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 ↗
Arrière-ban, är′yer-bän, or ä-rēr′ban, n. in feudal times, the sovereign's summons to all freemen to take the field: the army thus collected. [O. Fr. ariereban, Old High Ger. hari, army, and ban, public proclamation.]
English · e-37683-1579Arris, ar′ris, n. a sharp ridge or edge on stone or metal. [See Arête.]
English · e-37683-1580 · brief source recordArrive, ar-rīv′, v.i. to reach any place: to attain to any object (with at).—ns. Arrīv′al, the act of arriving: persons or things that arrive; Arrīv′ance (Shak.), company arriving. [O. Fr. ariver—Low L. adripāre—L. ad, t
English · e-37683-1581Arroba, a-rō′ba, n. a weight of 25 or more pounds, used in Spanish and Portuguese regions. [Ar.]
English · e-37683-1582 · brief source recordArrogate, ar′rog-āt, v.t. to claim as one's own: to claim proudly or unduly.—ns. Ar′rogance, Ar′rogancy, undue assumption of importance.—adj. Ar′rogant, claiming too much: overbearing.—adv. Ar′rogantly.—n. Arrogā′tion, a
English · e-37683-1583Arrondissement, ar-ron′dēs-mäng, n. a subdivision of a French department, comprising a number of communes. [Fr.—arrondir, to make round.]
English · e-37683-1584Arrow, ar′rō, n. a straight, pointed weapon, made to be shot from a bow: any arrow-shaped pin or ornament: the chief shoot of a plant, esp. the flowering stem of the sugar-cane.—n. Ar′row-head, the head or pointed part o
English · e-37683-1585Arrowroot, ar′rō-rōōt, n. a starch obtained from the roots of certain plants growing chiefly in West Indies, and much used as food for invalids and children. [Said to be so named because used by the Indians of South Amer
English · e-37683-1586Arse, ärs, n. the posterior parts of an animal.—adv. and adj. Ars′y-vers′y, backside foremost, contrary. [A.S. ears; Ger. arsch, Sw. ars; cog. with Gr. orros.]
English · e-37683-1588Arsenal, är′se-nal, n. a dock possessing naval stores: a public magazine or manufactory of naval and military stores. [It. arzenale, arsenale (Sp., Fr. arsenal)—Ar. dār aççinā‛ah, workshop; dār, house, al, the, cinā‛ah,
English · e-37683-1589Arsenic, ar′sen-ik, n. one of the chemical elements: a mineral poison: a soft, gray-coloured metal.—ns. Ar′senate, Arsē′niate, a salt of arsenic acid.—adjs. Arsen′ic, -al, composed of or containing arsenic: in chemistry,
English · e-37683-1590Arsis, ar′sis, n. grammatical term applied to the elevation of the voice to a higher pitch in speaking: (mus.) the strong position in a bar: the strong syllable in English metre:—pl. Ar′sēs. [L.—Gr. arsis—airein, to lift
English · e-37683-1591Arson, ärs′on, n. the crime of wilfully burning houses or other buildings.—ns. Ar′sonite, Ar′sonist (rare). [O. Fr. arson—L. arsion-em, ardēre, arsum, to burn.]
English · e-37683-1592Art, ärt, 2d pers. sing. of the present tense of the verb To be. [A.S. eart.]
English · e-37683-1593 · brief source recordArt, ärt, n. practical skill guided by rules: human skill as opposed to nature: skill as applied to subjects of taste, the fine arts—music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and poetry: (pl.) specially used of certain b
English · e-37683-1594Art-union. See Art.
English · e-37683-1610 · brief source recordArtemisia, är-tē-miz′i-a, n. a genus of composite plants, with a peculiarly bitter taste, including Wormwood, Southernwood, &c.
English · e-37683-1595Artery, är′tėr-i, n. a tube or vessel which conveys blood from the heart (see Aorta)—also metaphorically: any main channel of communication.—adj. Artēr′ial—v.t. Artēr′ialise, to make arterial.—ns. Artēriot′omy, the cutti
English · e-37683-1596Artesian, är-tē′zhan, adj. applied to wells made by boring until water is reached. [From Artois (L. Artesium), in the north of France, where the oldest known well of this kind in Europe was sunk in 1126.]
English · e-37683-1597Arthritis, ar-thrī′tis, n. inflammation of a joint: gout.—adj. Arthrit′ic, relating to or affecting the joints: gouty. [Gr. arthritikos—arthron, a joint.]
English · e-37683-1598Arthropoda, ar-throp′od-a, n.pl. a great division of the animal kingdom, the body consisting of a definite number of segments, each having a pair of hollow jointed limbs into which the body muscles proceed. It again divi
English · e-37683-1599Artichoke, är′ti-chōk, n. a thistle-like, perennial, eatable plant with large scaly heads, like the cone of the pine, now growing wild in the south of Europe, though probably a native of Asia.—Jerusalem artichoke, a tota
English · e-37683-1600Article, ärt′i-kl, n. a separate element, member, or part of anything: a particular substance: a single clause or term: a distinct point in an agreement, or an agreement looked at as complete, as in 'articles of apprenti
English · e-37683-1601Articulata, är-tik-ū-lā′ta, n. one of the great primary divisions of the animal kingdom, according to Cuvier, including those animals of which the body is divided into a number of distinct joints—viz. the higher worms or
English · e-37683-1602Articulate, är-tik′ūl-āt, adj. distinct: clear.—v.t. to joint: to form into distinct sounds, syllables, or words.—v.i. to speak distinctly.—adv. Artic′ulately.—ns. Artic′ulateness; Articulā′tion, a joining as of the bone
English · e-37683-1603Artifice, art′i-fis, n. artificer's work: a contrivance: a trick or fraud.—n. Artif′icer, a workman: an inventor.—adj. Artificial (ärt-i-fish′yal), made by art: not natural: cultivated: not indigenous: feigned: not natur
English · e-37683-1604Artillery, är-til′ėr-i, n. offensive weapons of war, esp. cannon, mortars, &c.: the men who manage them: a branch of the military service: gunnery.—ns. Artill′erist, one skilled in artillery or gunnery; Artill′ery-man, a
English · e-37683-1605Artiodactyla, är-ti-o-dak′til-a, n. a sub-order of the great mammalian order of Ungulata, having the third digit unsymmetrical in itself, but forming a symmetrical pair with the fourth digit—as distinguished from the Per
English · e-37683-1606Artisan, ärt′i-zan, n. one skilled in any art or trade: a mechanic. [Fr.—It. artigiano, ult. from L. artitus, skilled in the arts—ars, artis, art.]
English · e-37683-1607Artist, ärt′ist, n. one who practises an art, esp. one of the fine arts, as painting, sculpture, engraving, or architecture.—adjs. Artist′ic, -al, according to art.—adv. Artist′ically.—n. Art′istry, artistic pursuits: ar
English · e-37683-1608Artiste, är-tēst′, n. one dexterous or tasteful in any art, as an opera dancer, a cook, a hairdresser, &c. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-1609 · brief source recordArum, ā′rum, n. a genus of plants represented in England by the Cuckoo-pint or Wake Robin (A. maculatum), whose root yields a wholesome farina known as Portland Sago or Arrowroot. [L.—Gr. aron.]
English · e-37683-1611Arundinaceous, a-run-di-nā′shus, adj. relating to or like a reed.—Also Arundin′eous. [L. arundinaceus—arundo, a reed.]
English · e-37683-1612 · brief source recordAruspex, Aruspice, Aruspicy. See Haruspex.
English · e-37683-1613 · brief source recordArvicola, är-vik′ō-lä, n. the general name of the family of animals to which belong the water-vole and field-vole. [Coined from L. arvum, a field, colĕ-re, to inhabit.]
English · e-37683-1614Ary, ä′ri, e′ri, adj. (prov.) any. [A modification of e'er a for ever a. Cf. Nary.]
English · e-37683-1615 · brief source recordAryan, ar′i-an, or ā′ri-an, adj. relating to the family of nations otherwise called Indo-European (comprehending the inhabitants of Europe—except the Basques, Turks, Magyars, and Finns—and those of Armenia, Persia, and N
English · e-37683-1616As, az, adv., conj., and pron. in that degree, so far, as ... as: the consequent in a co-relation expressing quantity, degree, &c., as ... as, such ... as, same ... as: since, because: when, while: expressing merely cont
English · e-37683-1617As, as, n. in Norse mythology, one of the gods, the inhabitants of Asgard:—pl. Aesir (ā′ser). [Ice. āss, a god (pl. æsir)—A.S. ōs, seen in such proper names as Oswold, Osric.]
English · e-37683-1618As, as, n. Latin unit of weight, 12 ounces (L. unciæ): a copper coin, the unit of the early monetary system of Rome.
English · e-37683-1619 · brief source recordAsafœtida, as-a-fet′i-da, n. a medicinal gum-resin, having an offensive smell, procured by drying the milky juice which flows from the root of the plant Ferula (Narthex) asafœtida. [Pers. azā, mastic, and L. fœtida, stin
English · e-37683-1620Åsar, ē′sar, n.pl. the Swedish name for those long, winding banks and ridges of gravel and sand which occur abundantly in the low grounds of Sweden, supposed to mark the site of sub-glacial streams and rivers.—These åsar
English · e-37683-1621Asarabacca, as-a-ra-bak′a, n. a European plant, a species of Asarum, having acrid properties, formerly used in the preparation of snuffs for catarrh, &c. [L. asarum, bacca, a berry.]
English · e-37683-1622Asbestos, az-best′os, n. an incombustible mineral, a variety of hornblende, of a fine fibrous texture, resembling flax: (fig.) anything unquenchable.—adjs. Asbes′tic, Asbes′tous, Asbes′tine, of or like asbestos: incombus
English · e-37683-1623Ascaris, as′ka-ris, n. a genus of parasitic worms, of the family Ascar′idæ, infesting the small intestines. [Gr. askaris, pl. askarides.]
English · e-37683-1624Ascend, as-send′, v.i. to climb or mount up: to rise, literally or figuratively: to go backwards in the order of time.—v.t. to climb or go up on: to mount.—adjs. Ascend′able, Ascend′ible.—Ascending rhythm, in prosody, a
English · e-37683-1625Ascension, as-sen′shun, n. a rising or going up.—adjs. Ascend′ant, -ent, superior: above the horizon.—n. superiority: (astrol.) the part of the ecliptic rising above the horizon at the time of one's birth; it was suppose
English · e-37683-1626Ascertain, as-sėr-tān′, v.t. to determine: to obtain certain knowledge of: (rare) to insure, certify, make certain.—adj. Ascertain′able.—n. Ascertain′ment. [O. Fr. acertener. See Certain.]
English · e-37683-1627Ascetic, as-set′ik, n. one who rigidly denies himself ordinary sensual gratifications for conscience' sake, one who aims to compass holiness through self-mortification, the flesh being considered as the seat of sin, and
English · e-37683-1628Ascian, ash′yan, n. name given to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who are shadowless at certain seasons, from the sun being right over their heads. [Gr. askios, shadowless—a, neg., skia, a shadow.]
English · e-37683-1629Ascidians, a-sid′i-anz, n.pl. a group belonging to the tunicate Mollusca, forming a class of degenerate survivors of ancestral vertebrates, asymmetrical marine animals with a tubular heart and no feet, of a double-mouthe
English · e-37683-1630Ascititious. Same as Adscititious.
English · e-37683-1631 · brief source recordAsclepiad, as-klē′pi-ad, Asclepiadic, as-klē-pi-ad′ik, n. in ancient prosody, a verse consisting of a spondee, two (or three) choriambi, and an iambus: [Image: Asclepiad] —adj. Asclepiad′ic. [Asclepiadēs, a Greek poet.]
English · e-37683-1632Asclepiads, as-klē′pi-adz, n.pl. an order of Greek physicians, priests of Asclepius or Æsculapius, the god of medicine. [Gr. asklēpius, Asclepius.]
English · e-37683-1633Asclepias, as-klē′pi-as, n. a genus of plants, native to North America, giving name to the natural order of the Asclepidaceæ, and containing the milk-weed, swallow-wort, &c.
English · e-37683-1634Ascribe, a-skrīb′, v.t. to attribute, impute, or assign.—adj. Ascrib′able.—n. Ascrip′tion, act of ascribing or imputing: any expression of ascribing, or any formula for such, like the one ascribing glory to God repeated
English · e-37683-1635Aseity, a-sē′i-ti, n. self-origination. [L. a, from, se, self.]
English · e-37683-1636 · brief source recordAseptic, a-sep′tik, adj. not liable to decay or putrefaction.—n. Asep′ticism. [From Gr. a, neg., sēptos, sēpomai, to decay.]
English · e-37683-1637Asexual, a-seks′ū-al, adj. without sex, once applied to cryptogams—agamic. [Gr. a, neg., and Sexual.]
English · e-37683-1638 · brief source recordAsgard, as′gärd, n. the heaven of Norse mythology, abode of the twelve gods and twenty-six goddesses, and of heroes slain in battle. [Ice. asgardhr, āss, a god, gardhr, an enclosure.]
English · e-37683-1639Ash, ash, n. a well-known timber tree, or its wood, which is white, tough, and hard, much used in carpentry and wheel-work: the ashen shaft of a spear, or a spear itself.—adj. Ash′en.—n. Ground′-ash, or Ash′-plant, an as
English · e-37683-1640Ash-Wednesday, ash-wenz′dā, n. the first day of Lent, so called from the Roman Catholic custom of sprinkling ashes on the head.
English · e-37683-1649Ashake, a-shāk′, adv. phrase, shaking. [Prep. a, and Shake.]
English · e-37683-1641 · brief source recordAshamed, a-shāmd′, adj. affected with shame (with of for the cause of shame; for, the person).—v.t. and v.i. Ashame′, to feel shame: to put to shame.—n. Ashamed′ness.—p.adj. Asham′ing. [Pa.p. of old verb ashame.]
English · e-37683-1642Ashes, ash′ez, n.pl. the dust or remains of anything burnt: the remains of the human body when burnt: (fig.) a dead body: used to express pallor, from the colour of wood-ashes, as in 'pale as ashes,' 'ashy-pale.'—n. Ash′
English · e-37683-1643Ashet, ash′et, n. (now only Scot.) a large flat dish in which meat is served. [Fr. assiette.]
English · e-37683-1644 · brief source recordAshiver, a-shiv′ėr, adv. phrase, quivering.
English · e-37683-1645 · brief source recordAshkenazim, ash-kē-naz′im, n.pl. the Polish and German Jews, as distinguished from the Sephardim, the Spanish and Portuguese Jews. [Heb. Ashkenaz, the name of a northern people in Gen. x., located in Arabia, by later Jew
English · e-37683-1646Ashlar, ash′lar, Ashler, ash′lėr, n. hewn or squared stone used in facing a wall, as distinguished from rough, as it comes from the quarry—also in Ash′lar-work, as opposed to Rubble-work.—p.adj. Ash′lared.—n. Ash′laring.
English · e-37683-1647Ashore, a-shōr′, adv. on shore. [Prep. a, and Shore.]
English · e-37683-1648 · brief source recordAsian, āzh′yan, or āsh′i-an, Asiatic, ā-zhi-at′ik, or āsh-i-at′ik, adj. belonging to Asia: florid in literature or art.—n. Asiat′icism, imitation of Asiatic or Eastern manners.
English · e-37683-1650Aside, a-sīd′, adv. on or to one side: privately: apart.—n. words spoken in an undertone, so as not to be heard by some person present, words spoken by an actor which the other persons on the stage are supposed not to he
English · e-37683-1651Asinego, as-i-nē′go, n. (Shak.) a stupid fellow.—Also Asini′co. [Sp. asnico—dim. of asno, L. asinus, ass.]
English · e-37683-1652 · brief source recordAsinine, as′in-īn, adj. of or like an ass.—n. Asinin′ity. [See Ass.]
English · e-37683-1653 · brief source recordAsk, ask, v.t. to seek: to request, inquire, beg, question, invite.—v.i. to request: to make inquiry (with about and for—as to ask one after or for another). [A.S. áscian, ácsian; Ger. heischen, Ice. æskja, Sans. esh, to
English · e-37683-1654Askance, a-skans′, Askant, a-skant′, adv. sideways: awry: obliquely: with a side glance, or with a side meaning.—v.t. (Shak.) to turn aside.—To eye, look, or view askance, to look at with suspicion. [Ety. very obscure; p
English · e-37683-1655Askew, a-skū′, adv. obliquely: aside: awry. [See Askance.]
English · e-37683-1656 · brief source recordAslake, a-slāk′, v.t. (arch.) to slake: to mitigate. [Prep. a, and Slake.]
English · e-37683-1657 · brief source recordAslant, a-slant′, adj. or adv. obliquely.—Also Asklent′ (Scot.).
English · e-37683-1658 · brief source recordAsleep, a-slēp′, adj. or adv. in sleep: sleeping: in the sleep of death, dead. [Prep. a, and Sleep.]
English · e-37683-1659 · brief source recordAslope, a-slōp′, adj. or adv. on the slope.
English · e-37683-1660 · brief source recordAsmoulder, a-smōl′der, adv. phrase, smouldering.
English · e-37683-1661 · brief source recordAsnort, a-snort′, adv. phrase, snorting. [Prep. a, and Snort.]
English · e-37683-1662 · brief source recordAsp, asp, Aspic, asp′ik, n. a popular name applied loosely to various genera of venomous serpents—now chiefly to the Vipera aspis of Southern Europe. Cleopatra's asp was probably the small Vipera hasselquistii, or horned
English · e-37683-1663Asparagus, as-par′a-gus, n. a plant cultivated for its young shoots, esteemed as a table delicacy.—n. Aspar′agine, a nitrogenised crystallised substance found in asparagus and other vegetables.—Sparrow-grass was long the
English · e-37683-1664Aspect, as′pekt (in Shak. and elsewhere, as-pekt′), n. look: view: appearance, also applied figuratively to the mind: position in relation to the points of the compass: the situation of one planet with respect to another
English · e-37683-1665Aspen, asp′en, n. the trembling poplar.—adj. made of or like the aspen: tremulous: timorous.—adj. As′pen-like. [A.S. æspe, Ger. espe.]
English · e-37683-1666Asper, as′pėr, n. a small silver Turkish coin.
English · e-37683-1667 · brief source recordAsperated. See Aspirate.
English · e-37683-1668 · brief source recordAsperges, as-per′jes, n. a short service introductory to the mass, so called from the words Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor (Ps. li.).
English · e-37683-1669Aspergill, -um, as′pėr-jil, -um, n. a kind of brush used in R.C. churches for sprinkling holy water on the people.—Also Asperge′, Asper′soir. [L. aspergĕre, to sprinkle, and dim. suffix.]
English · e-37683-1670Aspergillum, as-pėr-jil′um, n. a remarkable genus of boring Lamellibranch Molluscs, in which the shell has the form of an elongated cone, terminating at the lower end in a disc, pierced by numerous small tubular holes.—n
English · e-37683-1671Asperity, as-per′i-ti, n. roughness: harshness: bitter coldness. [L. asperitat-em, asper, rough.]
English · e-37683-1672 · brief source recordAspermous, a-spėr′mus, Aspermatous, a-spėr′ma-tus, adj. without seeds. [Gr. a, neg., sperma, seed.]
English · e-37683-1673 · brief source recordAsperse, as-pėrs′, v.t. to slander or calumniate: to bespatter (with).—n. Asper′sion, calumny: slander: (Shak.) a shower or spray.—adjs. Aspers′ive, Aspers′ory, tending to asperse: defamatory.
English · e-37683-1674Aspersorium, as-per-sōr′i-um, n. a vessel used in R.C. churches for holding holy water.
English · e-37683-1675 · brief source recordAsphalt, as-falt′, or as′falt, Asphaltum, as-falt′um, n. a black or dark-brown, hard, bituminous substance, anciently used as a cement, and now for paving, cisterns, water-pipes, &c.—v.t. Asphalt′, to lay or cover with a
English · e-37683-1676Aspheterism, as-fet′er-izm, n. (Southey) denial of the right of private property.—v.i. Asphet′erise. [Gr. a, neg., and spheteros, one's own.]
English · e-37683-1677Asphodel, as′fo-del, n. a kind of lily—in Greek mythology, the peculiar plant of the dead. In Greece they cover the bleakest hillsides with enduring blossom.—adj. Elysian. [Gr. asphodelos, a plant of the lily kind; cf. H
English · e-37683-1678Asphyxia, as-fik′si-a, n. (lit.) suspended animation, suffocation, when the blood is in such a state as to render impossible a sufficiently free exchange of carbonic acid for oxygen—also Asphyx′y.—n. Asphyx′iant, a chemi
English · e-37683-1679Aspic, Aspick, as′pik, n. (poet.) a venomous serpent. [See Asp.]
English · e-37683-1680 · brief source recordAspic, as′pik, n. a savoury meat-jelly containing fish, game, hard-boiled eggs, &c. [Littré suggests its derivation from aspic, asp, because it is 'cold as an aspic,' a French proverb.]
English · e-37683-1681Aspirant, as-pīr′ant, or as′pir-ant, n. one who aspires (with after, for): a candidate.—adj. ambitious: mounting up (rare in both senses). [See Aspire.]
English · e-37683-1682Aspirate, as′pir-āt, v.t. to pronounce with a full breathing, as the letter h in house.—n. a mark of aspiration, the rough breathing in Greek (‛): an aspirated letter.—p.adj. As′perated, made harsh.—ns. Aspirā′tion, pron
English · e-37683-1683Aspire, as-pīr′ (followed by to or after with the object, or by an infinitive), v.i. to desire eagerly: to aim at high things: to tower up.—n. Aspirā′tion, eager desire.—adj. Aspīr′ing.—adv. Aspīr′ingly.—n. Aspīr′ingness
English · e-37683-1684Asplenium, as-plē′ni-um, n. spleenwort, a genus of ferns, mostly tropical, with long or linear sori, with indusium arising laterally from above a vein—including the lady-fern, black maiden-hair, &c. [Gr. asplēnion.]
English · e-37683-1685Asport, as-pōrt′, v.t. (rare) to carry away, esp. in a bad sense.—n. Asportā′tion, feloniously carrying away. [L. asportāre—abs, away, and portāre, to carry.]
English · e-37683-1686Aspout, a-spowt′, adv. phrase, spouting.
English · e-37683-1687 · brief source recordAsprawl, a-sprawl′, adv. phrase, sprawling.
English · e-37683-1688 · brief source recordAspread, a-spred′, adv. phrase, spread out.
English · e-37683-1689 · brief source recordAsprout, a-sprowt′, adv. phrase, sprouting.
English · e-37683-1690 · brief source recordAsquat, a-skwät′, adv. phrase, squatting.
English · e-37683-1691 · brief source recordAsquint, a-skwint′, adv. and adj. towards the corner of the eye: obliquely.
English · e-37683-1692 · brief source recordAss, as, n. a well-known quadruped of the horse family: (fig.) a dull, stupid fellow.—Asses' bridge, or Pons asinorum, a humorous name for the fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid. [A.S. assa, the earlier Teuton
English · e-37683-1693Assafetida. Same as Asafœtida.
English · e-37683-1694 · brief source recordAssagai, Assegai, as′sa-gī, n. a slender spear of hard wood, tipped with iron, some for hurling, some for thrusting with—used by the South African tribes, notably the war-like Zulus.—v.t. to kill or slay with an assagai.
English · e-37683-1695Assail, as-sāl′, v.t. to assault: to attack.—adj. Assail′able.—ns. Assail′ant, one who assails or attacks; Assail′ment. [O. Fr. asaillir—L. assilīre—ad, upon, and salīre, to leap.]
English · e-37683-1696Assassin, as-as′in, n. one who, usually for a reward, kills by surprise or secretly.—v.t. Assas′sinate, to murder by surprise or secret assault: (Milton) to maltreat: also figuratively, to destroy by treacherous means, a
English · e-37683-1697Assault, as-sawlt′, n. a sudden attack: a storming, as of a town: (Eng. law) unlawful attempt to apply force to the person of another—when force is actually applied, the act amounts to battery: an attack of any sort by a
English · e-37683-1698Assay, as-sā′, v.t. to determine the proportions of a metal in an ore or alloy: endeavour (more usually Essay): (Spens.) to affect or move: (Shak.) to put one to the proof, as to accost with a particular purpose, to meas
English · e-37683-1699Assegai, Assegay. Same as Assagai.
English · e-37683-1700 · brief source recordAssemble, as-sem′bl, v.t. to call or bring together: to collect.—v.i. to meet together.—ns. Assem′blage, a collection of persons or things; Assem′blance (Spens.), an assembling: (Shak.) semblance: representation; Assem′b
English · e-37683-1701Assent, as-sent′, v.i. to think or concur with, to admit as true (with to).—n. an agreeing or acquiescence: compliance.—adj. Assentā′neous, ready to agree.—ns. Assent′er, Assent′or, one of the eight voters who indorse th
English · e-37683-1702Assentation, as-sen-tā′shun, n. obsequious assent, adulation.—n. As′sentator (obs.).—adv. Assent′atorily (obs.). [L. assentāri, to flatter, freq. of assentīri, assent, agree.]
English · e-37683-1703Assert, as-sėrt′, v.t. to vindicate or defend by arguments or measures (now used only of the cause as object or reflexive): to declare strongly: to lay claim to or insist upon anything: to affirm: (rare) to bear evidence
English · e-37683-1704Assess, as-ses′, v.t. to fix the amount of, as a tax (with upon): to tax or fine: to fix the value or profits of, for taxation (with at): to estimate.—adj. Assess′able.—ns. Assess′ment, act of assessing: a valuation for
English · e-37683-1705Assets, as′sets, n.pl. the property of a deceased or insolvent person, considered as chargeable for all debts, &c.: the entire property of all sorts belonging to a merchant or to a trading association. [From the Anglo-Fr
English · e-37683-1706Asseverate, as-sev′ėr-āt, v.t. to declare solemnly—an earlier form is Assev′er.—adv. Asseverat′ingly.—n. Asseverā′tion, any solemn affirmation or confirmation. [L. asseverāre, -ātum—ad, to, severus, serious. See Severe.]
English · e-37683-1707Assiduity, as-sid-ū′i-ti, n. constant application or diligence: (pl.) constant attentions, as to a lady.—adj. Assid′uous, constant or unwearied in application: diligent.—adv. Assid′uously.—n. Assid′uousness. [L. assiduit
English · e-37683-1708Assiege, as-sēj′, v.t. (Spens.) to besiege. [See Siege.]
English · e-37683-1709 · brief source recordAssiento, as-ē-en′to, n. a word especially applied to an exclusive contract between Spain and some foreign nation for the supply of African slaves for its American possessions. [Sp., a seat, a seat in a court, a treaty.]
English · e-37683-1710Assign, as-sīn′, v.t. to sign or mark out to one: to allot: to appoint: to allege: to transfer: to ascribe or refer to: to suggest: to fix, as a time: to point out exactly.—n. one to whom any property or right is made ov
English · e-37683-1711Assignat, as-sin-yä′, n. one of the notes (chiefly for 100 francs = £4 each) in the paper currency first issued in 1790 by the French revolutionary government as bonds on the security of the appropriated church lands.
English · e-37683-1712Assimilate, as-sim′il-āt, v.t. to make similar or like to: to convert into a like substance, as food in our bodies (with to, with).—v.i. to become like, or to be incorporated in.—n. Assim′ilability (Coleridge).—adj. Assi
English · e-37683-1713Assist, as-sist′, v.t. to help.—v.i. to be present at a ceremony: (Shak.) to accompany.—n. Assist′ance, help: relief.—adj. Assist′ant, helping or lending aid.—n. one who assists: a helper. [L. assistĕre, to stand by—ad,
English · e-37683-1714Assize, as-sīz′, v.t. to assess: to set or fix the quantity or price.—n. a statute settling the weight, measure, or price of anything: (Scot.) a trial by jury, the jury: judgment, sentence, the Last Judgment: (pl.) the s
English · e-37683-1715Associate, as-sō′shi-āt, v.t. to join with, as a friend or partner: to unite in the same body.—v.i. to keep company (with): to combine or unite.—ns. Associabil′ity, Assō′ciableness.—adjs. Assō′ciable, that may be joined
English · e-37683-1716Assoil, as-soil′, v.t. to loosen from: to absolve or acquit: to solve: (Spens.) to remove, to let loose, to renew, to get rid of.—n. Assoil′ment. [Through Fr. from L.—L. ab, from, solvĕre, to loose.]
English · e-37683-1717Assoil, as-soil′, v.t. to soil, stain, or make dirty. [L. ad, and Soil. See Soil (2).]
English · e-37683-1718 · brief source recordAssoilzie, as-soil′yē, v.i. to free one accused from a charge: a Scots law term, the same as the archaic assoil, to absolve from sin, discharge, pardon. See Absolvitor, under Absolve. [Through Fr. from L. absolvĕre.]
English · e-37683-1719Assonance, as′son-ans, n. a correspondence in sound: in Spanish and Portuguese poetry, a kind of rhyme, consisting in the coincidence of the vowels of the corresponding syllables, without regard to the consonants, as in
English · e-37683-1720Assort, as-sort′, v.t. to separate into classes: to arrange.—v.i. to agree or be in accordance with: to fall into a class with, suit well with: (arch.) to keep company with.—p.adj. Assort′ed, classified, arranged in sort
English · e-37683-1721Assot, as-sot′, v.t. (Spens.) to besot, to infatuate.—p.adj. Assot′, or Assot′ted (Spens.), infatuated. [O. Fr. asoter—à, to, sot, foolish. See Sot.]
English · e-37683-1722Assuage, as-swāj′, v.t. to soften, mitigate, or allay.—v.i. to abate or subside: to diminish.—n. Assuage′ment, abatement: mitigation.—adj. Assuā′sive, softening, mild. [O. Fr., formed as if from a L. assuaviāre—ad, to, s
English · e-37683-1723Assubjugate, as-sub′jōō-gāt, v.t. (Shak.) to reduce to subjugation.
English · e-37683-1724 · brief source recordAssuefaction, as-wē-fak′shun, n. (Sir T. Browne) the act of accustoming, habituation. [L. assuefacĕre—assuetus, accustomed, and facĕre, to make.]
English · e-37683-1725Assuetude, as′wē-tūd, n. (obs.) custom, habit. [L. assuetus.]
English · e-37683-1726 · brief source recordAssume, as-sūm′, v.t. to adopt, take in: to take up, to take upon one's self: to take for granted: to arrogate: to pretend to possess.—v.i. to claim unduly: to be arrogant.—adjs. Assum′able, Assump′tive, that may be assu
English · e-37683-1727Assumpsit, a-sump′sit, n. an action at law, wherein the plaintiff asserts that the defendant undertook (L. assumpsit) to do a certain act and failed to fulfil his promise: in the United States, the most common form of ac
English · e-37683-1728Assumption, as-sum′shun, n. act of assuming: a supposition: the thing supposed, a proposition: (logic) the minor premise in a syllogism.—Assumption of the Virgin, a church festival kept on the 15th of August, based on th
English · e-37683-1729Assure, a-shōōr′, v.t. to make sure or secure: to give confidence: (Shak.) to betroth: to tell positively: to insure.—adj. Assur′able.—n. Assur′ance, confidence: feeling of certainty: self-reliance: impudence: positive d
English · e-37683-1730Assurgent, as-ur′jent, adj. rising, ascending: (bot.) rising in a curve to an erect position: (her.) of a bearing depicted as rising from the sea.—n. Assur′gency, the tendency to rise.
English · e-37683-1731Asswage. A form of Assuage.
English · e-37683-1732 · brief source recordAssyrian, as-sir′i-an, adj. belonging to Assyria.—n. an inhabitant of Assyria: the language of Assyria.—ns. Assyriol′ogist; Assyriol′ogy, the science of Assyrian antiquities. [Gr. Assurios—Assuria, Assyria.]
English · e-37683-1733Astare, a-stār′, adv. phrase, staring.
English · e-37683-1734 · brief source recordAstart, a-start′, v.i. (Spens.) to start up suddenly: to happen, fall out.—adv. with a start, suddenly. [Pfx. a-, and Start.]
English · e-37683-1735Astatic, a-stat′ik, adj. having a tendency not to stand still: losing polarity, as a magnetic needle. [Gr. neg., astatos—a, neg., statos, verb. adj. of histanai, to stand.]
English · e-37683-1736Astay, a-stā′, adv. applied to an anchor when, in lifting it, the cable forms such an angle with the surface of the water as to appear in a line with the stays of the ship. [Prep. a, on, and Stay.]
English · e-37683-1737Aster, as′tėr, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Compositæ, with showy radiated flowers varying from white to lilac-blue or purple, mostly perennial, flowering in late summer and autumn, hence often called in Eng
English · e-37683-1738Asterias, as-tēr′i-as, n. a genus of Echinoderms, containing the common five-rayed starfish. [Gr. astērias, a fish—astēr, a star.]
English · e-37683-1739Asterisk, as′tėr-isk, n. a star, used in printing as a reference to a note at the bottom or on the margin of the page, and sometimes as a mark of the omission of words, thus *.—n. As′terism, a group or collection of smal
English · e-37683-1740Astern, a-stėrn′, adv. in the stern: towards the hinder part of a ship: behind. [Prep. a, and Stern.]
English · e-37683-1741 · brief source recordAsteroid, as′tėr-oid, n. one of the minor planetary bodies revolving between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.—adj. Asteroid′al. [Gr. astēr, a star, eidos, form.]
English · e-37683-1742Astert, a-stėrt′. Same as Astart.
English · e-37683-1743 · brief source recordAsthenia, as-thē-nī′a, n. debility, lack of strength.—adj. Asthen′ic [Gr. a, priv., and sthenos, strength.]
English · e-37683-1744 · brief source recordAsthma, ast′ma, n. a chronic disorder of the organs of respiration, characterised by the occurrence of paroxysms in which the breathing becomes difficult, and accompanied by wheezing and a distressing feeling of tightnes
English · e-37683-1745Astigmatism, a-stig′ma-tizm, n. a defective condition of the eye, in which rays proceeding to the eye from one point are not correctly brought to a focus at one point.—adj. Astigmat′ic. [Gr. a, neg., and stigma, stigmat-
English · e-37683-1746Astir, a-stir′, prep. phr. or adv. on the move, out of bed, in motion or excitement. [Prep. a, and Stir.]
English · e-37683-1747 · brief source recordAstomatous, as-tom′a-tus, adj. having no mouth, used of a division of the protozoa.
English · e-37683-1748 · brief source recordAstonish, as-ton′ish, v.t. to impress with sudden surprise or wonder: to amaze: (Shak.) to stun—older form Aston′y, whence the p.adj. Aston′ied, dazed, bewildered, greatly astonished.—Aston′, Astun′, Astoned′, Astunned′,
English · e-37683-1749Astound, as-townd′, v.t. to amaze, to strike dumb with astonishment:—pa.p. astound′ed; pr.p. astound′ing.—pa.p. Astound′ (arch.).—p.adj. Astound′ing. [Astound (adj.) is developed from Astoned, hence the verb is a doublet
English · e-37683-1750Astraddle, a-strad′dl, adv. sitting astride. [Prep. a, on, and Straddle.]
English · e-37683-1751 · brief source recordAstragal, as′tra-gal, n. (archit.) a small semicircular moulding or bead encircling a column: a round moulding near the mouth of a cannon: the bars which hold the panes of a window. [Gr. astragalos, one of the vertebræ,
English · e-37683-1752Astragalus, as-trag′al-us, n. a bone of the foot, forming with the leg-bones the hinge of the ankle-joint, by a convex upper surface and smooth sides. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-1753Astrakhan, as′tra-kan, n. name given to lamb-skins with a curled wool obtained from Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea: a rough fabric made in imitation of it.
English · e-37683-1754Astral, as′tral, adj. belonging to the stars: starry: in the science of Theosophy, descriptive of a supersensible substance supposed to pervade all space and enter into all bodies.—Astral body, a living form composed of
English · e-37683-1755Astrand, a-strand′, adv. stranded. [Prep. a, on, and Strand.]
English · e-37683-1756 · brief source recordAstray, a-strā′, adv. out of the right way. [Prep. a, on, and Stray.]
English · e-37683-1757 · brief source recordAstriction, as-trik′shun, n. a binding or contraction: restriction.—v.t. Astrict′, to bind, restrict. [L. astriction-em, astringĕre. See Astringent.]
English · e-37683-1758Astride, a-strīd′, adv. with the legs apart, or across. [Prep. a, on, and Stride.]
English · e-37683-1759 · brief source recordAstringent, as-trin′jent, adj. binding: contracting: strengthening.—n. a medicine that causes costiveness.—v.t. Astringe′, to bind together: to draw tight: hence to render constipated.—n. Astrin′gency.—adv. Astrin′gently
English · e-37683-1760Astrolabe, as′trō-lāb, n. an instrument for measuring the altitudes of the sun or stars, now superseded by Hadley's quadrant and sextant. [Gr.; astron, a star, labb-, lambano, I take.]
English · e-37683-1761Astrolatry, as-trol′a-tri, n. the worship of the stars. [Gr. astron, a star, latreia, worship.]
English · e-37683-1762 · brief source recordAstrology, as-trol′o-ji, n. the infant stage of the science of the stars, out of which grew Astronomy; it was occupied chiefly in determining from the positions and motions of the heavenly bodies their supposed influence
English · e-37683-1763Astronomy, as-tron′om-i, n. the laws or science of the stars or heavenly bodies.—n. Astron′omer, one versed in astronomy.—adj. Astronom′ic.—adv. Astronom′ically.—v.t. Astron′omise. [Gr. astronomia—astron, star, nomos, a
English · e-37683-1764Astrophel, as′tro-fel, n. a name applied by Spenser to some kind of bitter herb.
English · e-37683-1765 · brief source recordAstrut, a-strut′, adv. in a strutting manner. [Prep. a, on, and Strut.]
English · e-37683-1766 · brief source recordAstute, ast-ūt′, adj. crafty: cunning: shrewd: sagacious.—adv. Astute′ly.—n. Astute′ness.—The adj. Astū′cious, adv. Astū′ciously, and n. Astū′city are all rare. [L. astutus—astus, crafty, akin perhaps to Acute.]
English · e-37683-1767Astylar, a-stī′lar, adj. without columns. [Gr. a, neg., stylos, a column.]
English · e-37683-1768 · brief source recordAsudden, a-sud′en, adv. suddenly. [Prep. a, and Sudden.]
English · e-37683-1769 · brief source recordAsunder, a-sun′dėr, adv. apart: into parts: separately. [Prep. a, and Sunder.]
English · e-37683-1770 · brief source recordAswarm, a-swärm′, adv. swarming. [Prep. a, and Swarm.]
English · e-37683-1771 · brief source recordAsway, a-swā′, adv. swaying.
English · e-37683-1772 · brief source recordAswim, a-swim′, adv. afloat.
English · e-37683-1773 · brief source recordAswing, a-swing′, adv. swinging.
English · e-37683-1774 · brief source recordAswoon, a-swōōn′, adv. in a swoon.
English · e-37683-1775 · brief source recordAsylum, a-sīl′um, n. a place of refuge for debtors and for such as were accused of some crime: an institution for the care or relief of the unfortunate, such as the blind or insane: any place of refuge or protection. [L.
English · e-37683-1776Asymmetry, a-sim′e-tri, n. want of symmetry or proportion between parts.—adjs. Asymmet′ric, -al.—adv. Asymmet′rically. [Gr. See Symmetry.]
English · e-37683-1777Asymptote, a′sim-tōt, n. (math.) a line that continually approaches nearer to some curve without ever meeting it.—adjs. Asymptot′ic, -al.—adv. Asymptot′ically. [Gr. asymptōtos, not coinciding—a, not, syn, with, ptōtos, a
English · e-37683-1778Asynartete, a-sin′ar-tēt, adj. and n. not connected, consisting of two members having different rhythms; a verse of such a kind.—Also Asyn′artetic. [Gr.; a, neg., syn, together, arta-ein, to knit.]
English · e-37683-1779A 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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