writhle, rith′l, v.t. (Spens.) to wrinkle: (Shak.) to shrivel.
English · e-38700-9611 · brief source recordWrizzled, riz′ld, adj. (Spens.) wrinkled.
English · e-38700-9612 · brief source recordWroke, rōk, Wroken, rōk′n, obsolete pa.p. of wreak.
English · e-38700-9613 · brief source recordWrong, rong, adj. not according to rule or right, deviating from what is correct or suitable: perverse: not fit or suitable: incorrect: not right or true.—n. whatever is not right or just: any injury done to another: an
English · e-38700-9614Wrote, rōt. pa.t. of write.
English · e-38700-9615 · brief source recordWroth, rōth, adj. wrathful. [A.S. wráth, angry—wráth, pa.t. of wríthan, to writhe; cf. Ice. reithr.]
English · e-38700-9616 · brief source recordWrought, rawt, pa.t. and pa.p. of work.—n. Wrought′-ī′ron, malleable iron. [A.S. worhte, geworht, pa.t. and pa.p. of wyrcan, wircan, to work.]
English · e-38700-9617Wrung, rung, pa.t. and pa.p. of wring.
English · e-38700-9618 · brief source recordWry, rī, adj. twisted or turned to one side: not in the right direction.—n. (prov.) distortion.—v.i. (Shak.) to go astray.—v.t. to give a twist to, pervert.—n. Wry′bill, a New Zealand plover with bill bent sideways.—adv.
English · e-38700-9619Wull, wul, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Will.
English · e-38700-9620 · brief source recordWuther, wuth′ėr, v.i. (prov.) to roar sullenly.—n. a low roaring. [Perh. traceable to A.S. wóth, a cry.]
English · e-38700-9621 · brief source recordWuzzent, wuz′ent, adj. (Scot.) wizened.
English · e-38700-9622 · brief source recordWuzzle, wuz′l, v.t. (U.S.) to jumble.
English · e-38700-9623 · brief source recordWych-elm, n. See Witch-elm.
English · e-38700-9624 · brief source recordWyclifite, Wycliffite, wik′lif-īt, adj. pertaining to the English reformer and translator of the Bible, John Wycliffe (1325-84).—n. a follower of Wycliffe; a Lollard.
English · e-38700-9625Wykehamist, wik′am-ist, n. a student, or former student, of Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester (died 1404).
English · e-38700-9626Wylie-coat, wī′li-kōt, n. (Scot.) a flannel undervest or petticoat.
English · e-38700-9627 · brief source recordWynd, wīnd, n. (Scot.) a lane: narrow alley in a town. [Same as Wind (2).]
English · e-38700-9628 · brief source recordWyvern, wī′vrn, n. (her.) a fictitious monster allied to the dragon and the griffin, and having its two legs and feet like those of the eagle. [O. Fr. wivre, a viper—L. vipera.]
English · e-38700-9629X, the twenty-fourth letter in our alphabet, having in modern English the value of ks, which it had in Anglo-Saxon—except at the beginning of a word, where it is pronounced like z. As a numeral X stands for ten, [Image:
English · e-38700-9630X-rays. See under X.
English · e-38700-9672 · brief source recordXantheine, zan′the-in, n. the yellow colouring matter of flowers. [From Gr. xanthos, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9631 · brief source recordXanthian, zan′thi-an, adj. pertaining to Xanthus, the capital of ancient Lycia, in Asia Minor.
English · e-38700-9632 · brief source recordXanthin, zan′thin, n. a name given to the yellow colouring matter of various flowers, to a principle in madder, and to a deposit of urine.—n. Xan′thate, a salt of xanthic acid.—adj. Xan′thic. [Gr. xanthos, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9633Xanthium, zan′thi-um, n. a weedy plant of the aster family.—Also Cockle-bur, Clot-bur.
English · e-38700-9634 · brief source recordXanthochroi, zan-thok′roi, n.pl. one of the five groups of men, according to Huxley and other ethnologists, comprising the fair whites.—n. Xanthochroi′a, a yellow discolouration of the skin.—adjs. Xanthochrō′ic, Xanthoch
English · e-38700-9635Xanthoma, zan-thō′ma, n. a skin disease consisting of a growth of flat or tuberculated yellowish patches, often on the eyelids.—adj. Xanthoma′atous. [Gr. xanthos, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9636Xanthomelanous, zan-thō-mel′a-nus, adj. applied to a type of men with black hair and yellow or olive skins. [Gr. xanthos, yellow, melas, -anos, black.]
English · e-38700-9637Xanthophyll, zan′thō-fil, n. any one of certain yellow pigments contained in leaves.
English · e-38700-9638 · brief source recordXanthopsy, zan′thop-si, n. a kind of colour-blindness in which everything looks yellowish.
English · e-38700-9639 · brief source recordXanthosis, zan-thō′sis, n. the formation of a yellowish pigment in the areolar or muscular tissue, discolouring the skin—esp. in cancerous tumours.
English · e-38700-9640Xanthous, zan′thus, adj. yellow. [Gr. xanthos, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9641 · brief source recordXanthoxylum, zan-thok′si-lum, n. a genus of the Rutaceæ, comprising over one hundred species, of which many are found in Brazil and the West Indies—the Prickly Ash or Toothache-tree. [Formed from Gr. xanthos, yellow, xyl
English · e-38700-9642Xanthura, zan-thū′ra, n. a genus of American jays, with yellow tail. [Gr. xanthos, yellow, oura, tail.]
English · e-38700-9643 · brief source recordXantippe, zan-tip′e, n. a scold, shrew. [Wife of Socrates.]
English · e-38700-9644 · brief source recordXebec, zē′bek, n. a small three-masted vessel much used by the former corsairs of Algiers. [Sp.,—Turk. sumbakī.]
English · e-38700-9645 · brief source recordXema, zē′ma, n. the genus of fork-tailed gulls.
English · e-38700-9646 · brief source recordXenarthral, zen-arth′ral, adj. peculiarly jointed, as dorso-lumbar vertebræ. [Gr. xenos, strange, arthron, a joint.]
English · e-38700-9647 · brief source recordXenial, zē′ni-al, adj. of or belonging to hospitality. [Gr. xenos, a guest.]
English · e-38700-9648 · brief source recordXenium, zē′ni-um, n. a present made to a guest, stranger, or ambassador. [Gr.]
English · e-38700-9649 · brief source recordXenodochy, zē-nod′ō-ki, n. reception of strangers.—n. Xenodochē′um, a building for the reception of strangers: an inn in modern Greece.
English · e-38700-9650Xenogamy, zen-og′a-mi, n. (bot.) cross-fertilisation. [Gr. xenos, strange, gamos, marriage.]
English · e-38700-9651 · brief source recordXenogenesis, zen-ō-jen′e-sis, n. the generation of something altogether and permanently unlike the parent.—adj. Xenogenet′ic. [Gr. xenos, a stranger, genesis, birth.]
English · e-38700-9652Xenomania, zen-ō-mā′ni-a, n. an inordinate attachment to things foreign. [Gr. xenos, foreign, mania, madness.]
English · e-38700-9653 · brief source recordXenomenia, zen-ō-mē′nī-a, n. vicarious or supplementary menstruation. [Gr. xenos, strange, mēniaia, menses.]
English · e-38700-9654 · brief source recordXenomorphic, zen-ō-mor′fik, adj. not having its own proper form, but an irregular shape impressed by adjacent minerals. [Gr. xenos, strange, morphē, form.]
English · e-38700-9655Xenops, zē′nops, n. a genus of South American tree-creepers, with short turned-up bills. [Gr. xenos, strange, ōps, face.]
English · e-38700-9656Xenurus, zē-nū′rus, n. a genus of armadillos.—adj. Xenū′rine. [Gr. xenos, strange, oura, tail.]
English · e-38700-9657 · brief source recordXeransis, zē-ran′sis, n. siccation.—Also Xerō′sis.
English · e-38700-9658 · brief source recordXerantic, zē-ran′tik, adj. drying up, exsiccant.
English · e-38700-9659 · brief source recordXerasia, zē-rā′si-a, n. a morbid dryness of the hair.—Also Xerō′sis. [Gr. xēros, dry.]
English · e-38700-9660 · brief source recordXeroderma, zē-rō-der′ma, n. a morbid state of dryness of the skin due to diminished secretion of the sebaceous glands.
English · e-38700-9661 · brief source recordXerodes, zē-rō′dēs, n. any tumour attended with dryness.
English · e-38700-9662 · brief source recordXeromyrum, zē-rom′i-rum, n. a dry ointment.
English · e-38700-9663 · brief source recordXerophagy, zē-rof′a-ji, n. the habit of living on dry food. [Gr. xēros, dry, phagein, to eat.]
English · e-38700-9664 · brief source recordXerophilous, zē-rof′i-lus, adj. (bot.) loving dryness.
English · e-38700-9665 · brief source recordXerophthalmia, zē-rof-thal′mi-a, n. a dry form of conjunctivis.
English · e-38700-9666 · brief source recordXerostomia, zē-rō-stō′mi-a, n. abnormal dryness of the mouth.
English · e-38700-9667 · brief source recordXerotes, zē′rō-tēz, n. a dry habit of body.—adj. Xerot′ic.
English · e-38700-9668 · brief source recordXerotribia, zē-rō-trib′i-a, n. dry friction.—Also Xerotrip′sis.
English · e-38700-9669 · brief source recordXiphoid, zif′oid, adj. resembling the sword-fish.
English · e-38700-9670 · brief source recordXoanon, zō′a-non, n. a primitive statue, fallen from heaven, originally of wood, later overlaid with ivory and gold. [Gr.]
English · e-38700-9671Xylanthrax, zī-lan′thraks, n. wood-coal.
English · e-38700-9673 · brief source recordXylem, zī′lem, n. the woody part of vegetable tissue—opposed to the phloëm, or bast part.
English · e-38700-9674 · brief source recordXylobalsamum, zī-lō-bal′sa-mum, n. the dried twigs of the balm-of-Gilead tree.
English · e-38700-9675 · brief source recordXylocarp, zī′lō-kärp, n. a hard and woody fruit.—adj. Xylocar′pous.
English · e-38700-9676 · brief source recordXylography, zi-log′ra-fi, n. the art of engraving on wood.—ns. Xyl′ograph, an impression or print from a wood block: an impression of the grain of wood for surface decoration; Xylog′rapher.—adjs. Xylograph′ic, -al. [Gr.
English · e-38700-9677Xyloid, zī′loid, adj. woody, ligneous.
English · e-38700-9678 · brief source recordXyloidine, zī-loi′din, n. an explosive like gun-cotton, prepared by the action of strong nitric acid on starch or woody fibre. [Gr. xylon, wood, eidos, form, appearance.]
English · e-38700-9679Xylol, zī′lol, n. any of the metameric dimethyl benzenes. [Gr. xylon, wood, L. oleum, oil.]
English · e-38700-9680 · brief source recordXylonite, zī′-lō-nīt, n. a kind of celluloid (q.v.). [Gr. xylon, wood.]
English · e-38700-9681 · brief source recordXylophagan, zī-lof′a-gan, n. one of the Xyloph′aga, a genus of boring bivalves.
English · e-38700-9682 · brief source recordXylophagous, zī-lof′a-gus, adj. wood-eating.
English · e-38700-9683 · brief source recordXylophilous, zī-lof′i-lus, adj. fond of wood, living upon wood.
English · e-38700-9684 · brief source recordXylophone, zī′lō-fōn, n. a musical instrument consisting of a graduated series of wooden bars, which are rested on straw, and are struck by wooden hammers. [Gr. xylon, wood, phōnē, a voice.]
English · e-38700-9685Xylopia, zī-lō′pī-a, n. a genus of plants, natives of the tropics, chiefly in America. [Gr. xylon, wood, pikros, bitter.]
English · e-38700-9686Xylopyrography, zī-lō-pī-rog′ra-fi, n. poker-painting.
English · e-38700-9687 · brief source recordXyst, zist, n. a covered portico used by athletes for their exercises.—Also Xyst′os, Xyst′us.
English · e-38700-9688 · brief source recordXyster, zis′tėr, n. a surgeon's instrument for scraping bones.
English · e-38700-9689 · brief source recordY, the twenty-fifth letter of our alphabet.—Y=150; [overline: Y]=150,000.—ns. Y′-level, an engineers' spirit-level, so called because of the telescope formerly resting on 'Y's,' capable of being rotated at will—now subst
English · e-38700-9690Y-clad, i-klad′, an obsolete form of clad, pa.p. of clothe.
English · e-38700-9733 · 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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