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.
Bär'y-tōne, 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, now…Ba-rȳ'tum, n. p. 111(Min.) A metal, the base of baryta. See BARIUM.Bā'sal, a. p. 111Pertaining to, or constituting, the base. Basal plane (Crystallog.), one parallel to the lateral or horizontal axes.—Basal 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. ☞ It is usually of a…Ba-salt'ic, a. p. 111Pertaining to basalt, or formed of, or containing, basalt. “Basaltic lava.” Dana.Ba-sál'ti-fōrm, 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.Bāṣ'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;— employed to test the purity of gold.Bäs-bleu', n. p. 111A literary lady; a blue-stocking.Bās'-chēv'a-lēr', n. p. 111A knight inferior to a knight banneret. Smart.Băs'ci-net, n. p. 111A light helmet, generally without a visor, so called from its resemblance to a basin. [Written also basinet and basnet.]Bās'cule, n. p. 111The arrangement of the counterpoise in bascule bridges.Bās'cūle 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.Bāse, a. p. 111Low in place. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Of humble birth and low degree; mean; lowly. “The peasants and baser people.” Spenser. 3. Illegitimate by birth. “Why bastard? wherefore base?” Shak. 4. Low in value…Bāse, 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. “The base of mighty mountains.” Prescott. 2. (Arch.) (a.) The part of…Bāse, v. t. p. 111To put on a base or basis; to found. Bacon. 2. To abase; to let down; to lower. [Obs.] “If any ... based his pike.” North. This great warrior ... based his arms and ensigns of state. Holland. 3. To…Bāse'-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.Bāse'-bōrn, a. p. 111Born of low parentage. Gay.Bāse'-cōurt, n. p. 111The back yard, opposed to the chief court in front of a house; the farm-yard. Shak. 2. (Law.) An inferior court of law that is not of record. Jacobs.Bāsed, a. p. 111Wearing, as a garment. [Obs.] “Based in lawny velvet.” Hall.Bāse'less, a. p. 111Without a base; having no foundation, or support. “The baseless fabric of a vision.” Shak.Bāse'-līne, n. p. 111A main line taken as a base of operations, and on the correctness of which the whole depends; as in surveying, in military operations, in perspective, &c. 2. A line traced round a cannon at rear of…Bāse'ly, adv. p. 111In a base manner; meanly; dishonorably. 2. Illegitimately; in bastardy. Knolles.Bāse'ment, n. p. 111(Arch.) The lower story of a building, whether above or below the ground. Gwilt. Gables projecting over the basement. Longfellow.Bāse'-mind'ed, a. p. 111Of a low spirit or mind; mean.Bā'sen, a. p. 111Extended as with astonishment. [Obs.] “With big looks basen wide.” Spenser.Bāse'ness, n. p. 111The quality of being base or low; vileness; meanness. “Your soul's above the baseness of distrust.” Dryden. 2. The quality of being of little comparative value; inferiority. “The baseness of his…Bās'e-net, n. p. 111A helmet. See BASNET. Spenser.Bāse'-plāte, n. p. 111The foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the steam-engine; the bed-plate. Weale.Bāse'-rĭng, n. p. 111(Mil.) A projecting band of metal adjoining the base of a breech engine. [See Illust. of Cannon.]Bāse'-spir'it-ed, a. p. 111Low in courage; mean; cowardly; contemptible.Bāse'-string, n. p. 111The string of an instrument which produces the lowest note. Shak.Bāse'-vī'ol, n. p. 111See BASS-VIOL.Bāsh, v. i. p. 111To be affected with shame; to be ashamed. [Obs.] Spenser.Ba-shaw', n. p. 111A title of honor in the Turkish dominions;—appropriately, the title of the prime vizier, but given to viceroys or governors of provinces, and to generals and other men of distinction. [Now usually…Bāsh'ful, a. p. 111Having a downcast look; hence, very modest, or modest to excess; sheepish. Shak.Bāsh'ful·ly, adv. p. 111In a bashful manner.Bāsh'ful·ness, n. p. 111The quality of being bashful; excessive or extreme modesty. Syn.—BASHFULNESS, MODESTY, DIFFIDENCE, SHYNESS. Modesty arises from a low estimate of ourselves; bashfulness is an abashment or agitation…Bāsh'less, a. p. 111Shameless; unblushing. [Obs.] Spenser.Bās'hyle, n. p. 111(Chem.) See BASYLE.Bā'sic, a. p. 111(Chem.) 1. Relating to a base; performing the office of a base in a salt. Ure. 2. Having the base in excess, or the amount of the base atomically greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in…Bā'si-fi'er, n. p. 112(Chem.) That which converts into a salifiable base.Bā'si-fȳ, v. t. p. 112(Chem.) To convert into a salifiable base.Bās'i-gyn'i-ŭm, n. p. 112(Bot.) The pedicel on which the ovary of certain flowers, as the passion-flower, is seated. Lindley.Băs'il, n. p. 112The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. Grier.Bā'sil, v. t. p. 112To grind or form the edge of to an angle. Moxon.Bā'sil, n. p. 112(Bot.) A plant of the genus Ocymum, all the species of which are natives of warm climates. They are fragrant aromatic plants, and one species, the sweet basil (O. basilicum), is much used in cookery…Bā'sil, n. p. 112The skin of a sheep tanned.Bās'ī-lar or Bās'ī-la-ry, a. p. 112Relating to, or situated at, the base. 2. (Anat.) Of, or pertaining to, certain parts which seem to serve as bases to others, as the sacrum and sphenoid bones. Dunglison.Ba-sĭl'ic or Ba-sĭl'i-ca, n. p. 112Originally, the palace of a king; but afterward an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for…Ba-sĭl'ĭc or Ba-sĭl'ĭc-al, a. p. 112In the manner of a public edifice or cathedral. 2. (Anat.) Pertaining to certain parts, which the ancients supposed to have an important function in the animal economy, as the middle vein of the…Ba-sĭl'ie-an, a. p. 112Relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical. There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were in the basilican form. Milman.Ba-sĭl'ĭ-cŏn, n. p. 112(Med.) An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive-oil. Dunglison.Bās'ī-lisk, n. p. 112A fabulous serpent, called a cockatrice, and said to be produced from a cock's egg brooded by a serpent. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its…Bās'il-weed, n. p. 112(Bot.) Wild basil; a plant of the genus Clinopodium. Muhlenberg.Bā'sin, n. p. 112A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses. 2. Any hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay. Pope. 3. A hollow vessel of different…Bā'sined, a. p. 112Inclosed in a basin. “Basined rivers.” Young.Bās'i-net, n. p. 112See BASCINET.Bā'sis or BĀ'sēs, n. p. 112[Lat. basis, Gr. βάσις. See BASE. 1. The foundation of any thing; that on which a thing rests. Dryden. 2. (Arch.) The pedestal of a pillar or shaft. “If no basis bear my rising name.” Pope. 3. The…