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Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 54

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Page 54 of 179

Flax

Flax, flax, n. the fibres of the plant Linum, which are woven into linen cloth: the flax-plant.—ns. Flax′-comb, a toothed instrument or heckle for cleaning the fibres of flax; Flax′-dress′er, one who prepares flax for th

English · e-38538-1782

Flay

Flay, flā, v.t. to strip off the skin:—pr.p. flay′ing; pa.p. flayed.—ns. Flay′er; Flay′-flint, a skinflint. [A.S fléan; Ice. flá, to skin.]

English · e-38538-1783

Flea

Flea, flē, n. a well-known wingless insect of great agility, ectoparasitic on warm-blooded animals.—ns. Flea′-bane, a genus of plants which emit a strong smell said to have the power of driving away fleas; Flea′-bite, th

English · e-38538-1784

Fleam

Fleam, flēm, n. an instrument for bleeding cattle. [Fr. flamme—Gr. phlebotomon, a lancet—phleps, phlebos, a vein, and tem-nein, to cut.]

English · e-38538-1785

Flèche

Flèche, flāsh, n. a spire generally: the slender spire rising from the intersection of the nave and transepts in some large churches: (fort.) a parapet with two faces forming a salient angle at the foot of a glacis. [Fr.

English · e-38538-1786

Fleck

Fleck, flek, n. a spot or speckle: a little bit of a thing.—vs.t. Fleck, Fleck′er, to spot: to streak.—adjs. Flecked, spotted, dappled; Fleck′less, without spot. [Ice. flekkr, a spot; Ger. fleck, Dut. vlek.]

English · e-38538-1787

Flection

Flection. Same as Flexion.

English · e-38538-1788 · brief source record

Fled

Fled, fled, pa.t. and pa.p. of Flee.

English · e-38538-1789 · brief source record

Fledge

Fledge, flej, v.t. to furnish with feathers or wings.—v.i. to acquire feathers for flying.—n. Fledg′ling, a little bird just fledged.—adj. Fledg′y (Keats), feathery. [M. E. fligge, flegge—A.S. flycge, fledged (cf. Ger. f

English · e-38538-1790

Flee

Flee, flē, v.i. to run away, as from danger: to disappear.—v.t. to keep at a distance from:—pr.p. flee′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. fled.—n. Flē′er. [A.S. fléon, akin to fléogan, to fly; Ger. fliehen, akin to fliegen, to fly.]

English · e-38538-1791

Fleece

Fleece, flēs, n. the coat of wool shorn from a sheep at one time: anything like a fleece.—v.t. to clip wool from: to plunder: to cover, as with wool.—adjs. Fleeced, having a fleece; Fleece′less.—ns. Flee′cer, one who str

English · e-38538-1792

Fleech

Fleech, flēch, v.t. (Scot.) to flatter, coax, beg.—ns. Fleech′ing, Fleech′ment.

English · e-38538-1793 · brief source record

Fleer

Fleer, flēr, v.t. or v.i. to make wry faces in contempt, to mock.—n. mockery.—n. Fleer′ing.—adv. Fleer′ingly. [Cf. Norw. flira, Sw. flissa, to titter.]

English · e-38538-1794

Fleet

Fleet, flēt, n. a number of ships in company, esp. ships of war: a division of the navy, commanded by an admiral. [A.S. fléot, a ship—fléotan, to float; conn. with Dut. vloot, Ger. flotte.]

English · e-38538-1795

Fleet

Fleet, flēt, adj. swift: nimble: transient: (prov.) shallow.—adjs. Fleet′-foot (Shak.), fleet or swift of foot; Fleet′ing, passing quickly: temporary.—advs. Fleet′ingly; Fleet′ly.—n. Fleet′ness. [Prob. Ice. fliótr, swift

English · e-38538-1796

Fleet

Fleet, flēt, v.i. to flit, pass swiftly.—v.t. (Shak.) to make to pass quickly:—pr.p. fleet′ing; pa.p. fleet′ed. [A.S. fléotan, to float.]

English · e-38538-1797

Fleet

Fleet, flēt, n. a shallow creek or bay, as in Northfleet, Fleet-ditch, &c.—The Fleet, or Fleet Prison, a London gaol down to 1842, long a place of confinement for debtors—clandestine marriages were solemnised here down t

English · e-38538-1798

Flemish

Flemish, flem′ish, adj. of or belonging to the Flemings or people of Flanders, or their language.—n. Flem′ing, a native of Flanders.—Flemish school, a school of painting formed by the brothers Van Eyck, reaching its heig

English · e-38538-1799

Flench

Flench, flensh, v.t. to cut up the blubber of, as a whale.—Also Flense, Flinch. [Dan. flense.]

English · e-38538-1800 · brief source record

Flesh

Flesh, flesh, n. the soft substance which covers the bones of animals: animal food: the bodies of beasts and birds, not fish: the body, not the soul: animals or animal nature: mankind: kindred: bodily appetites: the pres

English · e-38538-1801

Fletch

Fletch, flech, v.i. to feather.—n. Fletch′er, one who makes arrows. [Fr. flèche, an arrow.]

English · e-38538-1802 · brief source record

Fleur-de-lis

Fleur-de-lis, flōōr′-de-lē′, n. the flower of the lily: (her.) a bearing explained as representing three flowers of the white lily joined together, or the white iris—commonly called Flower-de-luce:—pl. Fleurs′-de-lis′—th

English · e-38538-1803

Flew

Flew, flōō, pa.t. of Fly.

English · e-38538-1804 · brief source record

Flewed

Flewed, flōōd, adj. (Shak.) having large chops (of dogs). [Ety. unknown.]

English · e-38538-1805 · brief source record

Flexible

Flexible, fleks′i-bl, Flexile, fleks′il, adj. easily bent: pliant: docile.—v.t. Flex, to bend or make a flexure of.—adjs. Flexan′imous, influencing the mind; Flexed, bent.—ns. Flex′ibleness, Flexibil′ity, pliancy: easine

English · e-38538-1806

Fley

Fley, Flay, flā, v.t. to cause to fly: to frighten.—v.i. to be frightened. [M. E. flayen—A.S. flégan, fléogan, to fly; Ice. fleyja, Goth. flaugjan.]

English · e-38538-1807

Flibbertigibbet

Flibbertigibbet, flib′er-ti-jib′et, n. a flighty person: an imp. [Most prob. jargon.]

English · e-38538-1808 · brief source record

Flick

Flick, flik, v.t. to strike lightly.—n. a flip.

English · e-38538-1809 · brief source record

Flicker

Flicker, flik′ėr, v.i. to flutter and move the wings, as a bird: to burn unsteadily, as a flame.—n. an act of flickering, a flickering movement.—v.i. Flicht′er, (Scot.), to flutter, quiver.—adv. Flick′eringly. [A.S. flic

English · e-38538-1810

Flier

Flier, Flyer, flī′ėr, n. one who flies or flees: a part of a machine with rapid motion.

English · e-38538-1811 · brief source record

Flight

Flight, flīt, n. a passing through the air: a soaring: excursion: a sally: a series of steps: a flock of birds flying together: the birds produced in the same season: a volley or shower: act of fleeing: hasty removal.—ad

English · e-38538-1812

Flim-flam

Flim-flam, flim′-flam, n. a trick. [Formed like skimble-skamble, whim-wham, &c.]

English · e-38538-1813 · brief source record

Flimp

Flimp, flimp, v.t. (slang) to snatch a watch while a confederate prods the victim in the back.

English · e-38538-1814 · brief source record

Flimsy

Flimsy, flim′zi, adj. thin: without solidity, strength, or reason: weak.—n. transfer-paper: (slang) a bank-note: reporters' copy written on thin paper.—adv. Flim′sily, in a flimsy manner.—n. Flim′siness. [First in 18th c

English · e-38538-1815

Flinch

Flinch, flinsh, v.i. to shrink back: to fail.—ns. Flinch′er; Flinch′ing, the act of flinching or shrinking.—adv. Flinch′ingly. [M. E. flecchen—O. Fr. fléchir, prob. from L. flectĕre, to bend.]

English · e-38538-1816

Flinder

Flinder, flin′der, n. a splinter or small fragment—usually in pl. [Norw. flindra, a splinter.]

English · e-38538-1817 · brief source record

Flindersia

Flindersia, flin-der′si-a, n. a genus of Australian and African trees, yielding African and Madeira mahogany, or Calcedra wood. [From the Australian explorer, Captain Matthew Flinders, 1774-1814.]

English · e-38538-1818

Fling

Fling, fling, v.t. to strike or throw from the hand: to dart: to send forth: to scatter: to throw (of a horse).—v.i. to act in a violent and irregular manner: to kick out with the legs: to upbraid: to sneer:—pr.p. fling′

English · e-38538-1819

Flint

Flint, flint, n. a hard mineral, a variety of quartz, from which fire is readily struck with steel: anything proverbially hard.—adj. made of flint, hard.—n. Flint′-glass, a very fine and pure kind of glass, so called bec

English · e-38538-1820

Flip

Flip, flip, n. a hot drink of beer and spirits sweetened.

English · e-38538-1821 · brief source record

Flip

Flip, flip, v.t. to fillip, to touch lightly: to toss up with a motion of the thumb.—v.i. to flap.—n. a fillip, a snap.—adv. Flip′-flap, with a repeated flapping movement.—n. a coster's dance: a form of somersault: a cra

English · e-38538-1822

Flipe

Flipe, flīp, v.t. to fold back, as a sleeve. [Prob. Scand.; cf. Dan. flip, a flap.]

English · e-38538-1823 · brief source record

Flippant

Flippant, flip′ant, adj. quick and pert of speech: thoughtless.—ns. Flipp′ancy, Flipp′antness, pert fluency of speech: pertness.—adv. Flipp′antly. [Skeat explains as for flipp -and (Old Northumbrian pr.p. ending)—Ice. fl

English · e-38538-1824

Flirt

Flirt, flėrt, v.t. to move about quickly like a fan, to flick, rap.—v.i. to trifle with love: to play at courtship: to move briskly about.—n. a pert, giddy girl: one who coquets for amusement, usually of a woman.—n. Flir

English · e-38538-1825

Flisk

Flisk, flisk, v.i. (Scot.) to skip or caper about: to fret at the yoke.—n. a whim: a large-tooth comb.—adj. Flisk′y. [Onomatopœic.]

English · e-38538-1826

Flit

Flit, flit, v.i. to flutter on the wing: to fly quickly: to be unsteady or easily moved: (Scot.) to remove from place to place:—pr.p. flit′ting; pa.p. flit′ted.—n. Flit′ting, a removal from one house to another: a wander

English · e-38538-1827

Flitch

Flitch, flich, n. the side of a hog salted and cured. [A.S. flicce; Ice. flikki.]

English · e-38538-1828 · brief source record

Flitter

Flitter, flit′ėr, v.i. to flutter.—n. Flitt′er-mouse, a bat.

English · e-38538-1829 · brief source record

Flittern

Flittern, flit′ern, n. (prov.) a young oak.

English · e-38538-1830 · brief source record

Flitters

Flitters, flit′ers, n.pl. fragments, tatters.

English · e-38538-1831 · brief source record

Flix

Flix, fliks, n. fur, beaver-down.

English · e-38538-1832 · brief source record

Float

Float, flōt, v.i. to swim on a liquid: to be buoyed up: to move lightly and irregularly: to circulate, as a rumour: to drift about aimlessly.—v.t. to cause to swim: to cover with water: to set agoing.—n. anything swimmin

English · e-38538-1833

Flock

Flock, flok, n. a company of animals, as sheep, birds, &c.: a company generally: a Christian congregation.—v.i. to gather in flocks or in crowds.—n. Flock′-mas′ter, an owner or overseer of a flock. [A.S. flocc, a flock,

English · e-38538-1834

Flock

Flock, flok, n. a lock of wool.—n. Floccillā′tion, a delirious picking of the bed-clothes by a patient.—adjs. Floc′cose, woolly; Floc′cūlar; Floc′cūlate.—n. Floc′cūlence.—adj. Floc′cūlent, woolly, flaky.—ns. Floc′cūlus,

English · e-38538-1835

Floe

Floe, flō, n. a field of floating ice. [Prob. Norse flo, layer. The usual Danish word is flage.]

English · e-38538-1836 · brief source record

Flog

Flog, flog, v.t. to beat or strike: to lash: to chastise with blows:—pr.p. flog′ging; pa.p. flogged.—n. Flog′ging. [Late; prob. an abbrev. of flagellate.]

English · e-38538-1837

Flood

Flood, flud, n. a great flow of water: (B.) a river: an inundation: a deluge: the rise or flow of the tide: any great quantity.—v.t. to overflow: to inundate: to bleed profusely, as after parturition:—pr.p. flood′ing; pa

English · e-38538-1838

Floor

Floor, flōr, n. the part of a room on which we stand: a platform: the rooms in a house on the same level, a story: any levelled area.—v.t. to furnish with a floor: (coll.) to vanquish, stump.—ns. Floor′cloth, a covering

English · e-38538-1839

Flop

Flop, flop, v.t. to cause to hang down.—v.i. to plump down suddenly: to break down.—n. a fall plump on the ground.—adv. Flop′pily.—n. Flop′piness.—adj. Flop′py. [A form of flap.]

English · e-38538-1840

Flora

Flora, flō′ra, n. the collective plants or vegetable species of a region, country, or district: a work containing a descriptive enumeration of these.—adj. Flō′ral, pertaining to Flora or to flowers: (bot.) containing the

English · e-38538-1841

Florentine

Florentine, flor′en-tin, adj. pertaining to Florence in Tuscany.—n. a native or inhabitant thereof: a durable silk textile fabric—also Flor′ence: a pie with no crust beneath the meat.

English · e-38538-1842

Florin

Florin, flor′in, n. an English silver coin worth 2s., first minted in 1849: in Austria the unit of account, otherwise called gulden, with a value about 2s.: in Holland sometimes called guilder, and worth about 1s. 8d.: (

English · e-38538-1843

Floruit

Floruit, flō′rū-it, n. the period during which a person flourished. [L., 3d pers. sing. perf. of florēre, to flourish.]

English · e-38538-1844 · brief source record

Floscule

Floscule, flos′kūl, n. a floret.—adjs. Flos′cular, Flos′culous, composed of many floscules or tubular florets. [L. flosculus, dim. of flos, a flower.]

English · e-38538-1845

Floss

Floss, flos, n. the loose downy or silky substance in the husks of certain plants, as the bean—also Flosh.—n. Floss′-silk, very fine silk fibre extremely soft and downy and with a high lustre, used chiefly for embroidery

English · e-38538-1846

Flota

Flota, flō′ta, n. a commercial fleet: formerly the fleet which annually conveyed the produce of America to Spain. [Sp., 'a fleet.']

English · e-38538-1847

Flotage

Flotage. See Floatage.

English · e-38538-1848 · brief source record

Flotant

Flotant, flōt′ant, adj. (her.) floating in air or in water.

English · e-38538-1849 · brief source record

Flotation

Flotation, flo-tā′shun, n. the act of floating: the science of floating bodies: act of floating a company or commercial enterprise.—Plane, or Line, of flotation, the plane or line in which the horizontal surface of a flu

English · e-38538-1850

Flotilla

Flotilla, flo-til′a, n. a fleet of small ships. [Sp., dim. of flota, a fleet.]

English · e-38538-1851 · brief source record

Flotsam

Flotsam, flot′sam, n. goods lost by shipwreck, and found floating on the sea (see Jetsam). [Anglo-Fr. floteson (Fr. flottaison)—O. Fr. floter, to float.]

English · e-38538-1852

Flounce

Flounce, flowns, v.i. to move abruptly or impatiently—n. an impatient gesture. [Prob. cog. with Norw. flunsa, to hurry, Sw. prov. flunsa, to souse.]

English · e-38538-1853

Flounce

Flounce, flowns, n. a plaited strip sewed to the skirt of a dress.—v.t. to furnish with flounces.—n. Floun′cing, material for flounces. [Earlier form frounce—O. Fr. fronce, fronche, prob. from L. frons, forehead; or Old

English · e-38538-1854

Flounder

Flounder, flown′dėr, v.i. to struggle with violent and awkward motion: to stumble helplessly in thinking or speaking. [Prob. an onomatopœic blending of the sound and sense of earlier words like founder, blunder. Skeat co

English · e-38538-1855

Flounder

Flounder, flown′dėr, n. a small flat-fish, generally found in the sea near the mouth of rivers. [Anglo-Fr., floundre, O. Fr. flondre, most prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. flyðra, Sw. flundra.]

English · e-38538-1856

Flour

Flour, flowr, n. the finely-ground meal of wheat or other grain: the fine soft powder of any substance.—v.t. to reduce into or sprinkle with flour.—v.i. to break up into fine globules of mercury in the amalgamation proce

English · e-38538-1857

Flourish

Flourish, flur′ish, v.i. to thrive luxuriantly: to be prosperous: to use copious and flowery language: to move in fantastic figures: to display ostentatiously: (mus.) to play ostentatious passages, or ostentatiously: to

English · e-38538-1858

Flouse

Flouse, flows, v.t. and v.i. (prov.) to splash.—Also Floush.

English · e-38538-1859 · brief source record

Flout

Flout, flowt, v.t. and v.i. to jeer, mock, or insult: to treat with contempt.—n. a mock: an insult.—adv. Flout′ingly, with flouting: insultingly.—n. Flout′ing-stock (Shak.), an object for flouting. [Prob. a specialised u

English · e-38538-1860

Flow

Flow, flō, v.i. to run, as water: to rise, as the tide: to move in a stream, as air: to glide smoothly: to circulate, as the blood: to abound: to hang loose and waving: (B.) to melt.—v.t. to cover with water.—n. a stream

English · e-38538-1861

Flow

Flow, flow, n. a morass: (Scot.) a flat, moist tract of land. [Ice. floi, a marsh—flóa, to flood.]

English · e-38538-1862 · brief source record

Flower

Flower, flow′ėr, n. a growth comprising the reproductive organs of plants: the blossom of a plant: the best of anything: the prime of life: the person or thing most distinguished: a figure of speech: ornament of style: (

English · e-38538-1863

Flown

Flown, flōn, pa.p. of fly.

English · e-38538-1864 · brief source record

Flown

Flown, flōn, adj. inflated, flushed: (Milt.) overflown.

English · e-38538-1865 · brief source record

Fluate

Fluate, flōō′āt, n. Same as Fluoride.

English · e-38538-1866 · brief source record

Fluctuate

Fluctuate, fluk′tū-āt, v.i. to float backward and forward: to roll hither and thither: to be irresolute.—v.t. to cause to move hither and thither.—adjs. Fluc′tuant; Fluc′tuāting.—ns. Fluctuā′tion, a rising and falling li

English · e-38538-1867

Flue

Flue, flōō, n. a smoke-pipe or small chimney. [Prob. related to flue, to expand, splay out.]

English · e-38538-1868 · brief source record

Flue

Flue, flōō, n. light down: soft down or fur.—adj. Flu′ey. [Ety. unknown; conn. with fluff.]

English · e-38538-1869 · brief source record

Flue

Flue, flōō, adj. (prov.) shallow, flat.—Also Flew.

English · e-38538-1870 · brief source record

Fluent

Fluent, flōō′ent, adj. ready in the use of words: voluble: marked by copiousness.—n. the variable quantity in fluxions.—ns. Flu′ence (Milt.), Flu′ency, Flu′entness, readiness or rapidity of utterance: volubility.—adv. Fl

English · e-38538-1871

Fluff

Fluff, fluf, n. a soft down from cotton, &c.: anything downy.—n. Fluff′iness.—adj. Fluff′y. [Perh. conn. with flue, light down.]

English · e-38538-1872

Flugelman

Flugelman, flōō′gl-man′, n. Same as Fugleman.—n. Flü′gel-horn, a hunting-horn, a kind of keyed bugle.

English · e-38538-1873 · brief source record

Fluid

Fluid, flōō′id, adj. that flows, as water: liquid or gaseous.—n. a substance in which the particles can move about with greater or less freedom from one part of the body to another.—adjs. Flu′idal; Fluid′ic; Fluid′iform.

English · e-38538-1874

Fluke

Fluke, flōōk, n. a flounder: a parasitic trematoid worm which causes the liver-rot in sheep, so called because like a miniature flounder: a variety of kidney potato. [A.S. flóc, a plaice; cf. Ice. flóke.]

English · e-38538-1875

Fluke

Fluke, flōōk, n. the part of an anchor which fastens in the ground.—adj. Fluk′y. [Prob. a transferred use of the foregoing.]

English · e-38538-1876

Fluke

Fluke, flōōk, n. a successful shot made by chance, as at billiards: any unexpected advantage.

English · e-38538-1877 · brief source record

Flume

Flume, flōōm, n. an artificial channel for water to be applied to some industrial purpose: (U.S.) a narrow defile with upright walls, the bottom occupied by a torrent.—Be, or Go, up the flume, to come to grief, to be don

English · e-38538-1878

Flummery

Flummery, flum′ėr-i, n. an acid jelly made from the husks of oats: the Scotch sowens: anything insipid: empty compliment. [W. llymru—llymrig, harsh, raw—llym, sharp, severe.]

English · e-38538-1879

Flummox

Flummox, flum′oks, v.t. (slang) to perplex: defeat.

English · e-38538-1880 · brief source record

Flump

Flump, flump, v.t. (coll.) to throw down violently.—v.i. to throw one's self down heavily.—n. the dull sound so produced. [Imit.]

English · e-38538-1881

Flung

Flung, flung, pa.t. and pa.p. of fling.

English · e-38538-1882 · brief source record

Flunkey

Flunkey, flung′ki, n. a livery servant: a footman: a mean, cringing fellow.—n. Flun′keydom.—adj. Flun′keyish.—n. Flun′keyism. [Perh. orig. flanker, one who runs along by the side of.]

English · e-38538-1883

Fluor

Fluor, flōō′or, n. a mineral often described as chemically fluate of lime, but really calcium fluoride, found abundantly in Derbyshire—also Flu′or-spar, Flu′orite.—ns. Fluores′cein, a coal-tar product, little used in dye

English · e-38538-1884

Flurry

Flurry, flur′i, n. a sudden blast or gust: agitation: bustle: the death-agony of the whale: a fluttering assemblage of things, as snowflakes.—v.t. to agitate, to confuse:—pr.p. flurr′ying; pa.p. flurr′ied.—v.t. Flurr, to

English · e-38538-1885

Flush

Flush, flush, n. a flow of blood to the face causing redness: sudden impulse: bloom, freshness, vigour: abundance.—v.i. to become red in the face: to flow swiftly.—v.t. to make red in the face: to cleanse by a copious fl

English · e-38538-1886

Flush

Flush, flush, v.i. to start up like an alarmed bird.—v.t. to rouse and cause to start off.—n. the act of starting: (Spens.) a bird, or a flock of birds so started. [Prob. onomatopœic; suggested by fly, flutter, and rush.

English · e-38538-1887

Flush

Flush, flush, v.t. to make even: to fill up to the level of a surface (often with up).—adj. having the surface level with the adjacent surface. [Prob. related to flush above.]

English · e-38538-1888

Flush

Flush, flush, n. in card-playing, a hand in which all the cards or a specified number are of the same suit.—adj. in poker, consisting of cards all of the same suit.—Straight, or Royal, flush, in poker, a sequence of five

English · e-38538-1889

Fluster

Fluster, flus′tėr, n. hurrying: confusion: heat.—v.t. to make hot and confused: to fuddle.—v.i. to bustle: to be agitated or fuddled.—v.t. Flus′terāte, to fluster.—n. Flusterā′tion.—adj. Flus′tered, fuddled: flurried.—n.

English · e-38538-1890

Flustra

Flustra, flus′tra, n. one of the commonest genera of marine Polyzoa.

English · e-38538-1891 · brief source record

Flute

Flute, flōōt, n. a musical pipe with finger-holes and keys sounded by blowing: in organ-building, a stop with stopped wooden pipes, having a flute-like tone: one of a series of curved furrows, as on a pillar, called also

English · e-38538-1892

Flutter

Flutter, flut′ėr, v.i. to move about with bustle: to vibrate: to be in agitation or in uncertainty: (obs.) to be frivolous.—v.t. to throw into disorder: to move in quick motions.—n. quick, irregular motion: agitation: co

English · e-38538-1893

Fluvial

Fluvial, flōō′vi-al, adj. of or belonging to rivers.—n. Flu′vialist.—adjs. Fluviat′ic, Flu′viatile, belonging to or formed by rivers. [L. fluvialis—fluvius, a river, fluĕre, to flow.]

English · e-38538-1894

Flux

Flux, fluks, n. act of flowing: a flow of matter: quick succession: a discharge generally from a mucous membrane: matter discharged: excrement: the term given to the substances employed in the arts to assist the reductio

English · e-38538-1895

Fly

Fly, flī, v.i. to move through the air on wings: to move swiftly: to pass away: to flee: to burst quickly or suddenly: to flutter.—v.t. to avoid, flee from: to cause to fly, as a kite:—pr.p. fly′ing; pa.t. flew (flōō); p

English · e-38538-1896

Flyte

Flyte, Flite, flīt, v.i. (Scot.) to scold, to brawl.—n. Flyte, Flyt′ing, a scolding, or heated dispute. [A.S. flítan, to strive; Ger. be-fleissen.]

English · e-38538-1897

Foal

Foal, fōl, n. the young of a mare or of a she-ass.—v.i. and v.t. to bring forth a foal.—ns. Foal′foot, colts-foot; Foal′ing, bringing forth of a foal or young. [A.S. fola; Ger. fohlen, Gr. pōlos; L. pullus.]

English · e-38538-1898

Foam

Foam, fōm, n. froth: the bubbles which rise on the surface of liquors: fury.—v.i. to gather foam: to be in a rage.—v.t. (B.) to throw out with rage or violence (with out).—adv. Foam′ingly.—adjs. Foam′less, without foam;

English · e-38538-1899

Fob

Fob, fob, n. a trick.—v.t. to cheat. [Prob. a corr. of O. Fr. forbe, a rogue; or Ger. foppen, to jeer.]

English · e-38538-1900 · brief source record

Fob

Fob, fob, n. a small pocket in the waistband of trousers for a watch: a chain with seals, &c., hanging from the fob. [If orig. a secret pocket, perh. connected with the above.]

English · e-38538-1901

Focus

Focus, fō′kus, n. (opt.) a point in which several rays meet and are collected after being reflected or refracted, while a virtual focus is a point from which rays tend after reflection or refraction—the principal focus i

English · e-38538-1902

Fodder

Fodder, fod′ėr, n. food for cattle, as hay and straw.—v.t. to supply with fodder.—ns. Fodd′erer; Fodd′ering. [A.S. fódor; Ger. futter.]

English · e-38538-1903

Fodient

Fodient, fō′di-ent, adj. and n. digging.

English · e-38538-1904 · brief source record

Foe

Foe, fō, n. an enemy: one who, or that which, injures or hinders anything: an ill-wisher.—ns. Foe′man, an enemy in war:—pl. Foe′men; Fō′en (Spens.), pl. of foe. [M. E. foo—A.S. fáh, fá (adj.), allied to the compound n. g

English · e-38538-1905

Fœtus

Fœtus, Fetus, fē′tus, n. the young of animals in the egg or in the womb, after its parts are distinctly formed, until its birth.—adjs. Fœ′tal, Fē′tal, pertaining to a fœtus; Fœ′ticidal.—ns. Fœ′ticide, Fē′ticide, destruct

English · e-38538-1906

Fog

Fog, fog, n. a thick mist: watery vapour rising from either land or water.—v.t. to shroud in fog.—v.i. to become coated with a uniform coating.—ns. Fog′-bank, a dense mass of fog sometimes seen at sea appearing like a ba

English · e-38538-1907

Fog

Fog, fog, Foggage, fog′āj, n. grass which grows in autumn after the hay is cut: (Scot.) moss.—v.i. to become covered with fog. [Origin unknown; W. ffwg, dry grass, is borrowed.]

English · e-38538-1908

Fogy

Fogy, Fogey, fō′gi, n. a dull old fellow; a person with antiquated notions.—adjs. Fō′gram, antiquated.—n. a fogy.—ns. Fō′gramite; Fogram′ity; Fōgydom.—adj. Fō′gyish.—n. Fō′gyism. [Prob. a substantive use of foggy in sens

English · e-38538-1909

Foh

Foh, fō, interj. an exclamation of abhorrence or contempt.

English · e-38538-1910 · brief source record

Foible

Foible, foi′bl, n. a weak point in one's character: a failing. [O. Fr. foible, weak.]

English · e-38538-1911 · brief source record

Foil

Foil, foil, v.t. to defeat: to puzzle: to disappoint: (Spens.) to beat down or trample with the feet:—pr.p. foil′ing; pa.p. foiled.—n. failure after success seemed certain: defeat: a blunt sword used in fencing, having a

English · e-38538-1912

Foil

Foil, foil, n. a leaf or thin plate of metal, as tin-foil: a thin leaf of metal put under precious stones to increase their lustre or change their colour: anything that serves to set off something else: a small arc in th

English · e-38538-1913

Foin

Foin, foin, v.i. to thrust with a sword or spear.—n. a thrust with a sword or spear.—adv. Foin′ingly. [O. Fr. foine—L. fuscina, a trident.]

English · e-38538-1914

Foison

Foison, foi′zn, n. plenty: autumn.—adj. Foi′sonless, weak, feeble—(Scot.) Fizz′enless. [O. Fr.,—L. fusion-em—fundĕre, fusum, to pour forth.]

English · e-38538-1915

Foist

Foist, foist, v.t. to bring in by stealth: to insert wrongfully: to pass off as genuine (with in or into before the thing affected, and upon before the person).—n. Foist′er. [Prob. Dut. prov. vuisten, to take in the hand

English · e-38538-1916

Fold

Fold, fōld, n. the doubling of any flexible substance: a part laid over on another: (pl.) complex arrangements, intricacy.—v.t. to lay one part over another: to enclose in a fold or folds, to wrap up: to embrace.—Fold, i

English · e-38538-1917

Fold

Fold, fōld, n. an enclosure for protecting domestic animals, esp. sheep: a flock of sheep: (fig.) a church: the Christian Church.—v.t. to confine in a fold.—n. Fold′ing. [A.S. fald, a fold, stall.]

English · e-38538-1918

Folderol

Folderol, fol′de-rol, n. mere nonsense: silly trifle: (pl.) trivial ornaments. [Formed from meaningless syllables, the refrain of old songs.]

English · e-38538-1919

Foliaceous

Foliaceous, fō-li-ā′shus, adj. pertaining to or consisting of leaves or laminæ. [L. foliaceus—folium, a leaf.]

English · e-38538-1920 · brief source record

Foliage

Foliage, fō′lī-āj, n. leaves: a cluster of leaves: (archit.) a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches used for ornamentation.—adjs. Fō′liaged, worked like foliage; Fō′liar, pertaining to leaves: resembling leave

English · e-38538-1921

Folio

Folio, fō′li-ō, n. a sheet of paper once folded: a book of such sheets: the size of such a book: one of several sizes of paper adapted for folding once into well-proportioned leaves: (book-k.) a page in an account-book,

English · e-38538-1922

Foliole

Foliole, fō′li-ōl, n. (bot.) a single leaflet of a compound leaf.—adj. Fō′liolate, of or pertaining to leaflets. [Fr., dim. of L. folium, a leaf.]

English · e-38538-1923

Folk

Folk, fōk, n. people, collectively or distributively: a nation or race (rarely in pl.): (arch.) the people, commons: (pl.) those of one's own family, relations (coll.):—generally used in pl. Folk or Folks (fōks).—ns. Fol

English · e-38538-1924

Follicle

Follicle, fol′i-kl, n. (anat.) a gland: (bot.) a seed-vessel.—adjs. Follic′ular, pertaining to or consisting of follicles; Follic′ulated; Follic′ulous. [Fr.,—L. folliculus, dim. of follis, a wind-bag.]

English · e-38538-1925

Follow

Follow, fol′ō, v.t. to go after or behind: to come after, succeed: to pursue: to attend: to imitate: to obey: to adopt, as an opinion: to keep the eye or mind fixed on: to pursue, as an object of desire: to result from,

English · e-38538-1926

Folly

Folly, fol′i, n. silliness or weakness of mind: a foolish act: criminal weakness: (B.) sin: a monument of folly, as a great structure left unfinished, having been begun without a reckoning of the cost.—v.i. to act with f

English · e-38538-1927

Foment

Foment, fo-ment′, v.t. to bathe with warm water: to encourage: to instigate (usually to evil).—ns. Fomentā′tion, a bathing or lotion with warm water: encouragement; Foment′er. [Fr.,—L. fomentāre—fomentum for fovimentum—f

English · e-38538-1928

Fomes

Fomes, fō′miz, n. any porous substance capable of absorbing and retaining contagious effluvia:—pl. Fomī′tes. [L., touchwood.]

English · e-38538-1929

Fon

Fon, fon, n. (Spens.) a fool, an idiot.—v.i. to be foolish, play the fool.—adv. Fon′ly, foolishly.

English · e-38538-1930 · brief source record

Fond

Fond, fond, adj. foolishly tender and loving: weakly indulgent: prizing highly (with of): very affectionate: kindly disposed: (obs.) foolish.—v.i. to dote.—v.t. Fond′le, to treat with fondness: to caress.—ns. Fond′ler; F

English · e-38538-1931

Fond

Fond. See Fand (2).

English · e-38538-1932 · brief source record

Fone

Fone, fōn, n. (Spens.) pl. of foe.

English · e-38538-1933 · brief source record

Font

Font, font, n. the vessels used in churches as the repository of the baptismal water, usually a basin or cup hollowed out of a solid block of marble, &c.—adj. Font′al, pertaining to a font or origin.—ns. Font′let, a litt

English · e-38538-1934

Font

Font, font, Fount, fownt, n. a complete assortment of types of one sort, with all that is necessary for printing in that kind of letter. [Fr. fonte—fondre—L. fundĕre, to cast.]

English · e-38538-1935

Fontanelle

Fontanelle, fon-ta-nel′, n. a gap between the bones of the skull of a young animal: an opening for the discharge of pus.—Also Fontanel′. [Fr.]

English · e-38538-1936

Fontange

Fontange, fong-tanzh′, n. a tall head-dress worn in the 17th and 18th centuries. [Fr., from Fontanges, the territorial title of one of Louis XIV.'s drabs.]

English · e-38538-1937

Fontarabian

Fontarabian, fon-ta-rā′bi-an, adj. pertaining to Fontarabia or Fuenterrabia on the Pyrenees, where Roland was overpowered and slain by the Saracens.

English · e-38538-1938

Fonticulus

Fonticulus, fon-tik′ū-lus, n. a small ulcer produced by caustics, &c.: the depression just over the top of the breast-bone. [L., dim. of fons.]

English · e-38538-1939

Fontinalis

Fontinalis, fon-tin-ā′lis, n. a genus of aquatic mosses allied to Hypnum, almost without stalk. [Formed from L. fons.]

English · e-38538-1940 · brief source record

Food

Food, fōōd, n. what one feeds on: that which, being digested, nourishes the body: whatever sustains or promotes growth.—adjs. Food′ful, able to supply food abundantly; Food′less, without food. [A.S. fóda; Goth. fódeins,

English · e-38538-1941

Food

Food, fōōd, n. (Spens.). Same as Feud.

English · e-38538-1942 · brief source record

Fool

Fool, fōōl, n. one who acts stupidly: a person of weak mind: a jester: a tool or victim, as of untoward circumstances: (B.) a wicked person.—v.t. to deceive: to treat with contempt.—v.i. to play the fool: to trifle.—adjs

English · e-38538-1943

Fool

Fool, fōōl, n. crushed fruit scalded or stewed, mixed with cream and sugar, as 'gooseberry fool.' [Prob. a use of preceding suggested by trifle.]

English · e-38538-1944

Foolscap

Foolscap, fōōlz′kap, n. a long folio writing or printing paper, varying in size (17×13½ in., 16¾×13½ in., &c.), so called from having originally borne the water-mark of a fool's cap and bells.

English · e-38538-1945

Foot

Foot, foot, n. that part of its body on which an animal stands or walks (having in man 26 bones): the lower part or base: a measure=12 in., (orig.) the length of a man's foot: foot-soldiers: a division of a line of poetr

English · e-38538-1946

Footy

Footy, foot′i, adj. (prov.) mean.—Also Fought′y. [Prob. an A.S. fúhtig; cog. with Dut. vochtig.]

English · e-38538-1947 · brief source record

Foozle

Foozle, fōōz′l, n. (coll.) a tedious fellow: a bungled stroke at golf, &c.—v.i. to fool away one's time.—n. Fooz′ler.—p.adj. Fooz′ling. [Cf. Ger. prov. fuseln, to work slowly.]

English · e-38538-1948

Fop

Fop, fop, n. an affected dandy.—ns. Fop′ling, a vain affected person; Fop′pery, vanity in dress or manners: affectation: folly.—adj. Fop′pish, vain and showy in dress: affectedly refined in manners.—adv. Fop′pishly.—n. F

English · e-38538-1949

For

For, for, prep. in the place of: for the sake of: on account of: in the direction of: with respect to, by reason of: appropriate or adapted to, or in reference to: beneficial to: in quest of: notwithstanding, in spite of

English · e-38538-1950

For

For, for, conj. the word by which a reason is introduced: because: on the account that.—For because and For that=because; For why=why.

English · e-38538-1951

Forage

Forage, for′aj, n. fodder, or food for horses and cattle: provisions: the act of foraging.—v.i. to go about and forcibly carry off food for horses and cattle, as soldiers.—v.t. to plunder.—ns. For′age-cap, the undress ca

English · e-38538-1952

Foramen

Foramen, fo-rā′men, n. a small opening:—pl. Foram′ina.—adjs. Foram′inated, Foram′inous, pierced with small holes: porous.—n.pl. Foraminif′era, an order of Rhizopoda, furnished with a shell or test, usually perforated by

English · e-38538-1953

Forasmuch

Forasmuch, for′az-much, conj. because that.

English · e-38538-1954 · brief source record

Foray

Foray, for′ā, n. a sudden incursion into an enemy's country.—v.t. to ravage.—n. For′ayer. [Ety. obscure, but ult. identical with forage (q.v.).]

English · e-38538-1955

Forbade

Forbade, for-bad′, pa.t. of forbid.

English · e-38538-1956 · brief source record

Forbear

Forbear, for-bār′, v.i. to keep one's self in check: to abstain.—v.t. to abstain from: to avoid voluntarily: to spare, to withhold.—n. Forbear′ance, exercise of patience: command of temper: clemency.—adjs. Forbear′ant, F

English · e-38538-1957

Forbid

Forbid, for-bid′, v.t. to prohibit: to command not to do: (Shak.) to restrain.—n. Forbid′dance, prohibition: command or edict against a thing.—adj. Forbid′den, prohibited: unlawful.—adv. Forbid′denly (Shak.), in a forbid

English · e-38538-1958

Forbore

Forbore, for-bōr′, pa.t. of forbear.—pa.p. Forborne′.

English · e-38538-1959 · brief source record

Forby

Forby, for-bī′, prep. (Spens.) near, past: (Scot.) besides.

English · e-38538-1960 · brief source record

Forçat

Forçat, for-sä′, n. in France, a convict condemned to hard labour. [Fr.]

English · e-38538-1961 · brief source record

Force

Force, fōrs, n. strength, power, energy: efficacy: validity: influence: vehemence: violence: coercion or compulsion: military or naval strength (often in pl.): an armament: (mech.) any cause which changes the direction o

English · e-38538-1962

Force

Force, fōrs, Foss, fos, n. a waterfall. [Ice. foss, fors.]

English · e-38538-1963 · brief source record

Force

Force, fōrs, v.t. (cook.) to stuff, as a fowl.—n. Force′meat, meat chopped fine and highly seasoned, used as a stuffing or alone. [A corr. of farce.]

English · e-38538-1964

Forceps

Forceps, for′seps, n. a pair of tongs, pincers, or pliers for holding anything difficult to be held with the hand.—adj. For′cipāted, formed and opening like a forceps.—n. Forcipā′tion, torture by pinching with forceps. [

English · e-38538-1965

Ford

Ford, fōrd, n. a place where water may be crossed on foot: a stream where it may be crossed.—v.t. to cross water on foot.—adj. Ford′able. [A.S. ford—faran, to go; Ger. furt—fahren, to go on foot; akin to Gr. poros, and t

English · e-38538-1966

Fordo

Fordo, for-dōō′, v.t. (arch.) to ruin: to overcome, to exhaust:—pr.p. fordo′ing; pa.t. fordid′; pa.p. fordone′. [A.S. fōrdón; Ger. verthun, to consume.]

English · e-38538-1967

Fore

Fore, fōr, adj. in front of: advanced in position: coming first.—adv. at the front: in the first part: previously: (golf) a warning cry to any person in the way of the ball to be played.—Fore and aft, lengthwise of a shi

English · e-38538-1968

Fore-admonish

Fore-admonish, fōr-ad-mon′ish, v.t. to admonish beforehand.

English · e-38538-1969 · brief source record

Fore-advise

Fore-advise, fōr-ad-vīz′, v.t. to advise beforehand.

English · e-38538-1970 · brief source record

Fore-body

Fore-body, fōr′-bod′i, n. the part of a ship in front of the mainmast.

English · e-38538-1976 · brief source record

Fore-brace

Fore-brace, fōr′-brās, n. a rope attached to the fore yard-arm, for changing the position of the foresail.

English · e-38538-1977 · brief source record

Fore-by

Fore-by, fōr-bī′ (Spens.). Same as Forby.

English · e-38538-1978 · brief source record

Fore-cited

Fore-cited, fōr-sīt′ed, p.adj. quoted before or above.

English · e-38538-1983 · brief source record

Fore-end

Fore-end, fōr′-end, n. the early or fore part of anything.

English · e-38538-1990 · brief source record

Fore-horse

Fore-horse, fōr′-hors, n. the foremost horse of a team.

English · e-38538-2003 · brief source record

Fore-mentioned

Fore-mentioned, fōr-men′shund, adj. mentioned before in a writing or discourse.

English · e-38538-2018 · brief source record

Fore-named

Fore-named, fōr′-nāmd, adj. mentioned before.

English · e-38538-2021 · brief source record

Fore-ordain

Fore-ordain, fōr-or-dān′, v.t. to arrange beforehand: to predestinate.—n. Fore-ordinā′tion.

English · e-38538-2027 · brief source record

Fore-quoted

Fore-quoted, fōr-kwōt′ed, p.adj. quoted or cited before in the same writing.

English · e-38538-2034 · brief source record

Fore-rank

Fore-rank, fōr′-rangk, n. the rank which is before all the others: the front.

English · e-38538-2036 · brief source record

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