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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Ae-tĭn'o-chem'is-try, n.p. 17Chemistry in its relations to actinism. Draper.
  2. 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.
  3. Ăc'tin-oid, a.p. 17Having the form of rays; radiated.
  4. Ae-tin'o-lite, n.p. 17(Min.) The bright green variety of hornblende, occurring usually in glassy prismatic crystals, and also fibrous. Dana.
  5. Ae-tin'/o-lit'ic, a.p. 17Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, actinolite. Dana.
  6. Ăc'ti-nōm'e-ter, n.p. 17(Opt.) An instrument for measuring the intensity of the sun's actinic rays. Nichol.
  7. Ac-tin'o-mét'rie, a.p. 17Belonging to the measurement of actinic force or influence.
  8. Ac'ti-nŏph'o-roūs, a.p. 17Having straight projecting spines. Dana.
  9. 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…
  10. 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.
  11. Ăc'tion-a-bly, adv.p. 17In an actionable manner; in a manner that may subject to legal process.
  12. 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.
  13. Ăc'tion-sĕr'mon, n.p. 17(Eccl.) A sermon preached immediately before the communion service in Scotland. McCheyne.
  14. Ăc'tion-tāk'ing, n.p. 17Bringing lawsuits. Shak.
  15. Ăc'ti-tā'tion, n.p. 17Quick and frequent action. [Obs.] Wright.
  16. Ăc'ti-vāte, v. t.p. 17To make active. [Obs.] Bacon.
  17. 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…
  18. 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.
  19. Act′ive-ness, n.p. 17The quality or state of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motions; activity.
  20. 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.
  21. Ăct'less, a.p. 17Without action or spirit. Southerne.
  22. Ăc'ton, n.p. 17A quilted leather jacket often worn under a coat of mail. [Spelled, also, Hacketon and Hacqueton.] Halliwell.
  23. 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…
  24. Act'ress, n.p. 17A female who acts or performs, and especially on the stage; a female actor. Dryden.
  25. 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…
  26. Actū-ăl′ĭ-ty, n.p. 17The state of being actual; as, the actuality of God's nature. South.
  27. Ăct/ŭ-al-i-zā'tion, n.p. 17A making actual or really existent. “He seeks the idea only in its actualization.” Schwegler.
  28. Ăct'ū-al-īze, v. t.p. 17To make actual. Coleridge.
  29. Ăct'ū-al-ly, adv.p. 17In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively. 2. Actively. [Obs.] “Neither actually . . . nor passively.” Fuller.
  30. Ăct'u-al-ness, n.p. 17The state or quality of being actual; actuality.
  31. 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…
  32. Ăct'ū-ate, a.p. 17Put in action. [Obs.] South.
  33. 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…
  34. 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.
  35. Act′u-ā′tor, n.p. 17One who actuates, or puts in action. Melville.
  36. Act'ü-ōse, a.p. 17Having strong powers of action. [Obs.]
  37. Ac'tu-ōs'i-ty, n.p. 17Power of action. [Obs.] H. More.
  38. Ac'ture, n.p. 17Action. [Obs.] Shak.
  39. A-cū-āte, v. t.p. 17To sharpen; to make pungent or corrosive. “[To] acuate the blood.” [Rare.] Harvey.
  40. Ăcŭ-āte, a.p. 17Sharp; sharpened. [Obs.] “Acuate iron or steel.” Ashmole.
  41. Acū-i'tion, n.p. 17The sharpening of medicines to increase their effect.
  42. A-cū'i-ty, n.p. 17Sharpness. [Obs.]
  43. 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…
  44. A-cū'le-ā'ted, a.p. 17Having a sharp point; prickly; aculeate. Hill.
  45. A·cū'le·o·late, a.p. 17(Bot.) Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.
  46. A-cū'le-ōus, a.p. 17Having prickles; aculeate. Browne.
  47. A-cū'le-ŭs, n.p. 17(Bot. & Zoöl.) A prickle growing on the bark or skin. Buchanan.
  48. A-cū'men, n.p. 17Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden. Syn.—Sagacity; keenness; sharpness.
  49. A-cū'mi-nāte, v. t.p. 17To render sharp or keen. [Rare.] “To acuminate despair.” Cowper.
  50. A-cū'mi-nāte, v. i.p. 17To end in, or come to, a sharp point. “Acuminating in a cone of prelacy.” Milton.
  51. A-cū'mi-nate, a.p. 17(Bot.) Having a long, projecting, and highly tapering point. Gray.
  52. A-cū'mi-nā'tion, n.p. 17A sharpening; termination in a sharp point. Pearson.
  53. A-cū'mi-nōse or A-cū'mi-nōus, a.p. 17Terminating in a flat, narrow end; sharp-pointed. Lindley.
  54. A·eū-pūnet·ū-rā'tion, n.p. 17See ACUPUNCTURE.
  55. A'cu-punc'ture, n.p. 17(Med.) The introduction of needles into the living tissues for remedial purposes.
  56. A-cūt-ăn′gu-lar, a.p. 17Having acute angles.
  57. A-cūte′, a.p. 17Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; — opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf. 2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating…
  58. A-cūte', v. t.p. 17To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. Walker.
  59. A-cūte'ly, adv.p. 17In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination.
  60. A-cūte'ness, n.p. 17The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle. 2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; — applied to the senses, or the understanding. By an…