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.
Al'ter-ant, a. p. 40Altering; gradually changing. Bacon.Al'ter-ant, n. p. 40Same as ALTERATIVE.Ăl'ter-ā'tion, n. p. 40The act of altering, making different, or varying in some particular. “Alteration hath in it inconveniences.” Hooker. 2. The state of being altered; the change made, or the loss or acquisition of…Al'ter-a-tive, a. p. 41(Med.) Causing alteration; having the power to restore the healthy functions of the body without sensible evacuations. Burton.Al'ter-a-tīve, n. p. 41A medicine which gradually induces a change in the habit or constitution, and restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations.Al’ter-cāte, v. i. p. 41To contend in words; to dispute with zeal, heat, or anger; to wrangle.Al’ter-cā’tion, n. p. 41Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or anger; controversy; wrangle. As if the constitution of our country were to be always a subject rather of altercation than enjoyment. Burke.…Al-tĕr'i-ty, n. p. 41The state or quality of being another, and not the same. [R.] For outness is but the feeling of otherness (alterity) rendered intuitive, or alterity visually represented. Coleridge.Ăl'tern, a. p. 41Acting by turns; one succeeding another; alternate. [Obs.] Milton. 2. (Crystallog.) Exhibiting, on two parts, an upper and a lower part, faces which alternate among themselves, but which, when the…Al-tĕr'na-cy, n. p. 41Performance or actions by turns. [Rare.]Al-tēr'nal, a. p. 41Alternative. [Rare.]Al-tēr'nal-ly, adv. p. 41By turns. [Rare.] Mag.Al-tĕr'nant, a. p. 41(Geol.) Composed of alternate layers, as some rocks.Al-tĕr’nate, a. p. 41Being by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; hence, reciprocal. And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope. 2. (Bot.) Arising, as leaves, and other parts of a plant, at…Al-tĕr'nate, n. p. 41That which happens by turns with something else; vicissitude. [Rare.] “Grateful alternates of substantial peace.” Prior. 2. (Presbyterian Church.) A substitute or second; one designated to take the…Al'ter-nāte or Al-tēr'nāte, v. t. p. 41To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to change reciprocally. But fate does so alternate the design, Whilst that in heaven this on earth must shine. B. Jonson. This…Al'ter-nāte or Al-tēr'nāte, v. i. p. 41To happen or to act by turns; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. 2. To follow reciprocally in place;— followed by with. Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. Phillips.…Al-tér'nate-ly, adv. p. 41In reciprocal succession; by turns.Al-tĕr′nate-ness, n. p. 41The quality of being alternate, or of following in succession.Al’ter-nā’tion, n. p. 41The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate action or performance; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer…Al-tĕr'na-tīve, a. p. 41Offering a choice of two things. 2. Alternate; reciprocal. [Obs.] “An alternative motion.” Holland.Al-têr'na-tive, n. p. 41That which may be chosen or omitted; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left. Thus, when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called…Al-tĕr'na-tive-ly, adv. p. 41In the manner of alternatives; in a manner that admits the choice of one out of two things. Ayliffe.Al-tĕr'na-tive-ness, n. p. 41The quality or state of being alternative.Al-tĕr'ni-ty, n. p. 41Succession by turns; alternation. Browne.Al-thē'a, n. p. 41(Bot.) A genus of the Mallow family. It includes the common Marshmallow, and the garden Hollyhocks. Loudon.Al-though’, conj. p. 41Grant all this; be it so; allow all; suppose that; admit all that; notwithstanding. Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Mark xiv. 29. Syn. — ALTHOUGH, THOUGH. These words differ only in…Al-ti'o-quence, n. p. 41Lofty speech; pompous language. [Obs.] Bailey.Al-tĭl'o-quent, a. p. 41High-sounding; pompous. [Obs.] Ash.Al·tīm'e-ter, n. p. 41An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, or theodolite.Al-tīm'e-try, n. p. 41The art of ascertaining altitudes by means of an altimeter, and the application of geometrical principles.Ăl'tin, n. p. 41A money of account in Russia, of the value of three kopecks, or about three cents. Simmonds.Al-tīn'ear, n. p. 41See TINCAL.Al-tīs'o-nant or Al-tīs'o-noüs, a. p. 41High-sounding; lofty or pompous. Skelton.Ăl'ti-tūde, n. p. 41Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above the ground, or above a given level; or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a cloud, or of…Ăl'ti-ti-tū'di-nä'ri-an, a. p. 41Pertaining to, or having, altitude. [Rare.]Al·tiv'o-lant, a. p. 41Flying high. [Obs.] Blount.Al'to, n. p. 41(Vocal Mus.) Formerly the highest part sung by male voices; now the part sung by the lowest female voices, between the tenor and soprano. ☞ In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.Ăl'to-clēf, n. p. 41(Mus.) The counter tenor clef, or the C clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the staff. Moore.Alto et basso p. 41(Old Law.) Terms used to signify a submission of all differences of every kind to arbitration. Bouvier.Al'to-gĕth'er, adv. p. 41With united action; conjointly. [See ALL.] “Altogether they went at once.” Chaucer. 2. Without exception; wholly; completely. Man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Ps. xxxix. 5.Al'to-ot-tā'vo, n. p. 41(Mus.) An octave higher.Āl'to-re-liē'vo, n. p. 41High relief. Same as ALTO-RILIEVO. Smollett.Al'to-rì-li-ē'vo, n. p. 41(Sculp.) High relief; the projection of a figure, half or more, without being entirely detached.Al'to-rĭ'pi-ē'no, n. p. 41(Mus.) The tenor of the great chorus, which sings and plays only in particular places. Moore.Al'to-ri'o-lā, n. p. 41(Mus.) A small tenor viol. Moore.Al'to-ri'o-lī'no, n. p. 41(Mus.) A small tenor violin. Moore.Ăl'tru-ĭst'ic, a. p. 41Regardful of others; proud of, or devoted to, others; — opposed to egotistic. [Rare.] Eclectic Rev.Ăl'ū-dĕl, n. p. 41(Chem.) A pear-shaped earthen vessel, open at both ends; — formerly used for the sublimation of mercury. Ure.Ăl'um, n. p. 41A double sulphate of alumina and potassa, containing one part by weight of sulphate of potash, one of ter-sulphate of alumina, and twenty-four of water. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and…Al'um, v. t. p. 41(Dyeing.) To impregnate or steep in a solution of alum. Ure.Ăl'um-ẽarth, n. p. 41(Min.) An earthy or clayey material affording alum. Dana.A-lū'men, n. p. 41Same as ALUM. See ALUM.A-lū'mi-na or Ăl'ū-mīne, n. p. 41(Min.) One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminum and three of oxygen. Dana. ☞ It is the oxide of the metal aluminum, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the…A-lū'mi-nĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 41Containing or affording alum.A-lū'mi-ni-fōrm, a. p. 41Having the form of alumina. Chaptal.A-lū'mi-nīte, n. p. 41(Min.) Subsulphate of alumina; a mineral that occurs in small roundish or reniform masses. Its color is snow white or yellowish white. Dana.Ăl'ū-mīn'i-ūm or A-lū'mi-nūm, n. p. 41N. Lat. aluminium, alumina. See ALUM.] The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a…A-lū'mi-noūs, a. p. 41Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals.Ăl'um-ish, a. p. 41Having the nature of alum; somewhat resembling alum.