Dictionary
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.
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…Băd'i-nāge, n. p. 102Light or playful discourse. He seems most to have indulged himself only in an elegant badinage. Warrington.Băd'ly, adv. p. 102In a bad manner; not well; unskillfully; grievously; unfortunately; imperfectly. In some parts of this country, not by the vulgar alone, but by educated persons, the word badly is used for greatly.…Bād'ness, n. p. 102The state of being bad, evil, vicious, or depraved; want of good qualities, natural or moral.Bāle'-fire, n. p. 102See BALE-FIRE.Bāf'fe-tas, n. p. 102Bāf'tas p. 102An India cotton cloth or plain muslin. Simmonds.Bāf'fle, v. t. p. 102To treat with infamy or mockery; to disgrace; to insult with blows. [Obs.] An I do not, call me villain and baffle me. Shak. There know I dare To spurn or baffle them. B. Jonson. 2. To check by…Bāf'fle, v. i. p. 102To practice deceit. [Obs.] Barron.Bāf'fle, n. p. 102A defeat by artifice, shifts, and turns. [Rare.] “A baffle to philosophy.” South.Bāf'fler, n. p. 102One who baffles.Băf'fling-ly, adv. p. 102In a baffling manner.Bāf'fling-ness, n. p. 102Quality of baffling.Bag, n. p. 102A sack or pouch, used to hold, preserve, or convey any thing; as, a bag of meal or of money. 2. A sac, in animal bodies, containing some fluid or other substance; as, the bag of poison in the mouth…Bāg, v. t. p. 102To put into a bag; as, to bag hops; to bag game. 2. To seize, capture, or entrap; as, to bag an army. 3. To load with bags. “A bee bagged with his honeyed venom.” Dryden. 4. To cause to swell like a…Bāg, v. i. p. 102To swell like a full bag; as, the skin bags from containing morbid matter. Wiseman. 2. To swell with arrogance. [Obs.] Chaucer. 3. To become pregnant; to breed. [Obs.] Some are of opinion that they…Ba-găsse', n. p. 102The sugar-cane, when crushed and dry;—used as fuel. Ure.Bāg'a-tēlle, n. p. 102A trifle; a thing of no importance. “Rich trifles, serious bagatelles.” Prior. 2. A game played on a board having, at the end, nine holes, into which balls are to be struck with a rod held in the…Băg'gāge, n. p. 102The tents, clothing, utensils, and other necessaries of an army. 2. The trunks, carpet-bags, valises, bandboxes, &c., used to contain the clothing and other necessaries or conveniences which a…Băg'gage, n. p. 102A low, worthless woman; a strumpet. 2. A playful, saucy young woman. Goldsmith.Bāg'gage-mās'ter, n. p. 102A person employed to take charge of baggage upon a railway train. [Amer.]Bāg'ga-ger, n. p. 102One who takes care of baggage. [Obs.] Raleigh.Bāg'ga-lā, n. p. 102(Naut.) A two-masted Arab boat, used both for commerce and piracy in the Indian Ocean, between the Malabar coast and the Red Sea. It is generally of 200 or 250 tuns burden, and sails with great…Băg'ging, n. p. 102The cloth or materials for bags. 2. A process in husbandry, consisting in reaping wheat, &c., with a sharp hook. Gardner.Băg'gy, a. p. 102Resembling a bag; loose like a bag; as, a baggy umbrella.Bāg'man, n. p. 102A commercial traveler employed to solicit orders for manufacturers, &c. Thackeray.Băg'-nĕt, n. p. 102A net for fishes, shaped like a bag.Bāg'nio, n. p. 102A bath; a house for bathing, cupping, sweating, and otherwise cleansing the body. Arbuthnot. 2. A brothel; a stew; a house of prostitution.Bag-nō'li-an, n. p. 102(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of heretics in the eighth century who rejected the whole of the Old Testament and part of the New; — so called from Bagnoles in Languedoc, where the sect originated.Bāg'pīpe, n. p. 102A musical wind instrument, used chiefly in Scotland and Ireland. ☞ It consists of a leathern bag, which receives the air by a tube, which is stopped by a valve; and pipes, into which the air is…Băg'pīp-er, n. p. 102One who - plays on a bagpipe.Bāg'reef, n. p. 102(Naut.) A fourth and lower reef used in the British navy. Mar. Dict.Bāg'shōt Sānd p. 102Sand of the eocene tertiary around Bagshot, in Surrey, and elsewhere in England. Mantell.Ba-guëtte’, n. p. 102(Arch.) A little round molding, less than an astragal, sometimes carved and enriched. Gwill.Bäh, interj. p. 102An exclamation expressive of disgust or contempt; pah. “Twenty-five years ago the vile ejaculation, Bäh! was utterly unknown to the English public. Now, and entirely through the currency given to it…Ba-hār' or Bār're, n. p. 102A weight used in the East Indies, varying considerably in different localities; the range being from 223 to 625 pounds. Simmonds.Bāigne, v. t. p. 102To soak or drench. [Obs.] Carew.Bāi-kā'/le-an, a. p. 102(Geog.) Pertaining to Lake Bai-kal, or to the range of mountains separating it from the lowlands of Siberia. Eng. Cyc.Bāil, v. t. p. 102To deliver; to release. [Obs.] Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail. Spenser. 2. (Law.) To set free, liberate, or deliver from arrest, or out of custody, to the keeping of other persons…Bāil, n. p. 102(Law.) The person or persons who procure the release of a prisoner from the custody of the officer arresting him, or from imprisonment, by becoming surety for his appearance in court. The bail must…Bāil'a-ble, a. p. 102Capable of being admitted to bail, or of being set free from the hands of an officer after arrest, upon bond with sureties;—used of persons. “He's bailable, I'm sure.” Ford. 2. Admitting of bail; as…Bāil'age, n. p. 102(Law.) A small duty paid to the city of London by aliens, and even by denizens, for certain commodities exported by them. [Written also balliage.]Bāil'-bōnd, n. p. 102(Law.) (a.) A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the prisoner's appearance in court, at the return of the writ. (b.) Special bail in court to abide the judgment. Bouvier.Bāil-ee', n. p. 103The person to whom goods are committed in trust, and who has a temporary possession and a qualified property in them, for the purposes of the trust. Blackstone.Bāil’er or Bāil’or, n. p. 103(Law.) One who delivers goods to another in trust, for some particular purpose.