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.
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.A·mende′, n. p. 44A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation. Amende honorable, formerly an infamous punishment in France, in which the offender, being led into court with a rope about his neck, and a…A-mĕnd'er, n. p. 44One who amends.A-mĕnd'ful, a. p. 44Full of improvement. Beau. & Fl.A-mĕnd'ment, n. p. 44An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or faults; reformation of life by quitting vices. Hammond. 2. In public bodies, any alteration in a bill or motion by adding, changing…A-mĕnds’, n. sing. & pl. p. 44Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; satisfaction; equivalent. Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends. Shak.A-mĕnds'fŭl, a. p. 44Making amends. [Obs.]A-mĕn'ĭ-ty, n. p. 44The quality of being pleasant or agreeable, whether in respect to situation, climate, manners, or disposition. The country's amenity brings no serenity. H. Smith. This climate has not seduced by its…Ā Mēn'sā et Thō'ro p. 44(Law.) A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bond; — now superseded in England by a decree of judicial separation, having the like effect. Wharton.Am'ent, n. p. 44(Bot.) A species of inflorescence, consisting of a scaly sort of spike, as in the alder, birch, &c.; a catkin. Gray.Am'en-tā'ceoūs, a. p. 44(Bot.) (a.) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence. (b.) Furnished with aments: having flowers arranged in aments; as, amentaceous plants.…A-mēn'tum, n. p. 44Same as AMENT, q. v.A-mērçe', v. t. p. 44To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars. 2. To punish…A-mērçe'ment, n. p. 44(Law.) A pecuniary penalty inflicted on an offender at the discretion of the court. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for…A-mēr'cer, n. p. 44One who amerces.A-měr'cia-ment, n. p. 44Same as AMERCEMENT. Sir Edw. Cole.A-mĕr'i-can, a. p. 44Pertaining to America;—in a restricted sense, pertaining to the United States. “A young officer of the American navy.” Lyell.A-mĕr'i-can, n. p. 44A native of America;—originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America; and in a restricted sense to the inhabitants of the United…A-mĕr'i-can-ism, n. p. 44A word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to America. 2. The love which American citizens have to their own country, or the preference of its interests.A-mĕr'i-can-ize, v. t. p. 44To render American; to naturalize in America. Bartlett.Āmes'-āçe, n. p. 44Same as AMES-ACE.Am'ess, n. p. 44Same as AMICE.A-mē'ta-bō'li-ā, n. pl. p. 44(Zoöl.) A division of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis.A-mĕt′/a-bō′li-an, n. p. 44(Zoöl.) An insect that does not undergo any metamorphosis.Am'e-thōd'ie-al, a. p. 44Without method; irregular. [Obs.] Bailey.A-mĕth'o-dist, n. p. 44A quack. [Obs.]Ăm'e-thyst, n. p. 44(Min.) A sub-species of quartz, of a bluish violet color, of different degrees of intensity. It generally occurs crystallized in hexahedral prisms terminated by corresponding pyramids; also in rolled…Am'e-thyst'ine, a. p. 44Pertaining to, or resembling amethyst;—anciently applied to a garment of the color of amethyst, as distinguished from the Tyrian and hyacinthine purple. 2. Composed of the amethyst; as, an…Am-hār'ie, n. p. 44The language spoken in Abyssinia.Am'i-ā, n. p. 44(Ichth.) A genus of abdominal fishes, exclusively confined to North America, where they are found in fresh-water streams, and sometimes in lakes. They are called bow-fin in Lake Champlain, dog-fish…Ā'mi-a-bil'i-ty, n. p. 44The quality of being amiable; amiableness. Every excellency is a degree of amiability. Bp. Taylor.A'mi-a-ble, a. p. 44Worthy of love; deserving of affection; lovely; lovable; — applied usually to persons. With a look full of amiable fierceness, as in whom choler could not take away the sweetness. Sidney. 2.…Ă'mi-a-ble-ness, n. p. 45The quality of being amiable; — amiability.