Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ăc'ro-tē'ri-al, a. p. 16Pertaining to the acroter; as, acroterial ornaments. P. Cyc.Ăc'ro-tē'ri-ŭm, n. p. 16(Arch.) (a.) A small pedestal, usually without a base, anciently placed at the two extremes, or in the middle of pediments or frontispieces, serving to support the statues, &c. (b.) A figure placed…A-crŏt'ic, a. p. 16Pertaining to, or affecting, the surface; as, acrotic diseases. Wright.A-crŏt'o-moŭs, a. p. 16(Min.) Having a cleavage parallel with the base. Dana.Act, v. i. p. 16To exert power; as, the stomach acts upon food. 2. To be in action or motion; to perform an action or actions; to carry into effect a determination of the will. He hangs between, in doubt to act or…Act, v. t. p. 16To perform, especially upon the stage. Act well your part; there all the honor lies. Pope. That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity. Bp. Taylor. Industry doth…Act, n. p. 16That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; performance; deed. That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered…Ăc'ti-an, a. p. 16Relating to Actium, a town and promontory of Epirus; as, Actian games, which were instituted by Augustus, to celebrate his naval victory over Antony, near that town, and were celebrated every five…Ac-tĭn'i-ă, n. p. 16(Zoöl.) (a.) An animal of the class of Polyps, and family Actinida. From a resemblance to flowers in form and appearance, they are often called animal-flowers and sea-anemones. [See POLYP.] (b.) A…Ac-tĭn'ic, a. p. 16Pertaining to actinism.Ac-tĭn'i-fôrm, a. p. 16Having a radiated form.Ac'tin-ism, n. p. 17(Opt.) That power in the sun's rays by which chemical changes are produced, as in photography.Ae-tĭn'o-chem'is-try, n. p. 17Chemistry in its relations to actinism. Draper.Ac-tĭn'o-grāph, n. p. 17(Opt.) An instrument for measuring and recording the variations in the actinic or chemical force of the solar rays. Nichol.Ăc'tin-oid, a. p. 17Having the form of rays; radiated.Ae-tin'o-lite, n. p. 17(Min.) The bright green variety of hornblende, occurring usually in glassy prismatic crystals, and also fibrous. Dana.Ae-tin'/o-lit'ic, a. p. 17Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, actinolite. Dana.Ăc'ti-nōm'e-ter, n. p. 17(Opt.) An instrument for measuring the intensity of the sun's actinic rays. Nichol.Ac-tin'o-mét'rie, a. p. 17Belonging to the measurement of actinic force or influence.Ac'ti-nŏph'o-roūs, a. p. 17Having straight projecting spines. Dana.Ac'tion, n. p. 17A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; or the effect of power exerted on one body by another; motion produced…Ac'tion-a-ble, a. p. 17Admitting a suit, or the bringing of an action at law which will lie; as, to call a man a thief is actionable.Ăc'tion-a-bly, adv. p. 17In an actionable manner; in a manner that may subject to legal process.Ac'tion-a-ry or Ac'tion-ist, n. p. 17(Com.) A proprietor of stock in a joint-stock company; one who owns actions or shares of stock.Ăc'tion-sĕr'mon, n. p. 17(Eccl.) A sermon preached immediately before the communion service in Scotland. McCheyne.Ăc'tion-tāk'ing, n. p. 17Bringing lawsuits. Shak.Ăc'ti-tā'tion, n. p. 17Quick and frequent action. [Obs.] Wright.Ăc'ti-vāte, v. t. p. 17To make active. [Obs.] Bacon.Ăct'ĭve, a. p. 17Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; —opposed to passive, that receives action; as, the active powers of the mind. 2. Constantly engaged in action…Ăct'ĭve-ly, adv. p. 17In an active manner; by action; nimbly; briskly. 2. (Gram.) In an active signification; as, a word is used actively.Act′ive-ness, n. p. 17The quality or state of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motions; activity.Ac-tĭv'i-ty, n. p. 17The state or quality of being active; the active faculty; nimbleness; agility. “The activity of toil.” Palfrey. Syn. — Agility; nimbleness; liveliness; briskness; quickness.Ăct'less, a. p. 17Without action or spirit. Southerne.Ăc'ton, n. p. 17A quilted leather jacket often worn under a coat of mail. [Spelled, also, Hacketon and Hacqueton.] Halliwell.Ăct'or, n. p. 17One who acts or performs; an agent; a doer; specifically, a theatrical performer; a stage-player. 2. (Law.) (a.) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs. (b.) One who institutes a…Act'ress, n. p. 17A female who acts or performs, and especially on the stage; a female actor. Dryden.Act'u-al, a. p. 17Existing in act, and truly and absolutely so; really acted or acting; carried out;—opposed to potential, possible, virtual, or theoretical. If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love, Either in…Actū-ăl′ĭ-ty, n. p. 17The state of being actual; as, the actuality of God's nature. South.Ăct/ŭ-al-i-zā'tion, n. p. 17A making actual or really existent. “He seeks the idea only in its actualization.” Schwegler.Ăct'ū-al-īze, v. t. p. 17To make actual. Coleridge.Ăct'ū-al-ly, adv. p. 17In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively. 2. Actively. [Obs.] “Neither actually . . . nor passively.” Fuller.Ăct'u-al-ness, n. p. 17The state or quality of being actual; actuality.Act′ū-a-ry, n. p. 17(Law.) A registrar or clerk;— a term of the civil law, and used originally in courts of civil law jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registrar generally. 2. The manager of a joint-stock…Ăct'ū-ate, a. p. 17Put in action. [Obs.] South.Act'u-āte, v. t. p. 17To put into action; to move or incite to action; to influence actively;—used of persons, but formerly sometimes of things. Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the…Ăct/ū-ā'tion, n. p. 17The state of being actuated; a being put in action; effectual operation. So you must be positively and by actuation. Coleridge.Act′u-ā′tor, n. p. 17One who actuates, or puts in action. Melville.Act'ü-ōse, a. p. 17Having strong powers of action. [Obs.]Ac'tu-ōs'i-ty, n. p. 17Power of action. [Obs.] H. More.Ac'ture, n. p. 17Action. [Obs.] Shak.A-cū-āte, v. t. p. 17To sharpen; to make pungent or corrosive. “[To] acuate the blood.” [Rare.] Harvey.Ăcŭ-āte, a. p. 17Sharp; sharpened. [Obs.] “Acuate iron or steel.” Ashmole.Acū-i'tion, n. p. 17The sharpening of medicines to increase their effect.A-cū'i-ty, n. p. 17Sharpness. [Obs.]A-cū'le-āte, a. p. 17(Bot.) Having prickles, or sharp points; pointed;—used chiefly to denote prickles fixed in the bark, in distinction from thorns, which grow from the wood. Aculeate Stem. 2. (Zoöl.) Having a sting or…A-cū'le-ā'ted, a. p. 17Having a sharp point; prickly; aculeate. Hill.A·cū'le·o·late, a. p. 17(Bot.) Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.A-cū'le-ōus, a. p. 17Having prickles; aculeate. Browne.A-cū'le-ŭs, n. p. 17(Bot. & Zoöl.) A prickle growing on the bark or skin. Buchanan.A-cū'men, n. p. 17Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden. Syn.—Sagacity; keenness; sharpness.