Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
BĂ€r'ren, a. p. 110Incapable of producing offspring, whether animal or vegetable; unprolific; unproductive; unfruitful; sterile. âBarren mountain tracts.â Macaulay. âShe was barren of children.â Bp. Hall. 2. ProducingâŠBÄr'ren, n. p. 110Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not timber; as, pine-barrens, oak-barrens. They are not necessarily sterile, but often very fertile. [Am.] Pickering.BÄr'ren-ly, adv. p. 110Unfruitfully.BĂ€r'ren-ness, n. p. 110The quality of being barren; the quality of not producing, or of not being able to produce, its kind; incapability of having offspring; unproductiveness; sterility; unfruitfulness. 2. Want of matterâŠBĂ€r'ren-spir'it-ed, a. p. 110Of a poor spirit. Shak.BĂ€r'ren-wort, n. p. 110(Bot.) A plant of the Barberry family (Epimedium alpinum), having leaves that are bitter and said to be sudorific.BĂ€r'ret-cĂ€p, n. p. 110A kind of cap or headpiece formerly worn by soldiers. W. Scott.BĂ€rr'ful, a. p. 110See BARFUL.BĂ€r'ri-cÄde', n. p. 110(Mil.) A fortification, made in haste, of trees, earth, palisades, wagons, or any thing that will obstruct the progress of an enemy, or serve for defense or security against his shot. 2. Any barâŠBĂ€r'ri-cÄde', v. t. p. 110To fortify with any slight work that prevents the approach of an enemy; to stop up, as a passage; to obstruct. The further end whereof [a bridge] was barricaded with barrels. Hackluyt.BĂ€r'ri-cÄd'er, n. p. 110One who raises barricades.BĂ€r'ri-cĂ€'do, n. p. 110The same as BARRICADE. [Obs.]BĂ€r'ri-er or Barrier-gate, n. p. 110(Fort.) A kind of fence made in a passage or retrenchment, to stop an enemy. It is usually a palisade or a stockade. 2. A fortress or fortified town on the frontier of a country. Swift. 3. AnyâŠBĂ€r'ring-out, n. p. 110The act of closing the doors of a school-room against a schoolmaster;âa boyish mode of rebellion in schools. Swift.BĂ€r'ris-ter, n. p. 110A counselor learned in the laws, qualified and admitted to plead at the bar, and to take upon him the defense of clients; answering to the advocate or licentiate of other countries. â AncientlyâŠBĂ€r'rĆw, n. p. 110A light, small carriage, borne or moved by hand. Shak. 2. (Salt-works.) A wicker case, where the salt is put to drain. Kennet.BĂ€r'rĆw, n. p. 110A hog, especially a male hog castrated. Holland.BĂ€r'rĆw, n. p. 110A hillock or mound of earth, intended as a repository of the dead.BĂ€r'ru-let, n. p. 110(Her.) The fourth part of a bar.BĂ€r'ry or BĂ€r'ru-ly, n. p. 110(Her.) The division of the field or charge by horizontal lines. Burke.BĂ€rse, n. p. 110The common perch. See BASS. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.BĂ€r'-shĆe, n. p. 110(Far.) A kind of horse-shoe, having a bar across the usual opening at the heel, to protect a tender frog from injury. Gardner.BĂ€r'-shĆt, n. p. 110Double-headed shot, consisting of a bar, with a half ball or round head at each end;âused for destroying the masts and rigging in naval combat. Mar. Dict.BĂ€r'sĆw-Ä«te, n. p. 110(Min.) A snow-white translucent mineral, of a coarse granular texture, composed of silica, alumina, and magnesia. Dana.BĂ€r'ter, v. i. p. 110To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for the commodities transferred.BĂ€r'ter, v. t. p. 110To exchange, or give in exchange; â sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.BĂ€r'ter, n. p. 111The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities. 2. The thing given in exchange. Syn.âExchange; dealing; traffic; truck; interchange.BĂ€r'-ter-er, n. p. 111One who barters.BĂ€r'ter-y, n. p. 111Exchange of commodities in trade; barter. [Obs.] Camden.BĂ€rth, n. p. 111A place of shelter for cattle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.BĂ€r-thĆl'o-mew-tide, n. p. 111Time of the festival of St. Bartholomew, August 24th. Shak.BĂ€r'ti-zÄn', n. p. 111A small overhanging turret, which projects from the angles of towers or the parapet and other parts of the building. Oxf. Gloss.BĂ€r'ton, n. p. 111The domain lands of a manor. 2. The manor itself. 3. The out-houses and yards of a house. Southey.BĂ€r'tram, n. p. 111A plant; pellitory. Bailey. Johnson.BĂ€r'wood, n. p. 111A red wood, from Angola and the Gaboon, used as a dye-wood, and also for ramrods, violin bows, and turner's work.BĂ€r'-wÄy, n. p. 111A passage into a field composed of bars made to take out of the posts. Halliwell.Ba-rĆ·'tÄ, n. p. 111(Min.) The heaviest of the earths, the specific gravity being as high as 4. It is an oxide, the basis of which is a metallic substance called barium or barytum. It is generally found in combinationâŠBa-ry'tÄs, n. p. 111(Min.) Sulphate of baryta, generally called heavy-spar.Ba-rÈłt'ic, a. p. 111Pertaining to baryta, or formed of, or containing, it. Kirwan.Ba·rĆ·'to·cĂ€l'cite, n. p. 111(Min.) A compound of carbonate of lime and carbonate of baryta, of a dark or light gray color, occurring massive or crystallized. Dana.BĂ€r'y-tĆne, a. p. 111(Mus.) Grave and deep, as a kind of male voice. 2. (Greek Gram.) Not marked with an accent on the last syllable, the grave accent being understood.BĂ€r'y-tĆne, n. p. 111(Mus.) (a.) A male voice, the compass of which partakes of the common bass and the tenor, but which does not descend as low as the one, nor rise as high as the other. (b.) The viol de-gamba, nowâŠBa-rÈł'tum, n. p. 111(Min.) A metal, the base of baryta. See BARIUM.BÄ'sal, a. p. 111Pertaining to, or constituting, the base. Basal plane (Crystallog.), one parallel to the lateral or horizontal axes.âBasal cleavage, cleavage having this direction. Dana.Ba-salt', n. p. 111(Min.) A rock of igneous origin, consisting of augite and feldspar, with grains of magnetic or titanic iron, and also bottle-green particles of olivine frequently disseminated. â It is usually of aâŠBa-salt'ic, a. p. 111Pertaining to basalt, or formed of, or containing, basalt. âBasaltic lava.â Dana.Ba-sĂĄl'ti-fĆrm, a. p. 111In the form of basalt; columnar.Ba-salt'ine, n. p. 111(Min.) 1. A variety of common hornblende, found in basalt and lavas; basaltic hornblende. [Obs.] Cleaveland. 2. A column of basalt. Kirwan.Basan, n. p. 111See BASIL.BÄáčŁ'a-nite, n. p. 111(Min.) Lydian stone, or black jasper; a variety of silicious or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish-black color, often interspersed with veins of quartz;â employed to test the purity of gold.BĂ€s-bleu', n. p. 111A literary lady; a blue-stocking.BÄs'-chÄv'a-lÄr', n. p. 111A knight inferior to a knight banneret. Smart.BÄs'ci-net, n. p. 111A light helmet, generally without a visor, so called from its resemblance to a basin. [Written also basinet and basnet.]BÄs'cule, n. p. 111The arrangement of the counterpoise in bascule bridges.BÄs'cĆ«le p. 111A kind of drawbridge, with a counterpoise, swinging up and down, and usually a pit behind it, in which the counterpoise falls or rises as the bridge rises or falls. Simmonds.BÄse, a. p. 111Low in place. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Of humble birth and low degree; mean; lowly. âThe peasants and baser people.â Spenser. 3. Illegitimate by birth. âWhy bastard? wherefore base?â Shak. 4. Low in valueâŠBÄse, n. p. 111The bottom of any thing, considered as its support, or the part of a thing on which it stands or rests; as, the base of a column. âThe base of mighty mountains.â Prescott. 2. (Arch.) (a.) The part ofâŠBÄse, v. t. p. 111To put on a base or basis; to found. Bacon. 2. To abase; to let down; to lower. [Obs.] âIf any ... based his pike.â North. This great warrior ... based his arms and ensigns of state. Holland. 3. ToâŠBÄse'-ball, n. p. 111A game of ball, so called from the bases or bounds (usually four in number) which designate the circuit which each player must make after striking the ball.BÄse'-bĆrn, a. p. 111Born of low parentage. Gay.