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.
Ăm'bo-dĕx'ter, n. p. 43One who keeps fair with both parties. See AMBIDEXTER.Am-boy'nă Wood p. 43A beautiful mottled and curled wood, varying in color from orange to chestnut brown;—said to be obtained from the Pterospermum Indicum.Ăm'boy-nēse', n. sing. & pl. p. 43(Geog.) A native or the natives of Amboyna.Am'boy-nēse', a. p. 43(Geog.) Pertaining to Amboyna, or to its inhabitants.Am’bre-ā’dā, n. p. 43A kind of factitious amber, sold by Europeans to the Africans. Encyc.Am'bre-ate, n. p. 43(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base. Ogilvie.Am-brē'ic, a. p. 43(Chem.) Formed, as a certain acid, by digesting ambreine in nitric acid. Gregory.Am'bre-ine, n. p. 43(Chem.) A fatty substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris. Gregory.Am-brō'siā, n. p. 43(Myth.) The food of the gods, which conferred upon those who partook of it eternal youth. It was also used by the gods to anoint their body and hair. Ambrosia his dewy locks distilled. Milton. 2.…Am-brō'si-ac, a. p. 43Having the qualities of ambrosia. [Obs.] “Ambrosiac odors.” B. Jonson.Am-brō'sial, a. p. 43Partaking of the nature or qualities of ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious. “Ambrosial fragrance.” Milton.Am-brō'sial-ize, v. t. p. 43To render ambrosial. [Rare.]Am-brō'sial-ly, adv. p. 43In an ambrosial manner.Am-brō'sian, a. p. 43Relating to, or resembling, ambrosia; ambrosial. [Rare.] “Ambrosian hands.” R. Jonson. 2. Pertaining to St. Ambrose; as, the Ambrosian office, or ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan…Ăm'bro-sĭn, n. p. 43(Numis.) An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the figure of St. Ambrose on horseback, with a whip in his right hand.Am’bro-tȳpe, n. p. 43(Photog.) A picture taken on a plate of prepared glass, in which the lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the…Am'bry, n. p. 43An almonry; a place where alms are deposited for distribution to the poor; an office, in ancient abbeys and priories, in which the almoner lived. 2. In ancient churches, a kind of closet for…Ambs'-āce, n. p. 43A double ace; two aces turned up at the same time by two dice. Shak.Ām'bu-lā'crā, n. pl. p. 43(Nat. Hist.) Prominences or perforations in the shell of the Echinus, or sea-urchin, from which extend the tentacles or spines used for prehension or locomotion. Dana.Ăm'bu-lā'cral, a. p. 43Pertaining to ambulacra. Dana.Am'bu-lance, n. p. 43(Mil.) (a.) A flying hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible. H. L. Scott. (b.) A two or four wheeled vehicle for…Ăm'bu-lant, a. p. 43Walking; moving from place to place.Am'bu-lāte, v. i. p. 43To walk; to move backward and forward. [Obs.]Am'bu-lā'tion, n. p. 43A walking about; the act of walking. Browne.Ăm'bu-lā'tive, a. p. 43Walking. [Obs.] Sherwood.Ăm'bu-lā'tor, n. p. 43One who walks about. 2. (Nat. Hist.) (a.) A certain species of insect; Lamia. (b.) A certain genus of birds. 3. (Surv.) An instrument for measuring distances; called also perambulator. Ogilvie.Ăm'bu-la-to-ry, a. p. 43Having the power or faculty of walking; as, an ambulatory animal. 2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in different…Am'bu-la-to-ry, n. p. 44Any part of a building intended for walking in, as the aisles of a church; — specifically, a place inclosed by a colonnade or arcade, as a portico or corridor.Am'bûle, v. t. p. 44To remove from place to place. [Obs.] The indecency of ambuling communions is very offensive. Ld. Burleigh.Am'bu-ry or An'bu-ry, n. p. 44(Far.) A tumor or swelling on a horse, full of blood, and soft to the touch. White.Ăm'/bus-cāde', n. p. 44(Lit.) A lying in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an enemy by surprise; hence, a lying in wait, and concealed in any situation, for a like purpose. Addison. 2. A concealed place in…Ăm'bus-cāde', v. t. p. 44To lie in wait for, or to attack from a concealed position.Am'bus-cā'do, n. p. 44Same as AMBUSCADE. Shak.Ăm'-bus-cā'dōed, a. p. 44Placed in ambush; privately posted. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.Am'bush, n. p. 44The act of attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station. Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Of ambush from the deep. Milton. 2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies…Am'bush, v. t. p. 44To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy. By ambushed men behind their temple laid, We have the king of Mexico betrayed. Dryden.Am'bush, v. i. p. 44To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise. Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull.Am'bush-ment, n. p. 44An ambush. [Obs.]Ăm-bŭs'tion, n. p. 44A burn or scald. [Obs.] Blount.Ăm'e-bē'an, a. p. 44See AMEBEAN.A-meer', n. p. 44The same as EMIR. See EMIR.Ăm'el, n. p. 44The same as ENAMEL. Boyle.Am’el, v. p. 44To enamel. [Obs.] Enlightened all with stars, And richly ameled. Chapman.Am'el-côrn, n. p. 44A species of grain from which starch was produced. [Obs.] Wright.A-mēl'io-ra-ble, a. p. 44Capable of being ameliorated.A-mēl'io-rāte, v. t. p. 44To make better; to raise into an improved condition; to meliorate; as, to ameliorate the condition of the poor.A-mĕl'io-rāte, v. i. p. 44To grow better; to meliorate; as, wine ameliorates by age.A-mēl'io-rā'tion, n. p. 44The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; a making or becoming better; improvement; melioration; as, an amelioration of land.A-mēl'io-ra-tive, a. p. 44Producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies.A-mĕl'io-rā'tor, n. p. 44One who ameliorates.Ā'mĕn' p. 44An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it has the force of an adverb, and is…A-mĕ'na-bĭl'i-ty or A-mĕ'na-ble-ness, n. p. 44The state of being amenable; liability to answer; answerableness. Story.A-mē'na-ble, a. p. 44(Old Law.) Easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. Jacobs. 2. Liable to be brought to account or punishment; answerable; responsible. Nor is man too diminutive . . . to be amenable to…A-mē'na-bly, adv. p. 44In an amenable manner.Ăm'e-naġe, v. t. p. 44To manage. [Obs.] With her, whoso will raging Furor tame, Must first begin, and her well amenage. Spenser.Ăm'e-nançe, n. p. 44Conduct; behavior. [Obs.] Spenser.A-mĕnd', v. t. p. 44To change in any way for the better, as, (a.) By simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b.) By supplying deficiencies; (c.) By substituting something else in…A-mĕnd’, v. i. p. 44To grow or become better by reformation, or rectifying something wrong in manners or morals. “My fortune . . . amends.” Sidney.A-mĕnd’a-ble, a. p. 44Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error.A-mĕnd’a-to-ry, a. p. 44Supplying amendment; corrective. Hale.