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.
At-trăc'tion, n. p. 91(Physics.) An invisible power in a body by which it draws any thing to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce…At-trăct'ive, a. p. 91Having the power or quality of attracting or drawing; as, the attractive force of bodies. Newton. 2. Attracting or drawing by moral influence; alluring; inviting; engaging. “Attractive graces.”…At-trăct'ive, n. p. 91That which attracts or incites. “An attractive of love.” Baxter. The gospel speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South.At-trăct'ive-ly, adv. p. 91In an attractive manner; with the power of attracting.At-tract'ive-ness, n. p. 91The quality of being attractive or engaging. South.At-trāct'or, n. p. 91One who, or that which, attracts.At'tra-hent, a. p. 91Attracting; drawing; attractive.At’tra-hent, n. p. 91That which attracts or draws, as a magnet. The motion of the steel to its attrahent. Glanville. 2. (Med.) A substance formerly supposed to possess the property of drawing the humors to the part where…At-trāp', v. t. p. 91To clothe; to adorn with trappings; to array. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. [Fr. attraper, to catch.] To entrap; to insnare. [Obs.] Grafton.At'trec-tā'tion, n. p. 91Frequent handling; constant performance. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.At-trib'ū-ta-ble, a. p. 91Capable of being attributed, ascribed, or imputed; ascribable; imputable; as, the fault is not attributable to the author.At-trib'ūte, v. t. p. 91To attach, in contemplation or as due; to impute; to assign; to ascribe; to consider as belonging. We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. Tillotson. Syn.—See…Ăt'tri-būte, n. p. 91That which is attributed; that which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic. But mercy is above this sceptered sway; It…At'tri-bū'tion, n. p. 91The act of attributing, or the quality attributed; ascription; commendation.At-trib′ū-tive, a. p. 91Attributing; pertaining to, or expressing, an attribute. “Attributive justice.”At-trĭb'ū-tive, n. p. 91(Gram.) (a.) A word significant of an attribute, as an adjective, verb, or participle denoting the attribute of a substance, or an adverb denoting the attribute of an attribute. (b.) A modifying word…At-trib′ū-tive-ly, adv. p. 91(Gram.) In an attributive manner.At-trīte', a. p. 91Worn by rubbing or friction. Milton. 2. (Theol.) Repentant only from fear of punishment;—opposed to contrite.At-trîte'ness, n. p. 91State of being worn. Johnson.At-tri'tion, n. p. 91The act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion. The change of aliment is effected by attrition of the inward stomach. Arbuthnot. 2. The state of being worn. Johnson. 3.…At-tūne', v. t. p. 91To tune or put in tune; to adjust, as one sound to another; as, to attune the voice to a harp. 2. To arrange fitly; to make accordant. Wake to energy each social aim, Attuned spontaneous to the will…A-twāin’, adv. p. 91In twain; asunder. [Obs.] “Cuts atwain the knots.” Tennyson.A-tween', adv. or prep. p. 91Between. [Obs.] Spenser.A-twist', a. p. 91Twisted; distorted; awry. [Rare.] Halliwell.A-twĭxt’, adv. p. 91Betwixt; between. [Obs.] Spenser.A-two', adv. p. 91In two; in twain. [Obs.] Chaucer.A-tўp'ic, a. p. 91Devoid of typical characters; producing a loss of typical characters. Dana.Au-bāine', n. p. 91Inheritance of the property of a foreigner. Droit d'aubaine, the right formerly possessed by the king of France to all the personal property of which an alien died possessed. It was finally abolished…Aube, n. p. 91An alb. [Obs.] See ALB. Fuller.An-bèrge', n. p. 91An inn. [Obs.] B. & Fl.Au'ber-gist, n. p. 91One who keeps an inn, or tavern. [Rare.] “The aubergist at Terni.” Smollett.Aub'in, n. p. 91A broken kind of gait in a horse, between an amble and a gallop;—commonly called a Canterbury gallop.Au'burn, a. p. 91Reddish brown. His auburn locks on either shoulder flowed. Dryden.Auc'tion, n. p. 91A public sale of property to the highest bidder, and regularly, by a person licensed and authorized for the purpose; a vendue. 2. The things sold at auction. Ask you why Prynne the whole auction…Auc'tion, v. t. p. 92To sell by auction. [Rare.]Auc'tion-a-ry, a. p. 92Belonging to an auction. [Rare.] With auctionary hammer in thy hand. Dryden.Auc'tion-eer', n. p. 92A person who sells by auction; a person who disposes of goods or lands by public sale to the highest bidder.Auc'tion-eer', v. t. p. 92To sell by auction. “Estates . . . Advertised and auctioneered away.” Cooper.Au'cu-pā'tion, n. p. 92The act or practice of taking birds; fowling; bird-catching. [Obs.] Blount.Au-dā’cious, a. p. 92Of a daring, fearless spirit; adventurous; intrepid; bold. [Rare.] As in a cloudy chair ascending, rides Audacious. Milton. 2. Contemning the restraints of law, religion, or decorum; presumptuous…Au-dā'ciōus-ly, adv. p. 92In an audacious manner; with excess of boldness. Shak.Au-dā'ciōus-ness, n. p. 92The quality of being audacious; impudence; audacity.Au-dăç'i-ty, n. p. 92Daring spirit, resolution, or confidence; venturesomeness. The freedom and audacity necessary in the commerce of men. Tudor. 2. Audaciousness; presumptuous impudence; implying a contempt of law or…Aud'i-an-ism, n. p. 92(Eccl. Hist.) Anthropomorphism, or the doctrine of Audius, a Syrian of the fourth century, who maintained that God has a human shape; from Gen. i. 26. — Neander.Au'di-bil'i-ty, n. p. 92The quality of being audible; power of being heard. J. D. Forbes.Au'di-ble, a. p. 92Capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; as, an audible voice or whisper.Au'di-ble, n. p. 92An object of hearing. [Obs.] Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles. Bacon.Au'di-ble-ness, n. p. 92The quality of being audible.Au'di-bly, adv. p. 92In an audible manner; in a manner so as to be heard.Au'di-ençe, n. p. 92The act of hearing, or attending to sounds. Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. Milton. 2. Admittance to a hearing; reception to an interview, especially with a sovereign or the head of a…Court of audience p. 92or audience court, a court held originally before an archbishop in person: that of the archbishop of Canterbury is now held by the dean of the arches as his official.Au'di-ent, a. p. 92Listening; paying attention. “Audient . . . souls.” E. B. Browning.Au'di-ent, n. p. 92A hearer. [Obs.] Shelton.Au'dit, n. p. 92Audience; hearing. [Obs.] With his orisons I meddle not, for he appeals to a high audit. Milton. 2. An examination in general; but specifically, an examination of an account or of accounts, with the…Au'dit, v. t. p. 92To examine and adjust, as an account or accounts; as, to audit the accounts of a treasurer, or of parties who have a suit depending in court.Au′dit, v. i. p. 92To settle or adjust an account. “Let Hocus audit.” Arbuthnot.An-di'ta Que-re'la p. 92(Law.) A writ which lies for a party against whom judgment is recovered, but to whom good matter of discharge has subsequently accrued which could not have been availed of to prevent such judgment.Wharton p. 92Au'dit-house, n. p. 92An appendage to a cathedral, for the transaction of business belonging to it.Au-di'tion, n. p. 92Hearing; a listening to. [Obs. or rare.] Coleridge.