Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
A·côn′ti·as, n. p. 15Anciently, a snake, called dart-snake, which was said to coil itself on trees and dart down on persons passing by; now, a genus of reptiles closely allied to the lizards, one species of which (A.…A-côp', adv. p. 15Acontias meleagris. At the top. [Obs.] Johnson.A-cŏp'ic, a. p. 15(Med.) Remedying weariness. Buchanan.Ă'corn, n. p. 15The seed or fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a rough cup. 2. (Naut.) A small ornamental piece of wood, of a conical shape, fixed on the point of the spindle above the vane, on the mast…Ā'corned, a. p. 15Furnished or loaded with acorns; fed with acorns. “He beareth argent an oak acorned proper.” Shak.A-cŏs'mism, n. p. 15A denial of the existence of the world. Mansel.A-cös'mist, n. p. 15One who denies the existence of the world. Leves.A-cŏt'/y-lē'don, n. p. 15(Bot.) A plant in which the seed-lobes, or cotyledons, are not present. Gray.A-cŏt'y-lēd'o-noŭs, a. p. 15Having either no seed-lobes, or such as are indistinct, like the ferns, lichens, &c.A-cou'chy, n. p. 15(Zool.) A species of agouti of somewhat smaller size.A·cou'me·ter, n. p. 15An instrument for measuring the degree or extent of hearing. Hard.A·cous'tic, a. p. 15Pertaining to the ears, to the sense of hearing, or to the doctrine of sounds. Acoustic vessels, brazen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell, used in ancient theaters to propel the voice of the…A-cous'tics, n. sing. p. 15The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws. ☞— This science is, by some writers, divided into diacoustics, which explains the properties of sounds, coming directly from the…Ac-quāint′, v. t. p. 15[O. Fr. acointer, Pr. accointar, L. Lat. accognitare, adcognitare, to make known; It. accostarsi, to have a parley with one; Pr. coindar, to give to understand; O. Fr. cointe, cuinte; It. conto, one…Ae-quäint'a-ble, a. p. 15Easy to be acquainted with. [Obs. and rare.] Chaucer.Ac-quāint'ance, n. p. 15A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate or more than slight or superficial knowledge; familiar knowledge; as, I know the man, but have no acquaintance with him. Contract no friendship, or…Ac-quäint'ance-shĭp, n. p. 15A state of being acquainted; acquaintance. Chalmers.Ac-quäint’ant, n. p. 15An acquaintance. [Rare.] By the time that an author hath written out a book, he and his readers are become old acquaintants. Swift.Ac-quäint'ed-ness, n. p. 15State of being acquainted; acquaintance. Boyle.Ac-quèsť, n. p. 15Acquisition; the thing gained. Bacon. 2. pl. (Law.) Property acquired by purchase, gift, or otherwise than by inheritance. Bouvier.Ac'qui-ēsçe', v. i. p. 15To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent, usually implying previous opposition, uneasiness, or dislike, but ultimate compliance or submission. They…Ac/quī-ēs'cence, n. p. 15A silent assent or submission, or a submission with apparent content;— distinguished from avowed consent on the one hand, and on the other, from opposition or open discontent. “Certain indistinct…Ac-qui-ēs'cen-cy, n. p. 15Same as ACQUIESCENCE.Ac-quĭ-ĕs'çent, a. p. 15Resting satisfied; easy; submitting; disposed to submit. H. More.Ac-quĭ-ĕs'çent-ly, ad. p. 15In an acquiescent manner.Ac-quī'et, v. t. p. 15To quiet. [Obs.] Acquiet his mind from stirring you against your own peace. Sir A. Shirley.Ac-quīr'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 15State or quality of being acquirable. Paley.Ac-quīr'a-ble, a. p. 15Capable of being acquired.Ac-quire', v. t. p. 15To gain, usually by one's own labor or exertions. No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step. Barrow. Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate…Ac-quīre'ment, n. p. 15The act of acquiring, or that which is acquired; attainment. [It is used in opposition to natural gifts; as, eloquence, and skill in music and painting, are acquirements; genius, the gift of nature.…Ac-quīr'er, n. p. 15A person who acquires.Ac-quīr'y, n. p. 15Acquirement. [Obs.] Barrow.Ac'qui-sīte, a. p. 15Acquired; gained. [Obs.] Barrow.Ac/qui-si'tion, n. p. 15The act of acquiring. “The acquisition or loss of a province.” Macaulay. 2. The thing acquired or gained; acquirement; attainment; as, learning is an acquisition. To make great acquisitions can…Ac-qui's'i-tive, a. p. 15Acquired. [Rare.] He died not in his acquisitive, but in his native soil. Wotton. 2. Disposed to make acquisitions; as, an acquisitive person or disposition.Ac-qui's'i-tive-ly, adv. p. 15In the way of acquisition.Ac-qui's'i-tive-ness, n. p. 15The state or quality of being acquisitive; desire of possession; propensity to acquire property. 2. (Phren.) The organ which is supposed to give rise to this desire. Combe.Ac-quis'i-tor, n. p. 16One who acquires, or makes acquisitions. C. Richardson.Ac-quist', n. p. 16Acquisition. [Obs.] “The acquist of virtues.” Bp. Taylor.Ae-quit′, v. t. p. 16To set free; to release or discharge, especially from an obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, suspicion, or whatever lies upon a person as a charge or duty; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we…Ae-quit'ment, n. p. 16The act of acquitting, or state of being acquitted; acquittal. [Obs.] Milton.Ae-quit'tal, n. p. 16(Law.) A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offense, by verdict of a jury or sentence of a court. Bouvier.Aē-quit'tance, n. p. 16The act of acquitting or discharging from a debt, or other engagement or obligation. Milton. 2. A writing, which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand. You can…A-crāse' or A-crāze', v. t. p. 16To craze. [Obs.] Grafton.A'cre, n. p. 16A piece of land, containing 160 square rods or perches, or 4840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That of the United States is the same. The acre of Scotland…Acre-fight p. 16a sort of duel in the open field, formerly fought by English and Scotch combatants on their frontiers.A'cre-age, n. p. 16Acres taken collectively, or amount of acres; as, the acreage of Great Britain. Wade.Ā'cred, a. p. 16Possessing acres or landed property; — used in composition; as, large-acred men.A'cre-dāle, n. p. 16Land in a common field, in which different proprietors hold portions of greater or less quantities. [Prov., Eng.] Halliwell.Ă'crid, a. p. 16Sharp and harsh, or biting, to the taste; pungent; corroding; acrimonious; as, acrid salts; an acrid temper.A-crĭd'i-ty, n. p. 16The quality of being acrid, or of leaving a painful heat upon the organs of taste; pungency; acrimony. Lindley.Ăc'rid-ness, n. p. 16A sharp, bitter, pungent quality.Ăc'ri-mō'ni-oŭs, a. p. 16Abounding with acrimony; sharp; bitter; corrosive. Harvey. 2. Severe; caustic; sarcastic. “Acrimonious contempt.” Johnson.Ăc'ri-mō'ni-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 16In an acrimonious manner.Ăc'ri-mō'ni-oŭs-ness, n. p. 16The state or quality of being acrimonious; acridness; asperity; tartness.Ăc'ri-mo-ny, n. p. 16A quality of bodies which corrodes, dissolves, or destroys others; a harsh or biting sharpness; as, the acrimony of the juices of certain plants. Bacon. 2. Sharpness or severity, as of language or…Ăc'ri-sy, n. p. 16A state or condition of which no right judgment can be formed; that of which no choice is made; matter in dispute; injudiciousness. [Obs.]A'cri-tā or A'cri-tan, n. p. 16(Zoöl.) That division of radiate animals and the Protozoa, in which there is no distinct nervous system, as the sponges, polyps, &c. Dana.A-crĭt'ic-al, a. p. 16Having no crisis; giving no indications of a crisis; as, acritical symptoms; an acritical abscess.Ăc'ri-tūde, n. p. 16An acrid quality; bitterness to the taste; biting heat; acrimony. Grew.