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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Är'chi-pe-lăġ'ic, a.p. 72Pertaining to an archipelago.
  2. Är'chi-pĕl'a-go, n.p. 72Specifically, and originally, the sea which separates Greece from Asia Minor, otherwise called the Egean Sea, which is studded with a vast number of small islands;—in a general sense, any body of…
  3. Ar'chi-tĕct, n.p. 72A person skilled in the art of building; one who understands architecture, or makes it his occupation to form plans and designs of buildings, and superintends the artificers employed. 2. A contriver…
  4. Ar'chi-tēct'ive, a.p. 72Used in building; proper for building. Derham.
  5. Ar'chi-tĕc-tŏn'ic or Ar'chi-tĕc-tŏn'ic-al, a.p. 72Pertaining to, or skilled in, architecture; evincing skill in designing or construction. “Architectonic wisdom.” Bogle. “Architectonical draughts.” Browne.
  6. Ar'chi-tec-tōn'ic, n.p. 72The art or capacity to organize knowledge, or arrange it in a system.
  7. Ar'chi-tec-tōn'ics, n. sing.p. 72The science of architecture. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]
  8. Är'chi-tĕct'or, n.p. 72One who builds; an architect. [Obs.] “He was an excellent architector.” North.
  9. Är'chi-tĕct'ress, n.p. 72A female architect. Wotton.
  10. Är'chi-tĕct'ūr-al, a.p. 72Of, or pertaining to, the art of building; conformed to the rules of architecture.
  11. Är'chi-tĕct'ūre, n.p. 72The art or science of building; especially, the art of constructing houses, bridges, and other buildings, for the purpose of civil life;—often called civil architecture. 2. Frame or structure…
  12. Är'chei-trāve, n.p. 72(Arch.) (a.) The lower division of an entablature, or that part which rests immediately on the column. (b.) The ornamental molding running round the exterior curve of an arch. (c.) A molding above a…
  13. Ar'chi-val, a.p. 72Pertaining to, or contained in, archives or records. Poole.
  14. Ar'chīve, n.p. 72The place in which public records are kept. Our words . . . become records in God's court, and are laid up in his archives as witnesses either for or against us. Gov. of Tongue. 2. Public records and…
  15. Ar'chi-vist, n.p. 72The keeper of archives or records.
  16. Ar'chi-vōlt, n.p. 72(Arch.) The inner contour of an arch, or a band adorned with moldings running over the faces of the arch-stones, and bearing upon the imposts. Gwilt.
  17. 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.
  18. Ărch'ly, adv.p. 72In an arch manner; shrewdly; slyly; wittily; jestingly.
  19. Arch-măr'shal, n.p. 72The grand marshal of the German empire; a dignity that belonged to the elector of Saxony.
  20. Ärch'ness, n.p. 72Cunning; shrewdness; sly humor destitute of malice; waggishness. Goldsmith.
  21. 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…
  22. Ar'chon-ship, n.p. 72The office of an archon, or the term of his office. Mitford.
  23. 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.
  24. Arch-pres'by-ter-y, n.p. 72The absolute dominion of presbytery, or the chief presbytery. Milton.
  25. Ärch-prī'mate, n.p. 72The chief primate; an archbishop over other archbishops. Milton.
  26. Ärch'-stōne, n.p. 72One of the stones of an arch.
  27. Ärch-trĕas'ūr-er, n.p. 72A chief treasurer;—specifically, the great treasurer of the German empire.
  28. Ärch'wāy, n.p. 72A way or passage under an arch.
  29. Ärch'wāyed, a.p. 72Having a way by an arch.
  30. Ärch-wīfe', n.p. 72A woman in the higher ranks of society. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  31. Ärch'wīse, adv.p. 72In the form of an arch.
  32. Ärch'y, a.p. 72Having or resembling arches; arching.
  33. Ar-çĭt'e-nent, a.p. 72Carrying a bow. [Obs.] Blount.
  34. Ärc'o-grăph, n.p. 72An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a central point; a cyclograph. Hebert.
  35. 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.
  36. 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…
  37. Arc-tū'rus, n.p. 72(Astron.) A fixed star of the first magnitude in the constellation Boötes.
  38. Arc'ū-ate or Arc'ū-ā'ted, a.p. 72Bent or curved in the form of a bow. “Arcuate stalks.” Gray.
  39. Är'cu-a-tīle, a.p. 72Bent; curved; curvate. [Obs.]
  40. 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…
  41. Ar'cu-a-tūre, n.p. 72The curvature of an arch. [Obs.] Bailey.
  42. Är'cu-ba-līst, n.p. 72A cross-bow. It was of different kinds, and sometimes discharged stones or bullets. See ARBALIST. Fosbroke.
  43. Ar'cu-bäl'ist-er or Ar'cu-ba-līst'er, n.p. 72A cross-bowman; one who used the arcubalist. Holinshed.
  44. Ardp. 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…
  45. Ăr-dăs'sine, n.p. 72A very fine sort of Persian silk; the finest used in the looms of France.
  46. Ăr'deb, n.p. 72A measure for grain, containing about eight bushels, used extensively in Africa.
  47. Ăr'den-cy, n.p. 72Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; eagerness; as, the ardency of love or zeal.
  48. 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…
  49. Ăr'dent-ly, adv.p. 72In an ardent manner; with warmth; affectionately; passionately.
  50. Är'dent-ness, n.p. 72Ardency. [Rare.]
  51. 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…
  52. 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…
  53. Ärd'ū-oûs-ly, adv.p. 72In an arduous manner; with difficulty or laboriousness.
  54. Ärd'ū·ous-ness, n.p. 72The state or quality of being arduous; difficulty of execution.
  55. Ärd'ū-roûs, a.p. 72Burning. [Rare.] Lo! further on, Where flames the ardurous Spirit of Indore. Cary.
  56. Ärep. 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…
  57. 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.
  58. 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.…
  59. 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…
  60. Ā're-al, a.p. 72Pertaining to an area; as, areal interstices (the areas or spaces inclosed by the reticulate vessels of leaves). Barton.