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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. Ăf'fa-bly, adv.p. 26In an affable manner; courteously.
  2. Æf'fa-broüs, a.p. 26Executed in a workmanlike manner; ingeniously made. [Obs.] Bailey.
  3. Af-fāb'ū-lā'tion, n.p. 26The moral of a fable. [Obs.] Bailey.
  4. Af·fāir', n.p. 26That which is done or is to be done; as, a difficult affair to manage; hence, business of any kind, especially public business. “At the head of affairs.” Junius. “A talent for affairs.” Prescott. 2.…
  5. Af-fām’ish, v. t.p. 26To perish from hunger. [Obs.] Spenser.
  6. Af-fām'ish-ment, n.p. 26A starving. Bp. Hall.
  7. Af-fāt'ū-āte, v. t.p. 26To infatuate. See INFATUATE. [Obs.] Milton.
  8. Af-fēar', v. t.p. 26To frighten; to terrify. [Obs.] Spenser.
  9. Af-fēct′, v. t.p. 26To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon. As might affect the earth with cold and heat. Milton. 2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch. A consideration of the…
  10. Af-fĕct′, n.p. 26Affection; passion; feeling. [Obs.] Shak.
  11. Af-fec-tā'tion, n.p. 26An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false pretense; artificial appearance or show. “An affectation of contempt.” Macaulay. Affection is an awkward and forced imitation of…
  12. Af-fēct'ed, p. a.p. 26Regarded with affection; beloved. [Obs.] “This affected Hercules.” Chapman. 2. Given to false show; assuming or pretending to possess what is not natural or real. “Too affected, too odd.” Shak. 3.…
  13. Af-féct'ed-ly, adv.p. 26In an affected manner; hypocritically; with more show than reality.
  14. Af-fĕct'ed-ness, n.p. 26The quality of being affected; affectation.
  15. Af-fēct'er, n.p. 26One who affects, assumes, or imitates. “An affecter of thy faith;” Beau. & Fl.
  16. Af-fēc'ti-bil'i-ty, n.p. 26The state of being affectible.
  17. Af-fĕct'i-ble, a.p. 26That may be affected. [Rare.] Lay aside the absolute, and, by union with the creaturely, become affectible. Coleridge.
  18. Af-fĕct'ing, p. a.p. 26Having power to excite, or move the passions; tending to move the affections; pathetic; as, an affecting address. The most affecting music is generally the most simple. Mitford.
  19. Af-fĕct'ing-ly, adv.p. 26In an affecting manner; in a manner to excite emotions.
  20. Af-fĕc'tion, n.p. 26The state of being affected. [Obs.] Shak. 2. Violent mental excitement; passion. [Obs.] Most wretched man That to affections does the bridle lend. Spenser. 3. An attribute, quality, or property…
  21. Af-fec'tion-al, a.p. 26Of or pertaining to the affections; as, affectional impulses.
  22. Af-fec'tion-ate, a.p. 26Having great love or affection; fond; zealous; as, an affectionate brother. Man, in his love to God, and desire to please him, can never be too affectionate. Sprat. 2. Proceeding from affection…
  23. Af-fēc'tion-ā/ted, a.p. 26Disposed or inclined. [Obs.] “Affectionated to the people of those provinces.” Holinshed.
  24. Af-fĕc'tion-at-e-ly, adv.p. 26With affection; fondly; tenderly; kindly.
  25. Af-fec'tion-at-e-ness, n.p. 26The quality of being affectionate; fondness; good-will; affection.
  26. Af-fec'tion-ed, a.p. 26Disposed; having an affection of heart. “Be kindly affectioned one to another. Rom. xii. 10. 2. Affected; conceited. [Obs.] Shak.
  27. Af-fēc'tive, a.p. 26That affects, or excites emotion; suited to affect. [Rare.]
  28. Af-fēct’ive-ly, adv.p. 26In an affective or impressive manner; impressively.
  29. Af-fēct'or, n.p. 26See AFFECTER.
  30. Af-fēcts′, n. pl.p. 26Affections. [Obs.] “The purity of our affects.” B. Jonson.
  31. Af-fēct'ū-ōūs, a.p. 26Full of passion or emotion. [Obs.] Leland.
  32. Af-feer', v. t.p. 26[O. Fr. efferer, affeurer, aseurer, afforer, afoer, to tax, appraise, assess, Pr., Sp., & Pg. afforar, from Lat. forum, market, court of justice, O. Fr. feur, feor, fuor, fuer, law, assize, tax, Pr.…
  33. Af-feer'er or Af-feer'or, n.p. 26One who affeers; a person sworn to assess a penalty. Cowell.
  34. Af-feer'ment, n.p. 26The act of affeering; the assessment, liquidation, moderation, or mitigation of an amercement. Blackstone.
  35. Af'fe-rent, a.p. 26(Anat.) Bearing or conducting; as, afferent vessels; afferent nerves. Dunglison.
  36. Af-fi'ançe, n.p. 26Plighted faith; the marriage contract or promise. 2. Trust; reliance; confidence. Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have Most love and most affiance. Tennyson. Such feelings promptly yielded to…
  37. Af-fi'ance, v. t.p. 26To betroth; to pledge one's faith or fidelity in marriage, or to promise marriage to. To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser. 2. To give confidence to; to trust. “Affianced in my faith.” Pope.
  38. Af-fi'an-cer, n.p. 26One who makes a contract of marriage between parties.
  39. Af-fī'ant, n.p. 26(Law.) One who makes an affidavit. Burrill. Syn.—Deponent. See DEPONENT.
  40. Ăf'fi-dā'vit, n.p. 26(Law.) A sworn statement in writing; a declaration or statement in writing, signed and made upon oath before an authorized magistrate. Bouvier. Burrill. ☞ It is always made ex parte, and without…
  41. Af-fie', v. t.p. 26See AFFY. Bouvier.
  42. Af-file', v. t.p. 26To polish. [Obs.] Gower.
  43. Af-fĭl'i-āte, v. t.p. 26To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to receive into fellowship; to ally. Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged and in rebellion? I. Taylor. 2. To receive into a society as…
  44. Af-fil-i-ā'tion, n.p. 26Adoption; association in the same family or society. 2. (Law.) The assignment, by law, of a child, as a bastard, to its father. Brande.
  45. Af'fi-nage, n.p. 26The art of refining metals by the cupel. Bailey.
  46. Af-fine', v. t.p. 26To refine. [Obs.] “Very proper is it to affine gold.” Holland.
  47. Af-fined', a.p. 26Joined in affinity. [Obs.] “All affined and kin.” Shak.
  48. Af-fin'i-ty, n.p. 26Relationship by marriage, in contradistinction from consanguinity, or relationship by blood. Wharton. Burrill. Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. 1 Kings iii. 1. 2. Close agreement; relation…
  49. Af-firm', v. t.p. 26To make firm; to establish, confirm, or ratify; as, the supreme court affirmed the judgment. 2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true;—opposed to deny. Of one…
  50. Af-firm', v. i.p. 27To declare or assert positively. Not that I so affirm, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy dwelling here on earth. Milton. 2. (Law.) To make affirmation; to make a solemn promise, before an…
  51. Af-firm'a-ble, a.p. 27Capable of being affirmed, asserted, or declared; — followed by of; as, an attribute affirmable of every just man.
  52. Af-firm'a-bly, adv.p. 27In a way capable of affirmation. [Rare.]
  53. Af-firm'ance, n.p. 27Confirmation; ratification; as, the affirmance of a judgment; a statute in affirmance of common law. 2. Declaration; affirmation. [Rare.] Selden. 3. (Law.) Confirmation of a voidable act. Wharton.
  54. Af-firm’ant, n.p. 27One who affirms or asserts. 2. (Law.) One who solemnly affirms, instead of taking an oath. Bouvier.
  55. Af·fir·mā′tion, n.p. 27The act of affirming or asserting as true;—opposed to negation or denial. 2. That which is asserted; assertion; statement; representation; averment; as, an affirmation, by the vender, of title to…
  56. Af-fĭrm'a-tĭve, a.p. 27Affirming or asserting; declaratory of what exists; — opposed to negative; as, an affirmative proposition. Watts. 2. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law. 3. Positive…
  57. Af-firm'a-tīve, n.p. 27A word expressing affirmation or assent, as yes. 2. An affirmation, or affirmative proposition. Your four negatives make you two affirmatives. Shak. 3. That side of a question which affirms or…
  58. Af-firm'a-tive-ly, adv.p. 27In an affirmative manner; on the affirmative side of a question;— opposed to negatively.
  59. Af-firm'er, n.p. 27One who affirms. Watts.
  60. Af-fĭx', v. t.p. 27To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to unite; to fasten; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument. 2. To attach, unite, or connect with; as, names affixed to…