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.
A-vĕnt'ūre, n. p. 96(O. Law.) A mischance causing a person's death without felony, as by drowning, or falling from a house. Cowell.A-vĕnt'ūre, v. t. p. 96To send at a venture, as a spear or any missile weapon. [Obs.] Spenser.A-vĕnt'ū-rīne, n. p. 96(Min.) A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with scales of yellow mica. Dana. 2. Brownish glass similarly spangled with copper filings.A-vĕnt'ū-rīne, a. p. 96Spangled or sparkling with minute yellowish or reddish particles or scales disseminated through a mineral; as, aventurine quartz, aventurine feldspar. Dana.Ăv'e-nūe, n. p. 96A way or opening for entrance into a place; any opening or passage by which a place may be entered. “The avenues of the city.” Clarendon. 2. An alley or walk in a park or garden, usually planted on…Ā'ver, n. p. 96A work-horse. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.A-vĕr', v. t. p. 96To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive or peremptory manner, as in confidence of asserting the truth. Such things . . . I mean neither to aver nor disprove. Holland. 2. (Law.) To avouch…A'v'er-age, n. p. 96A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal sums or quantities. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars, B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10. 2. Any medial estimate or general…A'v'er-age, a. p. 96Medial; containing a mean proportion; as, an average amount of rain. “An . . . average rate . . . of profit.” Smith. “Beings of the average stamp.” I. Taylor. 2. According to the laws of average; as…Ăv'er-age, v. t. p. 96To find the mean when sums or quantities are unequal; to reduce to a mean. 2. To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to average a loss.Ăv'er-age, v. i. p. 96To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; as, the losses of the owners will average 25 dollars each. These spars average ten feet in length. Belknap.A'ver-cōrn, n. p. 96(Law.) A reserved rent in corn, formerly paid to religious houses by their tenants or farmers. Kennett. ☞ According to Skinner, the word means corn drawn to the granary of the lord of the manor by…A-vĕr'ment, n. p. 96The act of averring; affirmation; positive assertion. Signally has this averment received illustration in the course of recent events. I. Taylor. 2. Verification; establishment by evidence. Bacon. 3.…A-vĕr'ni-an, a. p. 96Pertaining to Avernus, a lake of Campania, in Italy, famous for its poisonous effluvium, which ancient writers fancied was so malignant as to kill fowls flying over it. Hence, it is said, the name…A'v'er-pĕn-ny, n. p. 96(O. Eng. Law.) Money paid toward the king's carriages by land, instead of service by the beasts in kind; or money paid in lieu of the service of average. Burn. Spelman.A-vĕr'ro-ist, n. p. 96One of a sect of peripatetic philosophers, who appeared in Italy before the restoration of learning; so denominated from Averroes, a celebrated Arabian philosopher. They held the soul to be mortal…A'v'er-rŭn'ēāte, v. t. p. 96To root up; to tear away by the roots; to eradicate. Hudibras.Āv'er-run-cā'tion, n. p. 96The act of tearing up or raking away the roots; eradication; extirpation. Richardson.Āv'er-run-cā'tor, n. p. 96(Hort.) An instrument for pruning trees, consisting of two blades fixed on the end of a rod, and so constructed as to operate like a pair of shears, one of the blades being worked by a cord.Ăv'er-sā'tion, n. p. 96A turning from with disgust or dislike; hatred; aversion. [Obs.] Some men have a natural aversation to some vices or virtues, and a natural affection to others. Bp. Taylor.A-vĕrse', a. p. 96Turned away or backward. [Obs.] The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave. Dryden. 2. Disliking; unwilling; having a repugnance or opposition of mind. Averse…A-vĕrse′, v. t. & i. p. 96To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.A-vĕrse'ly, adv. p. 96Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely. 2. With repugnance; unwillingly.A-vĕrse'ness, n. p. 96The quality of being averse; opposition of mind.A-vĕr'sion, n. p. 96Opposition or repugnance of mind; dislike; disinclination; reluctance; hatred. “Mutual aversion of races.” Prescott. It ought generally to be followed by to before the object. [See AVERSE.] Sometimes…A-vĕr'sĭve, a. p. 96Averse; reluctant. [Obs.] Those strong-bent humors which aversive grew. Daniel.A-vĕr'sive-ly, adv. p. 96With aversion; in a reverse or backward direction. Chapman.A-vĕrt’, v. t. p. 96To turn or cause to turn off, aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object. “To avert his ire.” Milton. When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions…A-vĕrt’, v. i. p. 97To turn away. [Rare.] “Averting from our neighbor’s good.” Thomson.A-vẽrt'er, n. p. 97One who averts or turns away; that which turns away or averts. Burton.A-vẽr'ti-ment, n. p. 97Advertisement. [Obs.] Milton.Ăv'er-tin, n. p. 97A disease of the mind which renders the patient obstinate and furious. 2. A vertiginous disease in sheep in France.Ā'vi-a-ry, n. p. 97A house or inclosure for keeping birds confined; a place to keep birds in. Lincolnshire may be termed the aviary of England. Fuller.A-vĭc-u-lā'ri-a, n. p. 97(Zoöl.) Small prehensile processes on the cells of some Bryozoa, having the shape of a bird's bill.Ăv'id or A-vĭd'i-oŭs, a. p. 97Eager; greedy. Bale. Avid of gold, yet greedier of renown. Southey.A-vĭd'i-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 97Eagerly. Bale.A-vĭd'i-ty, n. p. 97Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire; as, to eat with avidity. His books were received and read with avidity. Milward.A-vīe', adv. p. 97Emulously. [Obs.] They strive avie one with another in variety of colors. Holland.Ăv/i-gā'to, n. p. 97See ALLIGATOR PEAR.A-vĭgn'on Bĕr'ry p. 97The fruit of the Rhamnus Infectorius, and of other species of the same genus; — so called from the city of Avignon, in France. The berry is smaller than a pea, of a yellowish-green color, and bitter…A-vīle', v. t. p. 97To depreciate. [Obs.] Want makes us know the price of what we avile. B. Jonson.Ā'vis, n. p. 97A class of warm-blooded vertebrated animals, covered with feathers; birds.A-vīse′ or A-vī′so, n. p. 97Advice; intelligence. [Obs.] Howell.A·vise′, v. i. p. 97To consider; to observe; to examine. [Obs.] 2. To recognize. [Obs.] Spenser. 3. To advise; to counsel; to observe. [Obs.] “Are you avised o’ that?” Shak.A-vīse'ful, a. p. 97Watchful; circumspect. [Obs.] “With sharp, aviseful eye.” Spenser.A-vīse'ment, n. p. 97Advisement. [Obs.]A-vĭs'ion, n. p. 97A vision. [Obs.] Chaucer.Ăv'i-toŭs, a. p. 97Pertaining to, or coming from, a grandfather; ancestral. Bailey.Ăv'o·cāt, n. p. 97An advocate;—a term applied to the higher class of French lawyers, corresponding to the English counselor at law, and the Scotch advocate.Ăv'o-cāte, v. t. p. 97To call off or away; to withdraw. [Obs. or rare.] One who . . . avocateth his mind from other occupations. Barrow. He, at last, . . . avocated the cause to Rome. Robertson.Av'o-cā'tion, n. p. 97The act of calling aside, or diverting from some employment. “Blessed impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin.” South. 2. The business which calls aside. Visits, business, cards, and I…A-vō'ca-tĭve, a. p. 97Calling off. [Obs.]A-vō'ca-tĭve or Ăv'o-cā'tĭve, n. p. 97That which calls aside; dehortation; dissuasion. Todd.Ăv'o-cā'to, n. p. 97See ALLIGATOR PEAR.Ăv'o-çet or Ăv'o-çette, n. p. 97An aquatic bird, of the genus Recurvirostra and order Grallæ, or waders. The bill of these birds is long, slender, flexible, and bent upward toward the tip. They have very long legs and palmated…A-void', v. t. p. 97To shun; to keep at a distance from or away from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters. What need a man forestall his date of grief, And run to meet what he would most avoid? Milton. 2. To quit or…A-void', v. i. p. 97To retire; to withdraw. [Obs.] David avoided out of his presence. 1 Sam. xviii. 11. 2. (Law.) To become void, vacant, or empty, as a benefice. Ayliffe.A-void'a-ble, a. p. 97Capable of being avoided, shunned, or escaped. Boyle. 2. Capable of being vacated; liable to be annulled. The charters were not avoidable for the king's nonage. Hale.A-void'ance, n. p. 97The act of avoiding or shunning. “The avoidance of pain.” Beattie. 2. The act of becoming vacant, or the state of being vacant; — specifically used for the state of a benefice becoming void by the…A-void'er, n. p. 97One who avoids, shuns, or escapes. 2. The person who carries any thing away, or the vessel in which things are carried away. Johnson.