Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Arch'i-lūte or Arch'lūte, n. p. 72(Mus.) A theorbo, or large lute, formerly in use, having the bass-strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison.Ărch'ly, adv. p. 72In an arch manner; shrewdly; slyly; wittily; jestingly.Arch-măr'shal, n. p. 72The grand marshal of the German empire; a dignity that belonged to the elector of Saxony.Ärch'ness, n. p. 72Cunning; shrewdness; sly humor destitute of malice; waggishness. Goldsmith.Ar'chon, n. p. 72(Antiq.) One of the chief magistrates, nine in number, who had charge of civil and religious concerns in ancient Athens. ☞ The first was properly the archon; the second was called king; the third…Ar'chon-ship, n. p. 72The office of an archon, or the term of his office. Mitford.Ar-chōn’tic, n. p. 72(Eccl. Hist.) One of a branch of the Valentinians, who held that the world was not created by God, but by angels called archontes.Arch-pres'by-ter-y, n. p. 72The absolute dominion of presbytery, or the chief presbytery. Milton.Ärch-prī'mate, n. p. 72The chief primate; an archbishop over other archbishops. Milton.Ärch'-stōne, n. p. 72One of the stones of an arch.Ärch-trĕas'ūr-er, n. p. 72A chief treasurer;—specifically, the great treasurer of the German empire.Ärch'wāy, n. p. 72A way or passage under an arch.Ärch'wāyed, a. p. 72Having a way by an arch.Ärch-wīfe', n. p. 72A woman in the higher ranks of society. [Obs.] Chaucer.Ärch'wīse, adv. p. 72In the form of an arch.Ärch'y, a. p. 72Having or resembling arches; arching.Ar-çĭt'e-nent, a. p. 72Carrying a bow. [Obs.] Blount.Ärc'o-grăph, n. p. 72An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a central point; a cyclograph. Hebert.Arc-tā'tion or Arc'ti-tūde, n. p. 72(Med.) Preternatural straitness, or contraction of some natural passage, as in constipation from inflammation or spasm. Coxe.Ärct'ic, a. p. 72Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation called the Bear; as, the arctic pole, circle, region, or ocean. The arctic circle is a lesser circle parallel to the equator, 23° 28′ from…Arc-tū'rus, n. p. 72(Astron.) A fixed star of the first magnitude in the constellation Boötes.Arc'ū-ate or Arc'ū-ā'ted, a. p. 72Bent or curved in the form of a bow. “Arcuate stalks.” Gray.Är'cu-a-tīle, a. p. 72Bent; curved; curvate. [Obs.]Ar'cu-ā'tion, n. p. 72The act of bending; incurvation; the state of being bent; crookedness. Coxe. 2. A method of raising trees by layers; that is, by bending branches to the ground, and covering the small shoots with…Ar'cu-a-tūre, n. p. 72The curvature of an arch. [Obs.] Bailey.Är'cu-ba-līst, n. p. 72A cross-bow. It was of different kinds, and sometimes discharged stones or bullets. See ARBALIST. Fosbroke.Ar'cu-bäl'ist-er or Ar'cu-ba-līst'er, n. p. 72A cross-bowman; one who used the arcubalist. Holinshed.Ard p. 72the termination of many English words, is taken from the Ger. a. hart, Goth. hardus, A-S. heard, O. Sax., Icel., & Eng. hard, and appears in O. H. Ger. in proper names, as Reginhart, Reinhart, strong…Ăr-dăs'sine, n. p. 72A very fine sort of Persian silk; the finest used in the looms of France.Ăr'deb, n. p. 72A measure for grain, containing about eight bushels, used extensively in Africa.Ăr'den-cy, n. p. 72Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; eagerness; as, the ardency of love or zeal.Ar'dent, a. p. 72Hot or burning; causing a sensation of burning; as, ardent spirits, that is, distilled liquors; an ardent fever. 2. Having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce; as, ardent eyes. 3. Warm; much…Ăr'dent-ly, adv. p. 72In an ardent manner; with warmth; affectionately; passionately.Är'dent-ness, n. p. 72Ardency. [Rare.]Ar'dor, n. p. 72Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays. 2. Warmth, or heat of passion or affection; eagerness; as, he pursues study with ardor; they fought with ardor. ☞ Milton uses the word for…Ard′ū·ous, a. p. 72High or lofty, in a literal sense. “Arduous paths.” Pope. 2. Attended with great labor, like the ascending of acclivities; difficult; as, an arduous employment, task, or enterprise. Syn.—Difficult…Ärd'ū-oûs-ly, adv. p. 72In an arduous manner; with difficulty or laboriousness.Ärd'ū·ous-ness, n. p. 72The state or quality of being arduous; difficulty of execution.Ärd'ū-roûs, a. p. 72Burning. [Rare.] Lo! further on, Where flames the ardurous Spirit of Indore. Cary.Äre p. 72The present indicative plural of the substantive verb; but etymologically a different word from be, am, or was. It is from the Sw. vara, Dan. være, to be, to exist; v or w being lost. We are; ye or…Ā're, n. p. 72The unit of surface, in the French system of measures, containing a hundred square metres, or about 119.60 square yards. Davies & Peck.Ā're-ā, n. p. 72Any plane surface, as the floor of a room, of a church or other building, or of the ground. 2. The inclosed space or site on which a building stands; a sunken space around the basement of a building.…A-rēad’ or A-reed’, v. t. p. 72To read. [Obs.] “Some romant unto us areed.” Drayton. 2. To declare; to explain. [Obs.] Therefore more plain areed this doubtful case. Spenser. 3. To counsel, advise, or direct. [Obs.] But mark what…Ā're-al, a. p. 72Pertaining to an area; as, areal interstices (the areas or spaces inclosed by the reticulate vessels of leaves). Barton.A-rear', adv. p. 73Backward; to the rear. [Obs.] “He lightly leaped arear.” Spenser.A·rear', a. p. 73Retrograde. [Obs.] “His pace gan wex arear.” Spenser.A-rē'ca, n. p. 73(Bot.) A genus of palms, one species of which produces the areca nut, or betel nut, which is chewed in India, with the leaf of the Piper betel and lime.A-reek', adv. p. 73In a reeking condition. Swift.Ār'e·făc'tion, n. p. 73The act of drying, or the state of growing dry. “The arefaction of the earth.” Hale.Ār'e-fy, v. t. p. 73To dry, or make dry. Bacon.A-rē'na, n. p. 73(Rom. Antiq.) The area in the central part of an amphitheater, in which the gladiators fought and other shows were exhibited;—so called because it was covered with sand. Hence, 2. (Fig.) Any place of…Ăr'e-nā'ceoŭs, a. p. 73Having the properties of sand; sandy; easily disintegrating into sand; friable; as, arenaceous limestone. Kirwan.Ăr'e-nă'rĭ-ōŭs, a. p. 73Sandy; composed wholly, or in part, of sand: as, arenarious soil. Brande.Ar'e-nā'tion, n. p. 73(Med.) A sand-bath; a sprinkling of hot sand upon a diseased person. Coxe.A·r'en-dā'tor, n. p. 73A farmer of the farms or rents in some parts of Russia; one who contracts with the crown for the rents of the farms. ☞ A person who rents an estate belonging to the crown is called crown-arrendator.…Ăr'e-nĭe'o-līte, n. p. 73An ancient worm-hole in sand, preserved in the rocks. Dana.A-rĕn/i-lit'ic, a. p. 73Pertaining to, or consisting of, sandstone; as, arenilitic mountains. Kirwan.Ăr'e-nōse', a. p. 73Sandy; full of sand. Johnson.A·rĕn'ū-lōŭs, a. p. 73Full of small sand. [Obs.]A-rē'ō-lā, n. p. 73An interstice or small space, as between the cracks of the surface in certain crustaceous lichens; or as between the fibers composing organs or vessels that interlace; or as between the divisions of…