Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ăl'che-mĭst'ic or Ăl'che-mĭst'ic-al, a. p. 34Practicing alchemy, or relating to it. “Metaphysical and alchemistical legislators.” Burke.Ăl'che-mīze, v. t. p. 34To change by alchemy; to transmute. [Rare.] Lovelace.Ăl'che-my or Ăl'chy-my, n. p. 34An ancient science which aimed to transmute metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy, &c. It led the way to modern chemistry. 2. A mixed metal formerly used for various utensils…Alc-mā'ni-an, a. p. 34Pertaining to Alcman, a lyric poet of the twenty-seventh Olympiad, celebrated for his amorous verses. Alcmanian verse (Anc. Pros.), a kind of verse consisting of two dactyls and two trochees.Ăl'co, n. p. 34A quadruped of America, nearly resembling a dog, kept by the aborigines in the West Indies. Ogilvie.Ăl'co-hate, n. p. 34See ALCOHOLATE.Ăl'co-hol, n. p. 34Pure or highly rectified spirit, extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation; the spirituous or…Ăl'co-hol-ate, n. p. 34(Chem.) A salt in which alcohol appears to take the place of the water of crystallization. Brande.Ăl'co-hŏl'ic, a. p. 34Pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; as, alcoholic mixtures.Ăl'co-hŏl'i-zā'tion, n. p. 34The act of rectifying spirit. 2. The act of reducing to a fine or impalpable powder. [Obs.] Johnson.Ăl'co-hol-īze, v. t. p. 34To convert into alcohol; to rectify, as spirit, till it is wholly purified from water. 2. To reduce to a fine powder. [Obs.] Johnson.Ăl'co-hŏl'me-ter, n. p. 34An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol, either by weight or volume. It is usually some form of the hydrometer…Ăl'co-hol-mĕt'ric-al, a. p. 34Relating to the alcoholmeter; as, alcoholmetrical tables. Ure.Ăl'co-ho-lŏm'e-ter, n. p. 34Same as ALCOHOLMETER.Ăl'co-ho-lŏm'e-try or Ăl'co-ŏm'e-try, n. p. 34The act or method of determining the strength of mixtures of alcohol and water. Ure.Ăl'co-ŏm'e-ter, n. p. 34Same as ALCOHOLMETER.Ăl'co-o-mĕt'ric-al, a. p. 34Relating to the alcoömeter; as, alcoömetrical tables. Ure.Ăl'co-răn, n. p. 34The sacred book of the Mohammedans, composed by Mohammed. ☞ Orientalists, in general, pronounce this word al-ko-rawn'. Smart.Ăl'co-răn'ic, a. p. 34Of or belonging to the Alcoran, or to Mohammedanism.Ăl'co-răn'ish, a. p. 34Relating to the Alcoran or to Mohammedanism; Alcoranic. “The Alcoranish Arabic.” Parkhurst.Ăl'co-răn'ist, n. p. 34One who adheres strictly to the letter of the Alcoran. Craig.Ăl'cōve or Al-cōve', n. p. 34A recess, or part of a room, separated by a partition of columns, or by other corresponding ornaments, and containing a bed of state, or seats for company. 2. A recess for books, as in a library. 3.…Ăl'çy-on, n. p. 34See HALCYON.Ăl'çy-o-nā'ri-ă, n. pl. p. 34(Zoöl.) The higher order of polyps.Ăl'çy-ŏn'ic, a. p. 34Pertaining to the Alcyoneæ, a group or family of zoöphytes, allied to the sponges.Ăl'çy-on-īte, n. p. 34A fossil zoöphyte, somewhat resembling a fungus. Jour. of Science.Ăl'çy-ō'ni-ŭm, n. p. 34(Zoöl.) A family of fleshy or semicalcareous zoöphytes, the polyps of which are like a flower of eight fringed rays. The term has also been used for species of sponge. See POLYP. Dana.Ăl'cy-o-noid, n. p. 34(Zoöl.) One of the grand divisions of the class of polyps. See POLYP. Dana.Al-dĕb'a-ran, n. p. 34(Astron.) A star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus. It is the bright star in the group of five, called the Hyades. P. Cyc. Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shining…Ăl'de-hȳde, n. p. 34(Chem.) A liquid of an ethereal odor, obtained by passing ether or alcohol through a red-hot tube, and in other ways. Gregory.Ăl'de-hȳd'ic, a. p. 34(Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.Al'der, n. p. 34(Bot.) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The timber is used by turners, &c.; the bark by dyers and tanners. Loudon.Al'der-liēf'est, a. p. 34Most beloved. [Obs.] “With you, my alder-liefest sovereign.” Shak.Al'der-man, n. p. 34A senior or superior. [Obs.] ☞ The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom…Al'der-man-çy, n. p. 34The office of an alderman.Al'der-măn'ic, a. p. 34Relating to or becoming an alderman.Al'der-măn'i-ty, n. p. 34The body of aldermen. [Obs. and rare.] “The battles of thy aldermanity.” B. Jonson.Al'der-man-ly, a. p. 34Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. Swift.Al'der-man-ry, n. p. 34The quality or office of an alderman; aldermancy. Ogilvie.Al'der-man-shĭp, n. p. 34The condition of an alderman. Fabyan.Al'dern, a. p. 34Made of alder. “Aldern boats.” May.Ăl'dīne, a. p. 34(Bibliography.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manutius, of Venice, for the most part in the sixteenth century, and known by the sign…Āle, n. p. 34A liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation. It differs from beer in having a smaller proportion of hops, and hence being sweeter, and of a lighter color. 2. A festival in English country…A-lēak′, adv. p. 34In a leaking condition.Ā'le-a-to-ry, a. p. 34(Law.) Depending on some contingent event; as, an aleatory contract, the completion of which depends on the occurrence of some uncertain event. Bouvier.Ale'-bêr'ry, n. p. 35A beverage, made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and sops of bread. Johnson.Ale'-cōn'ner, n. p. 35An officer in former times to inspect the measures used in public houses, to prevent frauds in selling liquors.Ale'-cōst, n. p. 35(Bot.) A plant sometimes put into ale to improve its taste; costmary; Balsamita vulgaris. London.A-lĕc'to-rŏm'a-chy, n. p. 35Cock-fighting.A-lĕc'to-ro-măn'çy, n. p. 35See ALECTRYOMANCY.A-lĕc'try̆-ŏm'a-chy, n. p. 35Cock-fighting; alectoromachy. [Obs.] Bailey.A-lĕc'try̆-o-măn'çy, n. p. 35An ancient practice of foretelling events by means of a cock. The letters of the alphabet were traced on the ground, and a grain of corn laid on each; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains…A-lee', adv. p. 35(Naut.) On the side opposite to the wind, that is, opposite to the side on which it strikes. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side. Hard alee, or luff alee, an order to put…A-lĕft', adv. p. 35On the left. [Rare.] Southey.Ăl'e-gar, n. p. 35Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.Ăl'e-ġer, a. p. 35Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.A-lēg'ge', v. t. p. 35To lighten; to lessen; to assuage. [Obs.] “That shall alege this bitter blast.” Spenser.Ale'-hoof, n. p. 35Ground ivy; — so called as being once a chief ingredient in making ale.Āle'-house, n. p. 35A house where ale is retailed; and hence, a tippling-house. Macaulay.Āle'-knight, n. p. 35A pot companion. Camden.