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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Bāsk, v. i.p. 112To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat. Basks in the glare, and stems the tepid wave. Goldsmith.
  2. Bāsk, v. t.p. 112To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat. Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton.
  3. Bās'ket, n.p. 112A vessel made of twigs, rushes, splinters, or other flexible things, interwoven. “Rude baskets . . . woven of the flexile willow.” Dyer. 2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket will contain…
  4. Bās'ket, v. t.p. 112To put in a basket. Cowper.
  5. Bās'ket-fish, n.p. 112(Ichth.) A star-fish of the genus Astrophyton. It has five rays issuing from an angular body, and dividing into innumerable curled filaments.
  6. Bās'ket-hilt, n.p. 112The hilt of a sword with a covering wrought like basket-work, to protect the hand. Hudibras.
  7. Bās'ket-hilt'ed, a.p. 112Having a hilt of basket-work.
  8. Bās'ket-ry, n.p. 112Baskets taken collectively, or in general.
  9. Bāsk'ing-shārk, n.p. 112(Ichth.) The largest species of shark (Selache maxima), so called from its habit of lying much on the surface of the water, basking in the sun. See SHARK.
  10. Bās'lard, n.p. 112A short sword or dagger, worn in the fifteenth century. Mir. for Mag.
  11. Bās'net, n.p. 112See BASCINET.
  12. Bā'son, n.p. 112See BASIN.
  13. Bāsque, a.p. 112Relating to Biscay, or its people, or their language.
  14. Bāsque, n.p. 112A part of a lady's dress, resembling a jacket with a short skirt.
  15. Bās'quish, a.p. 112Pertaining to the country, people, or language of Biscay; Basque. [Obs.] Browne.
  16. Bäs-re-lief’, n.p. 112See BASS-RELIEF.
  17. Bāss, n. sing. & pl.p. 112(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Labrax. ☞ One species, called also sea-dace, or sea-wolf (L. lupus), is found on the British coast, and is from twelve to eighteen inches in length, dusky blue on the…
  18. Bāss, n.p. 112(Bot.) The tiel-tree (Tilia glabra), or its bark, which is used for making mats, &c. See BAST. 2. (Pron. bäs.) A hassock or thick mat on which persons kneel at church.
  19. Bāss, n.p. 112(Mus.) The lowest part in a musical composition. [Written also base.]
  20. Bāss, v. t.p. 112To sound in a deep tone. Shak.
  21. Bās'sā, n.p. 112See BASHAW.
  22. Bās'set or Bas-sēt', n.p. 112A game at cards, resembling the modern faro, said to have been invented at Venice by a nobleman, who was banished for the invention. Some dress, some dance, some play, not to forget Your piquet…
  23. Bās'set, n.p. 112(Geol.) The emergence of strata at the surface; the outcrop. Lyell.
  24. Bās'set, v. i.p. 112(Geol.) To incline upward so as to appear at the surface; to crop out; as, a vein of coal bassets.
  25. Bās'set, a.p. 112Inclined upward; as the basset edge of strata. Lyell.
  26. Bās'set-hōrn, n.p. 112A musical instrument blown with a reed, and resembling a clarionet, but of much greater compass, embracing nearly four octaves. P. Cyc.
  27. Bās'set-ing, n.p. 112The upward direction of a vein in a mine, or of a stratum in geology. Whewell.
  28. Bas-sĕt'to, n.p. 112(Mus.) A tenor or small bass-viol.
  29. Bäss'-hŏrn, n.p. 112(Mus.) A wind instrument of low tone, deeper than the bassoon. Moore.
  30. Băs'si-net, n.p. 112A wicker basket with a covering or hood over one end, in which young children are placed as in a cradle. Encyc. Dom. Econ.
  31. Băs'so, n.p. 112(Mus.) (a.) The bass or lowest part; as, to sing basso. (b.) One who sings this part.
  32. Bäs'so-rĭ-lĭē'vop. 112See BASS-RELIEF.
  33. Băs'sock, n.p. 112— The same as BASS, a mat.
  34. Bas-sōon', n.p. 112(Mus.) A wind instrument of the reed kind, furnished with eleven holes, which are stopped by the fingers, as in flutes. ☞ Its compass comprehends three octaves. For convenience of carriage it is…
  35. Bas-sōon'ist, n.p. 112A performer on the bassoon. Busby.
  36. Bäs'so-rīne, n.p. 112A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of gum tragacanth, and some gum resins. (Ure.)
  37. Bäss'-re-lief', n.p. 112Sculpture, whose figures do not stand out far from the ground on which they are formed. See RELIEF.
  38. Bäss'-vī'ol, n.p. 112(Mus.) A stringed instrument used for playing the bass or gravest part; the violoncello.
  39. Bäss'-wōod, n.p. 112(Bot.) A species of tree resembling the lime or linden of Europe (Tilia Americana); whitewood. See BASS. Bartlett.
  40. Bäst, n.p. 112The inner bark of the lime-tree, and hence matting, cordage, &c., made of the bark of the linden or lime-tree. 2. A thick mat or hassock for persons to kneel on at church. See BASS.
  41. Băs'tăp. 112(Mus.) Enough, or stop: — a term used by the leader of a band to stop a performer. Moore.
  42. Băs'tard, n.p. 112A natural child; a child begotten and born out of wedlock; an illegitimate or spurious child; one born of an illicit union. ☞ By the civil and canon laws, and by the laws of many of the United…
  43. Băs'tard, a.p. 112Begotten and born out of lawful matrimony; illegitimate. Shak. 2. Lacking in genuineness; spurious, false; adulterate; — applied to things which resemble those which are genuine, but are really not…
  44. Bās'tard, v. t.p. 113To make or determine to be a bastard. Bacon.
  45. Bās'tard-īce, n.p. 113Bastardy. [Obs.] Chapman.
  46. Bās'tard-īzm, n.p. 113The state of a bastard. [Obs.]
  47. Bās'tard-īze, v. t.p. 113To make or prove to be a bastard; to convict of being a bastard; to declare or decide legally to be illegitimate. The law is so indulgent as not to bastardize the child, if born, though not begotten…
  48. Bās'tard-ly, adv.p. 113In the manner of a bastard; spuriously. [Obs.] Donne.
  49. Bās'tard-wīng, n.p. 113(Ornith.) Three, four, or five quill-like feathers, placed on a small joint, rising from the middle part of the wing, and corresponding to the thumb in some mammalia.
  50. Bās'tar-dy, n.p. 113A state of being a bastard, or begotten and born out of lawful wedlock; illegitimacy. They blot my name with hateful bastardy. Drayton.
  51. Bāste, v. t.p. 113To beat with a stick; to cudgel. One man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his back. Pepys. 2. To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meat in roasting.…
  52. Bāste, v. t.p. 113[O. Fr. bastir, now bâtir, Sp. bastear, It. imbastire, Sp. embastar, from O. H. Ger. bestan, to sew, M. H. Ger. besten, to bind, buost, rope, from O. H. Ger. bast. See BAST. 1. To sew slightly, or…
  53. Bas-tīle', n.p. 113Originally, a temporary wooden tower used in warfare; hence, any tower or fortification. To fight . . . along the high bastiles . . . which overtopped the walls. Holland. The name has been…
  54. Bās'ti-mēn'to, n.p. 113A ship. [Obs.] Glover.
  55. Bās'ti-nāde' or Bās'ti-nā'do, n.p. 113A sound beating with a stick or cudgel; specifically, a form of punishment among the Turks, Chinese, and others, consisting in beating an offender on the soles of his feet.
  56. Bās'ti-nāde' or Bās'ti-nā'do, v. t.p. 113To beat with a stick or cudgel, especially on the soles of the feet.
  57. Bāstion, n.p. 113(Fort.) A part of the main inclosure which projects toward the exterior, consisting of the faces and the flanks. Two adjacent bastions are connected by the curtain, which joins the flank of one with…
  58. Băs'tioned, a.p. 113Furnished with a bastion. Holmes.
  59. Bās'to, n.p. 113The ace of clubs at quadrille. Pope.
  60. Bās'ton, n.p. 113A staff or cudgel used in tournaments. [Obs.] “To fight with blunt bastons.” Holland. 2. (Her.) A staff or cudgel generally borne as a mark of bastardy, and properly containing one eighth in breadth…