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-phíb'i-oüs, a. p. 46Having the power of living in the two elements, air and water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants. 2. Adapted for living on land or water. The amphibious character of the Greeks was…Am-phīb'i-ōūs-ness, n. p. 46The quality of being amphibious; ability to live in two elements.Am-phib'i-ŭm, n. p. 46An amphibious animal.Am'phi-bōle, n. p. 46(Min.) Hornblende. See HORNBLENDE. Dana.Ăm'phi-bŏl'ic, a. p. 46Pertaining to or resembling amphibole, or partaking of its nature and characters. (Cooper.)Am-phib'o-lite, n. p. 46(Min.) Trap, or greenstone; a rock with a base of amphibole or hornblende.Am·phib'o-lōg'ie-al, a. p. 46Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. “Of great use in all doubtful or amphibological expressions.” Bp. Taylor.Am-phīb'o-lŏg'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 46With a doubtful meaning.Ăm'/phi-bŏl'o-gy, n. p. 46A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term. Browne.Am-phib'o-loûs, a. p. 46Tossed from one to another; striking each way, with mutual blows. [Obs.] Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel—both parties declaring themselves for the king. Howell. 2. Capable of two…Am-phĭb'o-ly, n. p. 46Ambiguous discourse; amphibology. [Rare.] Spelman.Am’phi-brāch, n. p. 46(Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short; as, hăbēre.Am'phi-cär'pic, a. p. 46(Bot.) Producing fruit of two kinds either as to form or time of ripening.Am'phi-cœl'ian, a. p. 46(Zoöl.) Having both the fore and hinder ends concave, as the vertebræ of Teleosaurs and Ichthyosaurs, extinct Saurians. Dana.Am’phi-ēōme, n. p. 46A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences, anciently used in divination. Encyc. Brit.Am-phic'ty-ōn'ic, a. p. 46Pertaining to the council of Amphictyons. Wm. Smith.Am-phic'ty-ons, n. pl. p. 46(Grecian Hist.) An assembly or council of deputies from the different states of Greece. ☞ Ten or twelve states were represented in this assembly, which sat alternately at Thermopylæ and at Delphi.…Am-phic'ty-o-ny, n. p. 46(Gr. Hist.) An association of several neighboring states for the promotion of common interests. Encyc. Brit.Ăm'phide, n. p. 46(Chem.) A compound consisting of an acid and a base, as distinguished from a haloid compound. Berzelius.Am'phi-drōm'ie-al, a. p. 46Pertaining to the ancient Amphidromia, an Attic festival at the naming of a child, so called because the friends of the parents carried the child round the hearth, and then named it. The…Am-phīg'a-mōus, a. p. 46(Bot.) Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual organs; — a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of plants.Am-phīg'e-an, a. p. 46(Geog.) Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to either polar zone. Dana.Ăm'phi-gēne, n. p. 46(Min.) Leucite. See LEUCITE.Am·phil'o·gy, n. p. 46Equivocation; amphibology; ambiguity. Smart.Am·phīm'a·cer, n. p. 46(Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in cāstĭtās. Andrews.Am-phĭp’nēüst, n. p. 46(Zoöl.) One of a tribe of reptiles, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren. Brande.Ăm'phi-pod, n. p. 46(Zoöl.) One of a tribe of small, slender, fourteen-footed crustaceans, of the general character of the sand-flea. They seldom exceed an inch in length.Amphip'ōda, n. pl. p. 47(Zoöl.) A certain tribe of crustaceans. See AMPHIPOD.Am·phip'o·dous, a. p. 47Belonging to the amphipoda.Am-phip'ro-style, n. p. 47(Arch.) A double prostyle, or an edifice with columns in front and behind, but not on the sides. Morin.Am'phis-bē'na, n. p. 47(Herp.) A genus of serpents without scales, having the two extremities so much alike that they appear to have a head at each end and ability to move either way. They are often found in the nests of…Am-phĭs'ci-ī or Am-phĭs'ci-ans, n. pl. p. 47(Geog.) The inhabitants between the tropics, whose shadows, in one part of the year, are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.Am'phi-thē'a-ter p. 47Am'phi-thē'a-tre, n. p. 47An oval or circular edifice having rows of seats one above another, around an open space, called the arena, and used for combats of gladiators and of wild beasts, and other public sports. 2. Hence…Ăm'phi-thē'ă-tral, a. p. 47Resembling an amphitheater. Tooke.Ăm'phi-thē-ăt'rĭc or Ăm'phi-thē-ăt'rĭc-al, a. p. 47Pertaining to, or exhibited in, an amphitheater. Warton.Am'phi.the-ăt'rie-al-ly, adv. p. 47In the form or manner of an amphitheater.Am·phit'ro·pal or Am·phit'ro·pous, a. p. 47(Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous. Gray.Am'pho-rā, n. p. 47Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, &c.Am'pho-ral, a. p. 47Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.Am-phōr'ic, a. p. 47(Auscultation.) Emitted from a cavity in the lungs, not filled with fluid, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as, amphoric respiration.Am'pho-tēr'ie, a. p. 47Partly one and partly the other. Smart.Ăm'ple, a. p. 47Of large dimensions; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; wide; spacious; extended. All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees. Spenser. 2. Fully sufficient…Am-plec'tant, a. p. 47(Bot.) Clasping the stem of a plant; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.Am'ple-ness, n. p. 47The state of being ample; largeness; capacity.Am'plex-ā'tion, n. p. 47An embrace. [Obs.] “An humble amplexation of those sacred feet.” Bp. Hall.Am-plēx'ĭ-ca̯ul,, a. p. 47(Bot.) Nearly surrounding or embracing the stem, as the base of a leaf.Am'pli-āte, v. t. p. 47To make greater; to enlarge. [Rare.] To maintain and ampliate the external possessions of your empire. Ibid.Am'pli-ā'tion, n. p. 47Enlargement; amplification. [Rare.] Burnet. 2. (Rom. Antiq.) A deferring to pass sentence; a postponement of a decision in order to obtain further evidence. Encyc. Brit.Ăm'pli-ā'tive, a. p. 47Adding to that which is already known or received; synthetic. "All bodies possess power of attraction" is an ampliative judgment; because we can think of bodies without thinking of attraction as one…Am-plĭf'i-ēate, v. t. p. 47To enlarge; to amplify. [Obs.] Bailey.Am'pli-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 47The act of amplifying or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement. 2. (Rhet.) Diffusive description or discussion, intended to present the subject in every view, or in the strongest light; diffuse…Am'pli-fi-cā'tive, a. p. 47Serving or tending to amplify; amplificatory.Am'pli-fi-cā'to-ry, a. p. 47Serving to amplify or enlarge; amplificative. Morell.Ăm'pli-fi'er, n. p. 47One who amplifies or enlarges.Am'pli-fy, v. t. p. 47To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like. “All concaves . . . do amplify the sound at the coming out.” Bacon. 2. (Rhet.) To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat…Ăm'pli-fy, v. i. p. 47To grow or become large. Strait was the way at first, withouten light, / But further in did further amplify. Fairfax. 2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to…Am'pli-tūde, n. p. 47State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions. The cathedral of Lincoln . . is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese. Fuller. 2.…Am'ply, adv. p. 47In an ample manner. Syn.— Largely; liberally; fully; sufficiently; copiously; abundantly.Am’pul, n. p. 47A vessel for holding consecrated oil, used in baptism, consecration, &c. Fairholt.