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An American Dictionary of the English Language

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.

  1. Ad-sig'ni-fi-cā'tion, n.p. 22A modification of meaning by means of an added prefix or affix. Tooke.
  2. Ad-sig'ni-fy, v. t.p. 22To add a signification or meaning to, by means of a prefix or affix. Tooke.
  3. 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.
  4. Ad-stric'to-ry or Ad-strin'gent, a.p. 22See ASTRICTORY, ASTRINGENT.
  5. 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.
  6. 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…
  7. Ăd’ū-lā’tor, n.p. 22One who offers praise servilely; a flatterer.
  8. 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.
  9. Ad′ū·lā′tress, n.p. 22A woman who flatters with servility.
  10. A-dŭlt', a.p. 22Having arrived at mature years, or to full size and strength; as, an adult person or plant.
  11. 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…
  12. A-dŭlt'ed, a.p. 22Grown up to maturity. [Rare.] “Adulted Christians.” Howell.
  13. A-dŭl'ter, v. i.p. 22To practice adultery. [Obs.] B. Jon.
  14. A-dül'ter-ant, n.p. 22A person or thing that adulterates.
  15. 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.…
  16. A-dŭl’ter-āte, v. i.p. 22To commit adultery. [Obs.]
  17. A-dŭl'ter-ate, a.p. 22Tainted with adultery. 2. Debased by foreign mixtures. “Adulterate incense.” Massinger.
  18. A-dŭl'ter-ate-ly, adv.p. 22In an adulterate manner.
  19. A-dŭl'ter-ate-ness, n.p. 22The quality or state of being adulterated, debased, or corrupted.
  20. A-dŭl'ter-ā'tion, n.p. 23The act of adulterating, or the state of being adulterated; corruption, or debasement by foreign mixture. “The shameless adulteration of the coin.” Prescott.
  21. A-dŭl'ter-er, n.p. 23A man guilty of adultery; a man who has sexual commerce with any married woman not his wife. 2. [Script.] A man who violates his religious covenant. Jer. ix. 2.
  22. A·dŭl'ter-ess, n.p. 23A married woman guilty of incontinence. 2. (Script.) A woman who violates her religious engagements. James iv. 4.
  23. A-dŭl’ter-ine, a.p. 23Proceeding from adulterous commerce; hence, spurious; without the support of law; illegal. When any particular class of artificers or traders thought proper to act as a corporation without a charter…
  24. A-dŭl’ter-īne, n.p. 23(Civ. Law.) A child issuing from an adulterous connection. Bouvier.
  25. A-dŭl'ter-ize, v. i.p. 23To be guilty of adultery. [Obs.] Milton.
  26. A-dŭl'ter-oüs, a.p. 23Guilty of adultery; pertaining to adultery. Dryden.
  27. A-dül'ter-oüs-ly, adv.p. 23In an adulterous manner.
  28. A·dŭl'ter·y, n.p. 23Violation of the marriage bed; the unfaithfulness of any married person to the marriage bed; the voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with one of the opposite sex. ☞ It may be committed…
  29. A-dūlt'ness, n.p. 23The state of being adult.
  30. Ad-ūm'brant, a.p. 23Giving a faint shadow, or slight resemblance.
  31. Adūm'brāte, v. t.p. 23To give a faint shadow or slight representation of; to shadow forth. Both in the vastness and the richness of the visible universe the invisible God is adumbrated. I. Taylor.
  32. Ăd'um-brā'tion, n.p. 23The act of adumbrating, or making a shadow or faint resemblance. 2. A faint sketch; an imperfect portrayal or representation of a thing. “Elegant adumbrations of sacred truth.” Bp. Horsley. 3. (Her.)…
  33. Ăd’ū-nā’tĭon, n.p. 23The state of being united; union. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.
  34. A-dŭn'çi-ty, n.p. 23Hook-edness, or a bending in form of a hook. “The aduncity of the beaks of hawks.” Pope. ☞ According to the natural powers of the letters, this word is a-dun'çi-ty; but unless pronounced…
  35. A-dŭn′eōŭs, a.p. 23Bent or made in the form of a hook.
  36. A-dŭnque', a.p. 23Formed like a hook; hooked; aduncous. [Obs.] “An adunque bill.” Bacon.
  37. A-dūre', v. t.p. 23To burn up. [Obs.] Bacon.
  38. A-dúst', a.p. 23Burnt or scorched; become dry by heat; hot and fiery. “The Libyan air adust.” Milton. 2. Looking as if burnt or scorched. He was a tall, thin man, of an adust complexion. W. Scott. 3. (Med.) Having…
  39. A-dŭst'ed, a.p. 23Become hot and dry; burnt, or looking as if burnt. Howell.
  40. A-dŭst'i-ble, a.p. 23That may be scorched or burnt up.
  41. A-dŭs'tion, n.p. 23The act of burning, or heating to dryness; a state of being thus heated or dried. Harvey. 2. (Surg.) Cauterization. Buchanan.
  42. Ăd va-lō'remp. 23See AD.
  43. Ad-vănce', v. t.p. 23To bring forward; to move farther in front. Advance your standards, draw your willing swords. Shak. 2. Hence, to promote, or to raise to a higher rank. Ahasuerus ... advanced him above all the…
  44. Ad-vănçe', v. i.p. 23To move or go forward; to proceed. The youth advanced — in open sight. Parnell. 2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in wisdom, or in years. 3. To…
  45. Ad-vănçe', n.p. 23The act of advancing or moving forward; progress; approach. “The indecent advances she made.” Pope. 2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in…
  46. Ad-văn'çe, a.p. 23Before in place, or beforehand in time;—used for advanced; as, an advance-guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance-payment, or that made before it is due.
  47. Ad-vănçe'ment, n.p. 23The act of advancing or the state of being advanced; progression; improvement; furtherance; preferment; promotion. In heaven, . . . every one rejoiceth in each other's advancement. Sir T. More. True…
  48. Ad-văn'cer, n.p. 23One who advances; a promoter. 2. Among sportsmen, the second branch of a buck's horn. Howell.
  49. Ad-văn'çive, a.p. 23Tending to advance. [Rare.]
  50. Ad-văn′tage, n.p. 23Any state, condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, prosperity, interest, or reputation, or to any desired end; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more…
  51. Ad-văn’tage, v. t.p. 23To give an advantage to; hence, to benefit; to profit. The truth is, the archbishop’s own stiffness and averseness to comply with the court designs, advantaged his adversaries against him. Fuller.…
  52. Ad-vănʹtage-a-ble, a.p. 23Profitable; convenient; gainful. Hayward.
  53. Ad-vănʹtage-ground, n.p. 23Ground that gives advantage or superiority; vantage-ground. Clarendon.
  54. Ad-van-tā'geous, a.p. 23Being of advantage; furnishing advantage, convenience, or opportunity to gain benefit; gainful; profitable; useful; beneficial; as, an advantageous position of troops; trade is advantageous to a…
  55. Ad-van-tā'geōüs-ly, adv.p. 23In an advantageous manner; profitably; conveniently.
  56. Ad-van-tā'geōüs-ness, n.p. 23The quality or state of being advantageous; profitableness; usefulness.
  57. Ad'vec-ti'tiōus, a.p. 23Brought from another place; foreign. [Obs.]
  58. Ad-vēne', v. i.p. 23To accede, or come to; to be added to, or become a part of, though not essential. [Rare.] Even where no act of the will advenes us a co-efficient. Coleridge.
  59. Ad-vēn'ient, a.p. 23Coming from outward causes; superadded. [Obs.] Glanville.
  60. Ad'vent, n.p. 23A coming; approach; visitation. “Death's dreadful advent.” Young. Specifically, the first or the second coming of Christ. 2. A season of devotion including four Sundays before Christmas. Hook.