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 ↗
Exoskeleton, ek-sō-skel′e-tun, n. any structure produced by the hardening of the integument, as the scales of fish, but esp. when bony, as the carapace of the turtle, &c.—adj. Exoskel′etal. [Gr. exō, outside, skeleton.]
English · e-38538-1181Exosmose, eks′os-mōz, n. the passage outward of fluids, gases, &c. through porous media, esp. living animal membranes—also Exosmō′sis.—adj. Exosmot′ic. [L.,—Gr. ex, out, ōsmos, pushing.]
English · e-38538-1182Exostome, eks′os-tōm, n. the small opening in the outer coating of the ovule of a plant. [Gr. exō, without, stoma, a mouth.]
English · e-38538-1183Exostosis, eks-os-tō′sis, n. (anat.) morbid enlargement of a bone. [Gr. ex, out, osteon, a bone.]
English · e-38538-1184 · brief source recordExoteric, -al, eks-o-ter′ik, -al, adj. external: fit to be communicated to the public or multitude—opp. to Esoteric.—n. Exoter′icism. [Gr. exōterikos—comp. formed from exō, outside.]
English · e-38538-1185Exotic, egz-ot′ik, adj. introduced from a foreign country—the opposite of indigenous.—n. anything of foreign origin: something not native to a country, as a plant, a word, a custom.—ns. Exot′icism, Ex′otism. [L.,—Gr. exō
English · e-38538-1186Expand, eks-pand′, v.t. to spread out: to lay open: to enlarge in bulk or surface: to develop, or bring out in fuller detail.—v.i. to become opened: to enlarge.—ns. Expanse′, a wide extent of space: the firmament; Expans
English · e-38538-1187Expatiate, eks-pā′shi-āt, v.i. to range at large: to enlarge in discourse, argument, or writing.—n. Expatiā′tion, act of expatiating or enlarging in discourse.—adjs. Expā′tiative, Expā′tiatory, expansive.—n. Expā′tiator.
English · e-38538-1189Expatriate, eks-pā′tri-āt, v.t. to send out of one's native country: to banish, or exile.—n. Expatriā′tion, act of expatriating: exile, voluntary or compulsory. [Low L. expatriāre, -ātum—ex, out of, patria, fatherland.]
English · e-38538-1190Expect, eks-pekt′, v.t. to wait for: to look forward to as something about to happen: to anticipate: to hope.—n. (Shak.) expectation.—ns. Expect′ance, Expect′ancy, act or state of expecting: that which is expected: hope.
English · e-38538-1191Expectorate, eks-pek′to-rāt, v.t. to expel from the breast or lungs by coughing, &c.: to spit forth.—v.i. to discharge or eject phlegm from the throat.—adj. Expec′torant, tending to promote expectoration.—n. a medicine w
English · e-38538-1192Expedient, eks-pē′di-ent, adj. suitable: advisable: (Shak.) hasty.—n. that which serves to promote: means suitable to an end: contrivance.—ns. Expē′dience (Shak.), haste, despatch: expediency; Expē′diency, fitness: desir
English · e-38538-1193Expedite, eks′pe-dīt, v.t. to free from impediments: to hasten: to send forth: to despatch.—adj. free from impediment: unencumbered: quick: prompt.—adv. Ex′peditely.—n. Expedi′tion, speed: promptness: any undertaking by
English · e-38538-1194Expel, eks-pel′, v.t. to drive out: eject: to discharge: to banish: (Shak.) to keep off:—pr.p. expel′ling; pa.p. expelled′. [L. expellĕre, expulsum—ex, out, pellĕre, to drive.]
English · e-38538-1195Expend, eks-pend′, v.t. to lay out: to employ or consume in any way: to spend.—ns. Expend′iture, act of expending or laying out: that which is expended: the process of using up: money spent; Expense′ (Shak.), expenditure
English · e-38538-1196Experience, eks-pē′ri-ens, n. thorough trial of: practical acquaintance with any matter gained by trial: repeated trial: long and varied observation, personal or general: wisdom derived from the changes and trials of lif
English · e-38538-1197Experiment, eks-per′i-ment, n. a trial: something done to prove some theory, or to discover something unknown.—v.i. to make an experiment or trial: to search by trial.—adj. Experiment′al, founded or known by experiment:
English · e-38538-1198Expert, eks-pėrt′, adj. taught by practice: having a familiar knowledge: having a facility of performance: skilful, adroit.—n. Ex′pert, one who is expert or skilled in any art or science: a specialist: a scientific or pr
English · e-38538-1199Expiate, eks′pi-āt, v.t. to make complete atonement for: to make satisfaction or reparation for.—p.adj. (Shak.) expired.—adj. Ex′piable, capable of being expiated, atoned for, or done away.—ns. Expiā′tion, act of expiati
English · e-38538-1200Expire, eks-pīr′, v.t. to breathe out: to emit or throw out from the lungs: to emit in minute particles.—v.i. to breathe out the breath of life: to die out (of fire): to die: to come to an end.—adj. Expī′rable, that may
English · e-38538-1201Expiscate, eks-pis′kāt, v.t. to find out by skilful means or by strict examination.—n. Expiscā′tion.—adj. Expis′catory. [L. expiscāri, expiscātus—ex, out, piscāri, to fish—piscis, a fish.]
English · e-38538-1202Explain, eks-plān′, v.t. to make plain or intelligible: to unfold and illustrate the meaning of: to expound: to account for.—adj. Explain′able, that may be explained or cleared up.—ns. Explain′er, one who explains; Expla
English · e-38538-1203Expletive, eks′ple-tiv, adj. filling out: added for ornament or merely to fill up.—n. a word or syllable inserted for ornament or to fill up a vacancy: an oath.—adj. Ex′pletory, serving to fill up: expletive. [L. expleti
English · e-38538-1204Explicate, eks′pli-kāt, v.t. to unfold, develop: to lay open or explain the meaning of.—adj. Ex′plicable, capable of being explicated or explained.—n. Explicā′tion, act of explicating or explaining: explanation.—adjs. Ex
English · e-38538-1205Explicit, eks-plis′it, adj. not implied merely, but distinctly stated: plain in language: outspoken: clear: unreserved.—adv. Explic′itly.—n. Explic′itness. [L. explicitus, from explicāre.]
English · e-38538-1206Explicit, eks′plis-it, n. a term formerly put at the end of a book, indicating that it is finished. [Contr. from L. explicitus est liber, the book is unrolled.]
English · e-38538-1207Explode, eks-plōd′, v.t. to cry down, as an actor: to bring into disrepute, and reject: to cause to blow up.—v.i. to burst with a loud report: to burst into laughter.—p.adj. Explō′ded, rejected, discarded.—n. Explō′sion,
English · e-38538-1208Exploit, eks-ploit′, n. a deed or achievement, esp. an heroic one: a feat.—v.t. to work up: to utilise for one's own ends.—adj. Exploit′able.—ns. Exploit′age, Exploitā′tion, the act of successfully applying industry to a
English · e-38538-1209Explore, eks-plōr′, v.t. to search for the purpose of discovery: to examine thoroughly.—n. Explorā′tion, act of searching thoroughly.—adjs. Explor′ative, Explor′atory, serving to explore: searching out.—n. Explor′er, one
English · e-38538-1210Exponent, eks-pō′nent, n. he who, or that which, points out, or represents: (alg.) a figure which shows how often a quantity is to be multiplied by itself, as a3: an index: an example, illustration.—adj. Exponen′tial (al
English · e-38538-1211Exponible, eks-pō′ni-bl, adj. able to be, or requiring to be, explained.
English · e-38538-1212 · brief source recordExport, eks-pōrt′, v.t. to carry or send out of a country, as goods in commerce.—n. Ex′port, act of exporting: that which is exported: a commodity which is or may be sent from one country to another, in traffic.—adj. Exp
English · e-38538-1213Expose, eks-pōz′, v.t. to lay forth to view: to deprive of cover, protection, or shelter: to make bare: to abandon (an infant): to explain: to make liable to: to disclose: to show up.—ns. Exposé (eks-pō-zā′), an exposing
English · e-38538-1214Expostulate, eks-post′ū-lāt, v.i. to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his conduct: to remonstrate: (Shak.) to discuss: (Milt.) to claim.—n. Expostulā′tion, act of expostulating, or reasoning earnestl
English · e-38538-1215Expound, eks-pownd′, v.t. to expose, or lay open the meaning of: to explain: to interpret: to explain in a certain way.—n. Expound′er, one who expounds: an interpreter. [O. Fr. espondre—L. exponĕre—ex, out, ponĕre, to pl
English · e-38538-1216Express, eks-pres′, v.t. to press or force out: to emit: to represent or make known by a likeness or by words: to declare, reveal: to out into words: to state plainly: to designate.—adj. pressed or clearly brought out: e
English · e-38538-1217Expromission, eks-prō-mish′un, n. the intervention of a new debtor, substituted for the former one, who is consequently discharged by the creditor.—n. Expromis′sor.
English · e-38538-1218Expropriate, eks-prō′pri-āt, v.t. to dispossess.—n. Expropriā′tion. [L. expropriāre, -ātum—ex, out, proprium, property.]
English · e-38538-1219Expugnable, eks-pug′na-bl, or eks-pū′-, adj. (rare) capable of being stormed.—v.t. Expūgn′, to overcome.—n. Expugnā′tion. [Fr.,—L. expugnāre.]
English · e-38538-1220Expulsion, eks-pul′shun, n. the act of expelling: banishment.—v.t. Expulse′ (obs.), to expel forcibly, eject.—adj. Expul′sive, able or serving to expel. [L. expulsio. See Expel.]
English · e-38538-1221Expunge, eks-punj′, v.t. to wipe out: to efface.—n. Expunc′tion. [L. expungĕre, to prick out, erase—ex, out, pungĕre, to prick.]
English · e-38538-1222Expurgate, eks′pur-gāt, or eks-pur′-, v.t. to purge out or render pure: to purify from anything noxious or erroneous.—ns. Expurgā′tion, act of expurgating or purifying: the removal of anything hurtful or evil: exculpatio
English · e-38538-1223Exquisite, eks′kwi-zit, adj. of superior quality: excellent: of delicate perception or close discrimination: not easily satisfied: fastidious: exceeding, extreme, as pain or pleasure.—n. one exquisitely nice or refined i
English · e-38538-1224Exsanguinous, eks-sang′gwin-us, adj. without blood: anæmic—also Exsang′uine, -d, Exsanguin′eous.—n. Exsanguin′ity. [L. ex, neg., sanguis, blood.]
English · e-38538-1225Exscind, ek-sind′, v.t. to cut off. [L. ex, off, scindĕre, to cut.]
English · e-38538-1226 · brief source recordExsect, ek-sekt′, v.t. to cut out.—n. Exsec′tion. [L. ex, out, secāre, to cut.]
English · e-38538-1227 · brief source recordExsert, eks-sert′, v.t. to protrude.—p.adj. Exsert′ed, projecting.—adj. Exser′tile.—n. Exser′tion.
English · e-38538-1228 · brief source recordExsiccate, ek′si-kāt, or ek-sik′-, v.t. to dry up.—adj. Exsicc′ant.—n. Exsiccā′tion.—adj. Exsicc′ative.—n. Ex′siccātor. [L. exsiccāre—ex-, siccus, dry.]
English · e-38538-1229Exsputory, ek-spū′tō-ri, adj. that is spit out or rejected. [L. expuĕre, exsputum, to spit out.]
English · e-38538-1230 · brief source recordExstipulate, ek-stip′ū-lāt, adj. (bot.) without stipules.
English · e-38538-1231 · brief source recordExsuccous, eks-suk′us, adj. destitute of sap.
English · e-38538-1232 · brief source recordExsufflicate, eks-suf′fli-kāt, adj. (Shak.) puffed out, contemptible, abominable.—v.t. Exsuf′flāte, to exorcise. [Prob. from L. ex, out, and sufflāre, to blow out—sub, under, flāre, to blow.]
English · e-38538-1233Extant, eks′tant, adj. standing out, or above the rest: still standing or existing. [L. extans, antis—ex, out, stāre, to stand.]
English · e-38538-1234Extasy, Extatic. Same as Ecstasy, Ecstatic.
English · e-38538-1235 · brief source recordExtempore, eks-tem′po-re, adv. on the spur of the moment: without preparation: suddenly.—adj. sudden: rising at the moment: of a speech delivered without help of manuscript.—adjs. Extem′poral, Extemporā′neous, Extem′pora
English · e-38538-1236Extend, eks-tend′, v.t. to stretch out: to prolong in any direction: to enlarge, expand: to widen: to hold out: to bestow or impart: (law) to seize: to make a valuation of property by the oath of a jury.—v.i. to stretch:
English · e-38538-1237Extenuate, eks-ten′ū-āt, v.t. to lessen: to underrate: to weaken the force of: to palliate.—p.adj. Exten′uating, palliating.—adv. Exten′uatingly.—n. Extenuā′tion, act of representing anything as less wrong or criminal th
English · e-38538-1238Exterior, eks-tē′ri-or, adj. outer: outward, external: on or from the outside: foreign.—n. outward part or surface: outward form or deportment: appearance.—n. Exterior′ity.—adv. Extē′riorly, outwardly. [L. exterior, comp
English · e-38538-1239Exterminate, eks-tėr′mi-nāt, v.t. to destroy utterly: to put an end to: to root out.—adj. Exter′minable, that can be exterminated: used in the sense of 'illimitable' by Shelley.—n. Exterminā′tion, complete destruction or
English · e-38538-1240External, eks-tėr′nal, adj. exterior: lying outside: outward: belonging to the world of outward things: that may be seen: not innate or intrinsic: accidental: foreign.—n. exterior: (pl.) the outward parts: outward or non
English · e-38538-1241Exterraneous, eks-ter-rā′ne-us, adj. belonging to or coming from abroad, foreign.—adjs. Exterritō′rial, Extraterritō′rial, exempt from territorial jurisdiction. [L. exterraneus—ex, out of, terra, the earth.]
English · e-38538-1242Extersion, eks-ter′shun, n. the act of rubbing out.
English · e-38538-1243 · brief source recordExtinct, eks-tingkt′, adj. put out: extinguished: no longer existing: dead.—adj. Extinct′ed, extinguished.—ns. Extincteur (eks-tang′tür, eks-tingk′tür—see Extinguisher); Extinc′tion, a quenching or destroying: destructio
English · e-38538-1244Extine, eks′tin, n. (bot.) the outer coat of the pollen-grain or of a spore.
English · e-38538-1245 · brief source recordExtinguish, eks-ting′gwish, v.t. to quench: to destroy, annihilate: to obscure by superior splendour.—v.i. to die out.—adj. Exting′uishable.—ns. Exting′uisher, one who, or that which, extinguishes: a small hollow conical
English · e-38538-1246Extirpate, eks′tėr-pāt, v.t. to root out: to destroy totally: to exterminate—(obs.) Extirp′.—adj. Extirp′able.—ns. Extirpā′tion, extermination: total destruction; Extirp′ator.—adj. Extirp′atory. [L. exstirpāre, -ātum—ex,
English · e-38538-1247Extol, eks-tol′, v.t. to magnify: to praise:—pr.p. extolling; pa.p. extolled′.—n. Extol′ment, the act of extolling: the state of being extolled. [L. extollĕre—ex, up, tollĕre, to lift or raise.]
English · e-38538-1248Extort, eks-tort′, v.t. to gain or draw from by compulsion or violence.—p.adj. wrongfully obtained.—adj. Extors′ive, serving or tending to extort.—adv. Extors′ively.—n. Extor′tion, illegal or oppressive exaction: that wh
English · e-38538-1249Extra, eks′tra, adj. beyond or more than the usual or the necessary: extraordinary: additional.—adv. unusually.—n. what is extra or additional, as an item above and beyond the ordinary school curriculum: something over a
English · e-38538-1250Extract, eks-trakt′, v.t. to draw out by force or otherwise: to choose out or select: to find out: to distil.—n. Ex′tract, anything drawn from a substance by heat, distillation, &c., as an essence: a passage taken from a
English · e-38538-1251Extradition, eks-tra-dish′un, n. a delivering up by one government to another of fugitives from justice.—adj. Extradī′table.—v.t. Ex′tradite, to hand over to justice. [L. ex, from, traditio—tradĕre, traditum, to deliver
English · e-38538-1252Extrados, eks-trā′dos, n. the convex surface of an arch or vault. [Fr.]
English · e-38538-1253 · brief source recordExtraneous, eks-trān′yus, adj. external: foreign: not belonging to or dependent on a thing: not essential.—n. Extranē′ity.—adv. Extran′eously. [L. extraneus, external, ex, from, extra, outside.]
English · e-38538-1254Extraordinary, eks-tror′di-nar-i, or eks-trä-or′-, adj. beyond ordinary: not usual or regular: wonderful: special or supernumerary, as 'physician extraordinary' in a royal household, and 'extraordinary professor' in a Ge
English · e-38538-1255Extraught, eks-trawt′ (Shak.), pa.p. of Extract.
English · e-38538-1256 · brief source recordExtravagant, eks-trav′a-gant, adj. wandering beyond bounds: irregular: unrestrained: excessive: profuse in expenses: wasteful.—ns. Extrav′agance, excess: lavish expenditure: (Milt.) digression; Extrav′agancy (Shak.), vag
English · e-38538-1257Extravaganza, eks-trav-a-gan′za, n. an extravagant or eccentric piece of music or literary production: extravagant conduct or speech. [It.]
English · e-38538-1258Extravasate, eks-trav′a-sāt, v.t. to let out of the proper vessels.—adj. let out of its proper vessel: extravasated.—n. Extravasā′tion, act of extravasating: the escape of any of the fluids of the living body from their
English · e-38538-1259Extreat, eks-trēt′, n. (Spens.) extraction.
English · e-38538-1260 · brief source recordExtreme, eks-trēm′, adj. outermost: most remote: last: highest in degree: greatest: excessive: most violent: most urgent: stringent.—n. the utmost point or verge: end: utmost or highest limit or degree: great necessity.—
English · e-38538-1261Extricate, eks′tri-kāt, v.t. to free from hinderances or perplexities: to disentangle: to set free.—adj. Ex′tricable.—n. Extricā′tion, disentanglement: act of setting free. [L. extricāre, -ātum—ex, out, tricæ, hinderance
English · e-38538-1262Extrinsic, -al, eks-trin′sik, -al, adj. external: not contained in or belonging to a body: foreign: not essential—opp. to Intrinsic.—n. Extrinsical′ity.—adv. Extrin′sically. [Fr.,—L. extrinsecus—exter, outside, secus, be
English · e-38538-1263Extrorse, eks-trors′, adj. turned outward.—Also Extror′sal. [L. extra, outside, versus, turned.]
English · e-38538-1264 · brief source recordExtrude, eks-trōōd′, v.t. to force or urge out: to expel: to drive off.—n. Extru′sion, act of extruding, thrusting, or throwing out: expulsion.—adjs. Extru′sive, Extru′sory. [L. extrudĕre, extrusum—ex, out, trudĕre, to t
English · e-38538-1265Exuberant, eks-ū′bėr-ant, adj. plenteous: overflowing: happy: lavish.—ns. Exū′berance, Exū′berancy, quality of being exuberant: an overflowing quantity: superfluousness: outburst.—adv. Exū′berantly.—v.i. Exū′berāte, to b
English · e-38538-1266Exude, eks-ūd′, v.t. to discharge by sweating: to discharge through pores or incisions, as sweat, moisture, &c.—v.i. to flow out of a body through the pores.—n. Exudā′tion, act of exuding or discharging through pores: th
English · e-38538-1267Exul, eks′ul, n. (Spens.) an exile.
English · e-38538-1268 · brief source recordExulcerate, egz-ul′ser-āt, v.t. to exasperate, afflict.—n. Exulcerā′tion, ulceration: exasperation. [L. exculcerāre, -ātum—ex, out, ulcerāre.]
English · e-38538-1269Exult, egz-ult′, v.i. to rejoice exceedingly: to triumph.—ns. Exult′ance, Exult′ancy, exultation: triumph.—adj. Exult′ant, exulting: triumphant.—n. Exultā′tion, rapturous delight: transport.—adv. Exult′ingly. [L. exsultā
English · e-38538-1270Exuviæ, eks-ū′vi-ē, n.pl. cast-off skins, shells, or other coverings of animals: (geol.) fossil shells and other remains of animals.—adj. Exū′vial.—v.i. Exū′viāte, to lay aside an old covering or condition for a new one.
English · e-38538-1271Eyalet, ī′a-let, n. a division of the Turkish Empire—vilayet. [Turk.,—Ar. iyālahāl, to govern.]
English · e-38538-1272 · brief source recordEyas, ī′as, n. an unfledged hawk.—adj. (Spens.) unfledged.—n. Ey′as-mus′ket, an unfledged male hawk: (Shak.) a child. [Eyas, a corr. of nyas—Fr. niais—L. nidus, nest.]
English · e-38538-1273Eye, ī, n. (obs.) a brood. [For nye, neye; a neye=an eye. See Eyas.]
English · e-38538-1274 · brief source recordEye, ī, n. the organ of sight or vision, more correctly the globe or movable part of it: the power of seeing: sight: regard: aim: keenness of perception: anything resembling an eye, as the hole of a needle, loop or ring
English · e-38538-1275Eyne, īn, n.pl. (arch.) eyes.
English · e-38538-1276 · brief source recordEyot, ī′ot, n. a little island. [A variant of ait.]
English · e-38538-1277 · brief source recordEyre, ār, n. a journey or circuit: a court of itinerant justices.—Justices in eyre, itinerant judges who went on circuit. [O. Fr. eire, journey, from L. iter, a way, a journey—īre, itum, to go.]
English · e-38538-1278Eyry, Eyrie, old spellings of aerie.
English · e-38538-1279 · brief source recordF, the sixth letter in the English and Latin alphabets—its sound called a labio-dental fricative, and formed by bringing the lower lip into contact with the upper teeth: (mus.) the fourth note of the natural diatonic sca
English · e-38538-1280Fa-la, fä-lä, n. an old kind of madrigal.
English · e-38538-1336 · brief source recordFa′, fä, v. and n. a Scotch form of fall.
English · e-38538-1281 · brief source recordFa′ard, färd, adj. a Scotch form of favoured.
English · e-38538-1282 · brief source recordFabaceous, fā-bā′shi-us, adj. bean-like. [L. faba, a bean.]
English · e-38538-1283 · brief source recordFabian, fā′bi-an, adj. delaying, avoiding battle, cautious, practising the policy of delay.—n. a member of a small group of Socialists in England, called by this name. [From Q. Fabius Maximus, surnamed Cunctator ('delaye
English · e-38538-1284Fable, fā′bl, n. a narrative in which things irrational, and sometimes inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and speak with human interests and passions: any tale in literary form, not nece
English · e-38538-1285Fabliau, fab-li-ō′, n. one of a group of over a hundred metrical tales, usually satirical in quality, produced in France from about the middle of the 12th to the end of the 13th century:—pl. Fab′liaux. [Fr.]
English · e-38538-1286Fabric, fab′rik, or fā′brik, n. workmanship: texture: anything framed by art and labour: building, esp. the construction and maintenance of a church, &c.: manufactured cloth: any system of connected parts.—v.t. (Milt.) t
English · e-38538-1287Fabricate, fab′ri-kāt, v.t. to put together by art and labour: to manufacture: to produce: to devise falsely.—n. Fabricā′tion, construction: manufacture: that which is fabricated or invented: a story: a falsehood.—adj. F
English · e-38538-1288Fac-simile, fak-sim′i-lē, n. an exact copy, as of handwriting, a coin, &c.—adj. exactly corresponding.—v.t. to make a fac-simile of, to reproduce.—n. Fac-sim′ilist. [L. fac, imper. of facĕre, to make, simile, neut. of si
English · e-38538-1297Façade, fa-sād′, n. the exterior front or face of a building. [Fr.,—face, after It. facciata, the front of a building—faccia, the face.]
English · e-38538-1289Face, fās, n. the front part of the head, including forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and chin: the outside make or appearance: front or surface of anything: the edge of a cutting-tool, &c.: the part of a coal-seam ac
English · e-38538-1290Facet, fas′et, n. a small surface, as of a crystal.—v.t. to cut a facet upon, or cover with facets.—adj. Fac′eted, having or formed into facets. [Fr. facette, dim. of face.]
English · e-38538-1291Facetious, fa-sē′shus, adj. witty, humorous, jocose: bawdy—(obs. or arch.) Facete′.—n.pl. Facetiæ (fa-sē′shi-ē), witty or humorous sayings or writings: a bookseller's term for improper books—of all degrees of indecency.—
English · e-38538-1292Facial, fā′shal, adj. of or relating to the face.—adv. Fā′cially.—Facial angle, in craniometry, the angle formed by lines drawn to show to what extent the jaws are protruding and the forehead receding.
English · e-38538-1293Facies, fā′shi-ēz, n. general aspect of anything: the face, features. [L.]
English · e-38538-1294 · brief source recordFacile, fas′il, adj. easily persuaded: affable: yielding: easy of access or accomplishment: courteous: easy.—n. Fac′ileness.—v.t. Facil′itāte, to make easy: to lessen difficulty.—ns. Facilitā′tion; Facil′ity, quality of
English · e-38538-1295Facinorous, fa-sin′o-rus, adj. atrociously wicked.—n. Facin′orousness. [L. facinorosus—facinus, a crime—facĕre, to do.]
English · e-38538-1296 · brief source recordFact, fakt, n. a deed or anything done: anything that comes to pass: reality, or a real state of things, as distinguished from a mere statement or belief, a datum of experience: truth: the assertion of a thing done: an e
English · e-38538-1298Faction, fak′shun, n. a company of persons associated or acting together, mostly used in a bad sense: a contentious party in a state or society: dissension.—adj. Fac′tional.—ns. Fac′tionary, a member of a faction; Fac′ti
English · e-38538-1299Factitious, fak-tish′us, adj. made by art, in opposition to what is natural or spontaneous: conventional.—adv. Facti′tiously.—n. Facti′tiousness.—adjs. Fac′titive, causative; Fac′tive (obs.), making. [L. factitius—facĕre
English · e-38538-1300Factor, fak′tor, n. a doer or transactor of business for another: one who buys and sells goods for others, on commission: (Scot.) an agent managing heritable estates for another: (math.) one of two or more parts, which,
English · e-38538-1301Factotum, fak-tō′tum, n. a person employed to do all kinds of work for another. [Low L.,—L. fac, imper. of facĕre, to do, totum, all.]
English · e-38538-1302Facture, fak′tūr, n. the act or the result of making, workmanship.
English · e-38538-1303 · brief source recordFacula, fak′ū-la, n. a spot brighter than the rest of the surface, sometimes seen on the sun's disc:—pl. Fac′ulæ. [L., 'a torch,' dim. of fax, torch.]
English · e-38538-1304Faculty, fak′ul-ti, n. facility or power to act: any particular ability or aptitude: an original power of the mind: any physical capability or function: personal quality or endowment: right, authority, or privilege to ac
English · e-38538-1305Facundity, fa-kun′di-ti, n. (obs.) eloquence.
English · e-38538-1306 · brief source recordFad, fad, n. a weak or transient hobby, crotchet, or craze: any unimportant belief or practice intemperately urged.—adjs. Fad′dish, given to fads—also Fad′dy.—ns. Fad′disnness; Fad′dism; Fad′dist, one who is a slave to s
English · e-38538-1307Fadaise, fa-dāz′, n. a trifling thought or expression. [Fr.]
English · e-38538-1308 · brief source recordFaddle, fad′l, v.i. (prov.) to trifle.—n. nonsense, trifling—usually in fiddle-faddle.
English · e-38538-1309 · brief source recordFade, fād, v.i. to lose strength, freshness, or colour gradually: to vanish.—adj. insipid: weak.—adv. Fā′dedly.—adj. Fade′less.—adv. Fade′lessly.—n. Fā′ding (Shak.), the burden of a song.—adj. Fā′dy, wearing away. [O. Fr
English · e-38538-1310Fadge, faj, v.i. to agree: to succeed, turn out well. [Ety. dub.; not conn. with A.S. fégan, to join.]
English · e-38538-1311 · brief source recordFæces, Feces, fē′sēz, n.pl. sediment after infusion or distillation: dregs: the solid excrements.—adj. Fæ′cal, of or pertaining to fæces. [L., pl. of fæx, fæcis, grounds.]
English · e-38538-1312Faerie, Faery, fā′ėr-i, n. (arch.) the world of fairies, fairyland: (obs.) a fairy. [A variant of fairy.]
English · e-38538-1313 · brief source recordFag, fag, v.i. to become weary or tired out: to work hard: to be a fag.—v.t. to weary: to use as a fag:—pr.p. fag′ging; pa.p. fagged.—n. at Eton, Winchester, &c., a schoolboy forced to do menial offices for one older, wh
English · e-38538-1314Fag-end, fag′-end, n. the end of a web of cloth that hangs loose: the untwisted end of a rope: the refuse or meaner part of a thing.
English · e-38538-1315Faggot, Fagot, fag′ut, n. a bundle of sticks for fuel, fascines, &c.: a stick: anything like a faggot: a bundle of pieces of iron or steel cut off into suitable lengths for welding: a soldier numbered on the muster-roll,
English · e-38538-1316Fagotto, fag-ot′o, n. a bassoon.—n. Fagott′ist, one who plays on the bassoon. [It.]
English · e-38538-1317 · brief source recordFahlerz, fäl′erts, n. gray copper, or gray copper ore. [Ger.]
English · e-38538-1318 · brief source recordFahrenheit, fä′ren-hīt, or far′en-īt, n. the name applied to a thermometer, the freezing-point of which is marked at 32, and the boiling-point at 212 degrees (see Thermometer for the relations between the two scales). [N
English · e-38538-1319Faience, fā′yäns, n. a fine kind of pottery, glazed and painted. [Fr.; prob. from Faenza in Italy.]
English · e-38538-1320 · brief source recordFaik, fāk, v.i. and v.t. (Scot.) to abate: to excuse.
English · e-38538-1321 · brief source recordFail, fāl, n. a turf, sod.—n. Fail′-dike (Scot.), a turf-wall. [Perh. from Gael. fàl, a sod.]
English · e-38538-1322 · brief source recordFail, fāl, v.i. to fall short or be wanting (with in): to fall away: to decay: to die: to prove deficient under trial, examination, pressure, &c.: to miss: to be disappointed or baffled: to be unable to pay one's debts.—
English · e-38538-1323Fain, fān, adj. glad or joyful: inclined (with to): content to accept, for want of better: compelled: (Spens.) wont.—v.i. (Spens.) to delight.—adv. gladly.—adv. Fain′ly, gladly.—n. Fain′ness, eagerness. [A.S. fægen, joyf
English · e-38538-1324Fain, fān, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Feign.
English · e-38538-1325 · brief source recordFainéant, fā-nyang′, adj. and n. do-nothing, applied esp. to the later Merovingian kings of France, mere puppets, under whom the mayors of the Palace really governed the country.—ns. Fai′neance (Kingsley), Fai′neancy, Fa
English · e-38538-1326Faint, fānt, adj. wanting in strength: fading: lacking distinctness: not bright or forcible: weak in spirit: lacking courage: depressed: done in a feeble way.—v.i. to become feeble or weak: to lose strength, colour, &c.:
English · e-38538-1327Fair, fār, adj. bright: clear: free from blemish: pure: pleasing to the eye: beautiful: free from a dark hue: of a light shade: free from clouds or rain: favourable: unobstructed: open: prosperous: frank: impartial: just
English · e-38538-1328Fair, fār, n. a great periodical market for one kind of merchandise, or for the general sales and purchases of a district: a collection of miscellaneous goods for sale on behoof of charity at a bazaar, &c.—n. Fair′ing, a
English · e-38538-1329Fairy, fār′i, n. an imaginary being, generally of diminutive and graceful human form, capable of kindly or unkindly acts towards man: fairy-folk collectively: an enchantress, or creature of overpowering charm.—adj. like
English · e-38538-1330Faith, fāth, n. trust or confidence in any person: belief in the statement of another: belief in the truth of revealed religion: confidence and trust in God: the living reception by the heart of the truth as it is in Chr
English · e-38538-1331Faitor, fā′tor, n. an impostor: an evil-doer, a scoundrel.—Often Fai′tour. [O. Fr. faitor—L. factor.]
English · e-38538-1332 · brief source recordFake, fāk, v.t. to fold, coil.—n. a coil of rope, &c.
English · e-38538-1333 · brief source recordFake, fāk, v.t. to steal: to make up an article so as to hide its defects.—n. Fake′ment, any swindling device. [Prof. Skeat thinks it merely the Mid. Dut. facken, to catch; Mr Bradley suggests the earlier feak, feague, G
English · e-38538-1334Fakir, fa-kēr′, or fā′kėr, n. a member of a religious order of mendicants or penitents in India, &c.—n. Fakir′ism, religious mendicancy. [Ar. faqîr, a poor man, fakr, faqr, poverty.]
English · e-38538-1335Falbala, fal′ba-la, n. a trimming for women's petticoats: a furbelow. [Ety. dub.; cf. furbelow.]
English · e-38538-1337 · brief source recordFalcade, fal′kād′, n. the motion of a horse when he throws himself on his haunches in a very quick curvet. [Fr.,—L. fulcatus, bent.]
English · e-38538-1338Falcate, -d, fal′kāt, -ed, adj. (astron., bot.) bent like a sickle, as the crescent moon, and certain leaves.—ns. Falcā′tion; Fal′cula, a falcate or falciform claw.—adj. Fal′culate. [L. falx, a sickle.]
English · e-38538-1339Falchion, fawl′shun, n. a short, broad sword, bent somewhat like a sickle.—adj. Fal′ciform, sickle-shaped. [O. Fr. fauchon, through Low L., from L. falx, a sickle.]
English · e-38538-1340Falcon, fol′kon, or faw′kn, n. a bird of prey formerly trained to the pursuit of game: a kind of cannon.—ns. Fal′coner, one who sports with, or who breeds and trains, falcons or hawks for taking wild-fowl; Fal′conet, a s
English · e-38538-1341Faldage, fal′dāj, n. the right, often reserved by the lord of a manor, of folding his tenant's sheep in his own fields for the sake of the manure: a fee paid for exemption from the foregoing.
English · e-38538-1342Falderal, fäl′der-al, n. a meaningless refrain in songs: any kind of flimsy trifle—also Fol′derol and Fal de rol.—Falderal it, to sing unmeaning sounds.
English · e-38538-1343Faldetta, fal-det′a, n. a Maltese woman's combined hood and cape. [It.]
English · e-38538-1344 · brief source recordFaldstool, fawld′stōōl, n. a folding or camp stool: a kind of stool for the king at his coronation: a bishop's armless seat: a small desk in churches in England, at which the litany should be sung or said.—n. Fald′istory
English · e-38538-1345Falernian, fa-ler′ni-an, adj. pertaining to a district (Falernus ager) in Campania, famous of old for its wine.—n. Faler′ne, a modern sweet white wine, produced near Naples.
English · e-38538-1346Fall, fawl, v.i. to drop down: to descend by the force of gravity: to become prostrate: (of a river) to discharge itself: to slope down: to sink as if dead: to vanish: to die away: to lose strength, subside: to decline i
English · e-38538-1347Fall, fawl, n. the cry given when a whale is sighted, or harpooned: the chase of a whale.—Loose fall, the losing of a whale. [Prob. from the north-eastern Scotch pronunciation of whale.]
English · e-38538-1348Fallacy, fal′a-si, n. something fallacious: deceptive appearance: an apparently genuine but really illogical argument: (obs.) deception.—adj. Fallā′cious, calculated to deceive or mislead: not well founded: causing disap
English · e-38538-1349Fallal, fal′lal′, or fal-lal′, n. a piece of ribbon worn as a streamer, any trifling ornament.—adj. foppish, trifling.—n. Fallal′ery.—adv. Fallal′ishly.
English · e-38538-1350Fallible, fal′i-bl, adj. liable to error or mistake.—n. Fallibil′ity, liability to err.—adv. Fall′ibly. [Fr.,—Low L. fallibilis, from fallĕre, to deceive.]
English · e-38538-1351Fallopian, fal-lō′pi-an, adj. denoting two tubes or ducts through which the ova pass from the ovary to the uterus in the human subject. [So called because supposed to have been discovered by the Italian anatomist Fallopi
English · e-38538-1352Fallow, fal′ō, adj. left untilled or unsowed for a time.—n. land that has lain a year or more untilled or unsown after having been ploughed.—v.t. to plough land without seeding it.—ns. Fall′owness, state of being fallow
English · e-38538-1353Fallow, fal′ō, adj. of a brownish-yellow colour.—ns. Fall′ow-chat, Fall′ow-finch, the wheatear or stonechat; Fall′ow-deer, a yellowish-brown deer smaller than the red-deer, with broad flat antlers. [A.S. falu; cf. Ger. f
English · e-38538-1354False, fawls, adj. deceptive or deceiving: untruthful: unfaithful to obligations: untrue: not genuine or real, counterfeit: hypocritical: not well founded, or not according to rule: artificial, as opposed to natural, of
English · e-38538-1355Falsetto, fawl-set′o, n. a forced voice of a range or register above the natural, the head voice. [It. falsetto, dim. of falso, false.]
English · e-38538-1356Falsify, fawls′i-fī, v.t. to forge or counterfeit: to prove untrustworthy: to break by falsehood:—pr.p. fals′ifying; pa.p. fals′ified.—adj. Fals′ifīable, capable of being falsified.—ns. Falsificā′tion, the act of making
English · e-38538-1357Falstaffian, fal′staf-i-an, adj. like Shakespeare's Falstaff—corpulent, jovial, humorous, and dissolute.
English · e-38538-1358 · brief source recordFalter, fawl′tėr, v.i. to stumble: to fail or stammer in speech: to tremble or totter: to be feeble or irresolute.—n. any unsteadiness.—n. Fal′tering, feebleness, deficiency.—adv. Fal′teringly, in a faltering or hesitati
English · e-38538-1359Falx, falks, n. a sickle-shaped part or process, as of the dura mater of the skull: a chelicera: a poison-fang of a snake: a rotula of a sea-urchin:—pl. Falces (fal′sēz). [L., a sickle.]
English · e-38538-1360Famble, fam′bl, n. (slang) the hand—also Fam.—v.t. to feel or handle. [Der. obscure; perh. from the obs. verb famble, in its probable original sense, 'to grope, fumble.']
English · e-38538-1361Fame, fām, n. public report or rumour: renown or celebrity, chiefly in good sense.—v.t. to report: to make famous.—n. Fā′ma, report, rumour, fame.—adjs. Famed, renowned; Fame′less, without renown.—Fama clamosa (Scot.), a
English · e-38538-1362Familiar, fa-mil′yar, adj. well acquainted or intimate: showing the manner of an intimate: free: unceremonious: having a thorough knowledge of: well known or understood: private, domestic: common, plain.—n. one well or l
English · e-38538-1363Family, fam′i-li, n. the household, or all those who live in one house under one head, including parents, children, servants: the children of a person: the descendants of one common progenitor: race: honourable or noble
English · e-38538-1364Famine, fam′in, n. general scarcity of food: extreme scarcity of anything, as in 'famine prices,' &c.: hunger: starvation. [Fr., through an unrecorded Low L. famina, from L. fames, hunger.]
English · e-38538-1365Famish, fam′ish, v.t. to starve.—v.i. to die or suffer extreme hunger or thirst.—n. Fam′ishment, starvation. [Obs. fame, to starve—L. fames, hunger.]
English · e-38538-1366Famous, fā′mus, adj. renowned: noted.—v.t. to make famous.—adv. Fā′mously.—n. Fā′mousness. [O. Fr.,—L. famosus—fama.]
English · e-38538-1367 · brief source recordFamulus, fam′ū-lus, n. a private secretary or factotum: an attendant, esp. on a magician or scholar.—n. Fam′ulist, a collegian of inferior position (Dr Murray doubts the word). [L. famulus, a servant.]
English · e-38538-1368Fan, fan, n. an instrument for winnowing grain: a broad, flat instrument used by ladies to cool themselves: a wing: a small sail to keep a windmill to the wind: the agitation of the air caused by a fan.—v.t. to cool with
English · e-38538-1369Fanal, fā′nal, n. (arch.) a lighthouse, a beacon. [Fr.,—Gr. phanos, a lantern, phainein, to show.]
English · e-38538-1370 · brief source recordFanatic, fa-nat′ik, adj. extravagantly or unreasonably zealous, esp. in religion: excessively enthusiastic.—n. a person frantically or excessively enthusiastic, esp. on religious subjects.—adj. Fanat′ical, fanatic, (Shak
English · e-38538-1371Fancy, fan′si, n. that faculty of the mind by which it recalls, represents, or makes to appear past images or impressions: an image or representation thus formed in the mind: an unreasonable or capricious opinion: a whim
English · e-38538-1372Fand, fand (Spens.), pa.t. of Find.
English · e-38538-1373 · brief source recordFand, fand, Fond, fond, v.i. (Spens.) to try, attempt. [A.S. fandian.]
English · e-38538-1374 · brief source recordFandango, fan-dan′go, n. an old Spanish dance for two, in ¾ time, with castanets, proceeding gradually from a slow and uniform to the liveliest motion: a gathering for dancing, a ball. [Sp.]
English · e-38538-1375Fane, fān, n. (obs.) a flag: weathercock. [Vane.]
English · e-38538-1376 · brief source recordFane, fān, n. a temple. [L. fanum.]
English · e-38538-1377 · brief source recordFanfare, fan-fār′, n. a flourish of trumpets or bugles—also Fanfarade′.—ns. Fan′faron, one who uses bravado: a blusterer, braggart; Fan′faronade, vain boasting: bluster: ostentation.—v.i. to bluster. [Fr. fanfare, perh.
English · e-38538-1378Fang, fang, n. the tooth of a ravenous beast: a claw or talon: the venom-tooth of a serpent: (Shak.) a grip, catch.—v.t. (obs.) to seize upon, catch.—adjs. Fanged, having fangs, clutches, or anything resembling them; Fan
English · e-38538-1379Fangle, fang′gl, n. (Milt.) fancy.—adj. Fang′led (obs. save in newfangled, q.v.), newly made, new-fashioned: showy, gaudy.—n. Fang′leness.
English · e-38538-1380Fanion, fan′yun, n. a small marking-flag used at a station in surveying. [O. Fr.,—Low L. fano.]
English · e-38538-1381 · 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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