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.
Ăd'o-nīze, v. t. p. 22To make beautiful; to beautify. [Obs.] I employed three good hours at least in adjusting and adonizing myself. Smollett.A-dōors’, adv. p. 22At or by the door. I took him in adoors, A straggling beggar outcast from his shores. Vicar’s Virgil, 1630.A-dŏpt', v. t. p. 22To take into one's family, as son and heir; to take and treat as a child, giving a title to the privileges and rights of a child. 2. To take or receive as one's own; to select and take; as, to adopt…A-dŏpt'ed-ly, adv. p. 22In the manner of something adopted.A-dŏpt’er, n. p. 22One who adopts. 2. (Chem.) A receiver, with two necks, opposite to each other, one of which admits the neck of a retort, and the other is joined to another receiver. It is used in distillations, to…A-dŏp'tion, n. p. 22The act of adopting, or the state of being adopted; the taking and treating of a stranger as one's own child. “Adoption strives with nature.” Shak. 2. Admission to a more intimate relation…A-dŏp'tion-ist, n. p. 22One who maintains that Christ was the Son of God by adoption only. Murdoch.A-dŏp'tioŭs, a. p. 22Adopted.A-dŏpt'ive, a. p. 22Adopting; as, an adoptive father; or adopted; as, an adoptive son.A-dōr'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 22The quality of being adorable; adorableness. [Rare.]A·dōr'a-ble, a. p. 22Deserving to be adored; worthy of divine honors. “The adorable Author of Christianity.” Cheyne. 2. Worthy of the utmost love or respect.A-dōr'a-ble-ness, n. p. 22The quality of being adorable, or worthy of adoration.A-dōr'a-bly, adv. p. 22In an adorable manner.Ăd'o-rā'tion, n. p. 22The act of paying honors to a divine being; the worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a god. The more immediate objects of popular adoration amongst the heathens were deified human beings.…A-dōre', v. t. p. 22To worship with profound reverence; to address with exalted thoughts, by prayer and thanksgiving; to pay divine honors to; to honor as a god, or as divine. He [James II.] was met at the castle gate…A-dōre', v. t. p. 22To gild or adorn. [Obs.] Congealed little drops which do the morn adore. Spenser.A-dōre'ment, n. p. 22Adoration. [Obs.] Browne.A-dōr'er, n. p. 22One who adores; one who worships or honors as divine; one who admires or loves greatly. “An adorer of truth.” Clarendon. I profess myself her adorer, not her friend. Shak.A-dōr'ing-ly, adv. p. 22With adoration.A-dôrn', v. t. p. 22To deck or dress with ornaments; to embellish; to set off to advantage; to render pleasing or attractive. As a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isa. lxi. 10. At church, with meek and…A-dôrn', n. p. 22Ornament; decoration. [Obs.] Spencer.A-dôrn', a. p. 22Adorned; decorated. [Obs.] Milton.A-dôrn'er, n. p. 22One who adorns or embellishes.A-dôrn'ing-ly, adv. p. 22By adorning.A-dôrn'ment, n. p. 22An adorning; ornament. Ford.Ad-ŏs′cu-lā′tion, n. p. 22(Bot.) The inserting of one part of a plant into another. Crabb. 2. (Physiol.) An impregnation by mere external contact, without intromission, as in fishes. Dana.A·down', adv. p. 22From a higher to a lower situation; downward; down, to or on the ground. “Thrice did she sink adown.” Spenser.A-down', prep. p. 22Down. Her hair adown her shoulders loosely lay displayed. Prior.Ad′pressed, a. p. 22(Bot.) Pressed close, as leaves to a stem, &c. Gray.Ăd quōd dām'num p. 22(Law.) A writ directing the sheriff to inquire what damage may accrue from the grant of certain liberties or franchises. Brande.A·drēad', n. p. 22Affected by dread. [Obs.]A-drēam', v. t. p. 22To make to dream; — used only in the phrase was adreamed, i. e., I dreamed. [Obs.]Ā-dri-āt'ic, a. p. 22Pertaining to the Gulf of Venice.A·drĭft', adv. p. 22Floating at random. “So on the sea she shall be set adrift.” Dryden.Ad'ro-gā'tion, n. p. 22A species of adoption in ancient Rome, by which a person capable of choosing for himself was admitted into the relation of a son;—so called from the questions put to the parties. Bouvier.A-droit', a. p. 22Possessing or exercising skill or dexterity; dextrous; ingenious; ready in invention or execution. “Equally adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant.” Horsley. “Adroit at a present…A-droit'ly, adv. p. 22In an adroit manner.A-droit'ness, n. p. 22The quality of being adroit; skill and readiness in the use of the limbs, or of the mental faculties; dexterity. Adroitness was as requisite as courage. Motley.A-dry', a. p. 22Thirsty; in want of drink. “A man that is adry.” Barton. ☞ This adjective always follows the noun.Ăd'sci-ti'tiŏus, a. p. 22Added or assumed; taken as supplemental; additional. “Adscititious advantages.” Wollaston.Ad'sçi-ti'tio'us-ly, adv. p. 22In an adscititious manner.Ad'script, n. p. 22One who is held to service as attached to some object or place, as when a slave is made an adscript of the soil. Bancroft.Ad-sig'ni-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 22A modification of meaning by means of an added prefix or affix. Tooke.Ad-sig'ni-fy, v. t. p. 22To add a signification or meaning to, by means of a prefix or affix. Tooke.Ad·stric'tion, n. p. 22The act of binding fast or together. 2. (Med.) The effect of an astringent substance on the animal economy; constipation. Dunglison.Ad-stric'to-ry or Ad-strin'gent, a. p. 22See ASTRICTORY, ASTRINGENT.Ad'ū-lā'rĭ-ā, n. p. 22(Min.) A transparent or translucent variety of feldspar, found in granitic rocks. Among its varieties are moonstone and sunstone. Dana.Ad/ū-lā'tion, n. p. 22Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited. Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Shak. Syn.—Flattery; compliment; obsequiousness.—ADULATION…Ăd’ū-lā’tor, n. p. 22One who offers praise servilely; a flatterer.Ăd'ū-lā'/to-ry, a. p. 22Containing excessive praise or compliments; servilely praising; flattering; as, an adulatory address. “A mere rant of adulatory freedom.” Burke.Ad′ū·lā′tress, n. p. 22A woman who flatters with servility.A-dŭlt', a. p. 22Having arrived at mature years, or to full size and strength; as, an adult person or plant.A-dŭlt’, n. p. 22A person or thing grown to full size and strength; one who has reached the years of manhood. ☞ In the common law, this term is applied to a person of full age; in the civil law, to males after the…A-dŭlt'ed, a. p. 22Grown up to maturity. [Rare.] “Adulted Christians.” Howell.A-dŭl'ter, v. i. p. 22To practice adultery. [Obs.] B. Jon.A-dül'ter-ant, n. p. 22A person or thing that adulterates.A-dŭl'ter-āte, v. t. p. 22To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of baser materials; as, to adulterate liquors or the coin of a country. The present war has . . . adulterated our tongue with strange words.…A-dŭl’ter-āte, v. i. p. 22To commit adultery. [Obs.]A-dŭl'ter-ate, a. p. 22Tainted with adultery. 2. Debased by foreign mixtures. “Adulterate incense.” Massinger.A-dŭl'ter-ate-ly, adv. p. 22In an adulterate manner.