Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Băcked, p. a. p. 101Having a back; — used in composition; as, broad-backed, hump-backed.Băck'er, n. p. 101One who backs or supports another in a contest or an undertaking. 2. (Arch.) A small slate laid on the back of a large one at certain points. Brandt.Băck'friĕnd, n. p. 101A secret enemy. [Obs.] “Our Romish back-friends.” South.Bäck-găm'mon, n. p. 101A game played by two persons, upon a table, with box and dice. The table is in two parts, on which are twenty-four black and white spaces, called points. Each player has fifteen men of different…Băck'ground, n. p. 101Ground in the rear or behind, as opposed to the front. 2. (Paint.) The space behind the principal figures of a picture, scene, &c. Fairholt. 3. A place of obscurity or shade; a situation little seen…Băck'hănd-ed, a. p. 101With the hand turned backward; as, a back-handed blow. 2. Indirect; oblique; as, a backhanded compliment. 3. Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, back-handed letters.Bäck'händ-ed, adv. p. 101With the hand directed backward; as, to strike backhanded.Băck'house, n. p. 101A building behind the main or front building; specifically, a privy or necessary.Băck'ing, n. p. 101(Man.) The operation of breaking a colt for the saddle. Gilbert. 2. (Book-binding.) The preparation of the back of a book with glue, &c., before putting on the cover.Băck'ing-ŭp, n. p. 101In cricket and other games, the act of stopping the ball, and driving it back.Bäck'làsh, n. p. 101(Mech.) The reaction or striking back on each other of a set of connected wheels, produced by irregularities in their velocity when the moving power is not uniform, or the load is variable.Bäck'-päint'ing, n. p. 101A method of painting mezzotinto prints, pasted on glass of a size to fit the print.Băck'-pièce or Băck'-plāte, n. p. 101A piece of armor for covering the back.Bäck'-prĕss/ure, n. p. 101(Steam Engineering.) The resistance of the atmosphere or waste steam to the piston.Băck'rack or Băck'rag, n. p. 101A kind of wine made at Bacharach, in Germany. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Băck'-rĕst, n. p. 101A guide attached to the slide-rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work to steady it in turning.Băck're-tûrn', n. p. 101Repeated return. [Obs.] Shak.Băck'-rōōm, n. p. 101A room behind the front room, or in the back part of the house.Bäcks, n. pl. p. 101Among leather-dealers, a quality of leather selected from the thickest and stoutest ox-hides. Tomlinson.Bäck'sĕt, a. p. 101Set upon in the rear. “Backset with Pharaoh’s whole power.” Anderson.Bäck'sĕt, n. p. 101A check to the progress of any thing; a relapse. [Scottish.]Bäck'shish or Bäck'sheesh, n. p. 101In India, a present or gratuity of money. Curtis.Băck'side, n. p. 101The back or hinder part of any thing; the rear, as of a house, a town, a picture, or an animal.Băck'sight, n. p. 101(Leveling.) The first reading of the leveling staff, taken from any position of the leveling instrument, all other readings being called foresights. Davies.Băck-slīde', v. i. p. 101To fall back or off; to apostatize; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of Christianity.Bäck-slid'er, n. p. 101One who backslides, or falls from the faith and practice of religion; an apostate; a renegade. Prov. xiv. 14.Bäck-slīd'ing-ness, n. p. 101The state of backsliding.Bäck'ståff, n. p. 101An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, now superseded by the quadrant and sextant. Math. Dict.Băck'-stâirs, n. pl. p. 101Stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs.Băck'-stāys, n. pl. p. 101(Naut.) Long ropes or stays extending from the top-mast heads to both sides of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast. Totten.Bäck'-stōne, n. p. 101The heated stone on which oat-cake is baked. [Prov. Eng.]Bäck'strēam, n. p. 101A current flowing up-stream.Băck'swōrd, n. p. 101A sword with one sharp edge. 2. In England, a stick with a basket handle, used in rustic amusements. 3. The game in which it is used;— called also single-stick. Halliwell.Bäck'ward or Bäck'wards, adv. p. 101With the back in advance; as, to move backward. 2. Toward the back; as, to throw the arms backward; to move backward and forward. 3. On the back, or with the back downward. “Thou wilt fall backward.”…Băck'ward, a. p. 101Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; dilatory. “Backward to be slaves.” Pope. “Backward wills.” Wordsworth. 2. Dull; not quick of apprehension; behind in progress; inapt. “The backward learner.”…Băck'ward, n. p. 101The things or state behind or past. [Obs. and very rare.] In the dark backward or abysm of time. Shak.Băck'ward, v. t. p. 101To hold or keep back; to hinder. [Obs.] Hammond.Băck'ward-ly, adv. p. 101In a reluctant or unwilling manner; aversely. [Obs.] Shak.Bäck'ward-ness, n. p. 101The state or quality of being backward.Bäck'wă-ter, n. p. 101Water held back, as in a stream or reservoir, by some obstruction, as a dam. 2. Water thrown back by the turning of a water-wheel.Bäck-wōods'man, n. p. 101An inhabitant of the forest in the new settlements, especially on the western frontier of the United States. Ames.Băck'worm, n. p. 101A disease of hawks. See FILANDERS. Wright.Băck'-wound, v. t. p. 101To wound secretly behind the back. Shak.Bā'con, n. p. 101Hog's flesh salted or pickled and dried, usually in smoke. To save one's bacon, to preserve one's self from harm.Ba-cō'ni-an, a. p. 101Pertaining to Lord Bacon, or to his system of philosophy.Băs'cule, n. p. 101(Fort.) A kind of portcullis or gate, made like a pitfall, with a counter-poise. See BASCULE.Bäc'ü-lite, n. p. 101(Conch.) A genus of fossil shells, of a straight form, a little conical, and in their cellular structure resembling the ammonites.Băc'ū-lŏm'e-try, n. p. 101The act of measuring distance or altitude by a staff or staffs.Băd or Bād or Bāde, a. p. 101Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious, hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective, whether physically or morally so; evil; ill; vicious; as, a bad…Băd'dish, a. p. 101Somewhat bad; not very good. [Rare.] He wrote baldish verses. Jeffrey.Bädge, n. p. 101A distinctive mark, token, or sign worn on the person; as, the badge of a society; the badge of a policeman. “Tax-gatherers, recognized by their official badges.” Prescott. 2. Something that gives…Bādge, v. t. p. 102To mark, or distinguish with a badge.Bādge'less, a. p. 102Having no badge. Bp. Hall.Bād′ger, n. p. 102A licensed porter or carrier entitled to wear a badge. Simmonds.Bād'g er, n. p. 102A plantigrade quadruped related to the bear, of the genus Meles. It is a clumsy animal, with short, thick legs, and long claws on the fore feet. One species (M. vulgaris) inhabits the north of Europe…Bād'ger, v. t. p. 102To follow up or pursue with great eagerness, as the badger is hunted; to pester or worry.Bād'ger-lēgged, a. p. 102Having legs of unequal length, as the badger has been vulgarly thought to have. Shak.Bad-i-ā'gā, n. p. 102A species of Alga, or sea-weed, common in the north of Europe, the powder of which is used to take away the livid marks of bruises.Bā'di-an, n. p. 102(Bot.) A tree of the Magnolia family (Illicium anisatum), the aromatic seeds of which are much used in China and elsewhere to flavor articles of food. Simmonds.Ba-dĭg'eon, n. p. 102A mixture of plaster and freestone, ground together and sifted, used by statuaries to fill the small holes and repair the defects of the stones of which they make their statues. 2. A mixture of…