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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Baw'sin or Baw'son, n. p. 115A badger. [Obs.] B. Jonson. 2. A large, unwieldy person. [Obs.]Bax-tē'ri-an, a. p. 115Pertaining to Baxter, a celebrated English divine.Bāy, a. p. 115Red or reddish, inclining to a chestnut color;—applied to the color of horses.Bāy (bā), n. p. 115(Geog.) An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character. ☞ The name is not used with much precision, and is often applied to large tracts of water, around which…Bāy, n. p. 115A berry, particularly of the laurel. [Obs.] 2. The laurel-tree; hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of…Bāy, n. p. 115A state of being obliged to face an antagonist when escape has become impossible. I suppose he may well hold you at the bay. Ridley. The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts.…Bāy, v. i. p. 115To bark, as a dog at his game. The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed. Dryden. 2. [From bay, an inlet of the sea.] To encompass or inclose; to embay. [Obs.] Shak. 3. [See BATHE.] To bathe.…Bāy, v. t. p. 115To bark at; to follow with barking; as, to bay the boar. Shak.Bā-ya-dēre', n. p. 115A female dancer in the East Indies. Ogilvie.Bāy'ard, n. p. 115[O. Fr. bayard, bay horse, from bay and the termination ard, q. v.; Pr. baiart, L. Lat. baiardus. See BAY, a.] Properly, a bay horse, but often any horse. Blind bayard moves the mill. Philips. 2. [O.…Bāy'ard-ly, a. p. 115Blind; stupid. [Obs.] “A formal and bayardly round of duties.” Goodman.Bāy'ber-ry, n. p. 115(Bot.) (a.) The fruit of the bay-tree, or Laurus nobilis. (b.) The fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle), and the plant itself.Bāy'ber-ry-tál'lōw, n. p. 115A fragrant green wax obtained from the bayberry, or wax myrtle;—called also myrtle-wax.Bāyed, a. p. 115Having bays. “The large bayed barn.” Drayton.Bāy'o-net, n. p. 115(Mil.) A short, pointed instrument of iron, or broad dagger, formerly with a handle fitted to the bore of a gun, where it was inserted for use after the soldier had fired; but now made with a ring…Bāy'o-net, v. t. p. 115To stab with a bayonet. 2. To compel or drive by the bayonet. “To bayonet us into submission.” Burke.Bāy'ou, n. p. 115The outlet of a lake; a channel for water. [Southern States.]Bāy'-rūm, n. p. 115A fragrant liquor obtained by distilling the leaves of the bay-tree.Bāys or Bāyze, n. p. 115A sort of coarse woolen cloth. See BAIZE.Bāy'-salt, n. p. 115Salt which has been obtained from sea-water, by evaporation in shallow pits or basins, by the heat of the sun. Bacon.Bāy'-tree, n. p. 115A species of laurel; Laurus nobilis.Bāy'-wīn'dōw, n. p. 115(Arch.) A window forming a bay or recess in a room, and projecting outward from the wall, either in a rectangular, polygonal, or semicircular form;—often corruptly called a bow-window. Oxf. Gloss.Bāy'-yārn, n. p. 115The same as woolen yarn. Chambers.Ba-zāar', n. p. 115Ba-zār' p. 115In the East, an exchange, marketplace, or assemblage of shops where goods are exposed to sale. 2. A spacious hall or suite of rooms fitted up with counters or stands for the sale of goods; a fair.Bdĕll'ium, n. p. 115A gummy, resinous exudation from an Oriental tree or shrub. ☞ It is externally of a dark brown color, internally clear, and not unlike glue in appearance, slightly bitterish and pungent in taste, and…Bdel-lōm'e-ter, n. p. 115(Med.) A cupping glass to which are attached a scarificator and an ex- hausting syringe. Dunglison.Bē, v. i. p. 115To exist actually, or in the world of fact. To be contents his natural desire. Pope. Such givers as give single to take away sixfold, be to our enemies? Milton. To be, or not to be, that is the…Bē p. 116a prefix, as in because, before, beset, bedeck, become, is originally the same word as by: A-S. be and bi or big, O. S. be and bi, O. H. Ger. bi, pi, and pi, M. H. Ger. be and bi, N. H. Ger. be and…Bēach, n. p. 116The shore of the sea, or of a lake, which is washed by the tide and waves; especially a sandy or pebbly shore; the strand.Bēach, v. t. p. 116To run upon a beach; as, to beach a ship.Bēach'-cōmb'er, n. p. 116A long wave rolling in from the ocean. [Am.]Bēached, a. p. 116Having a beach, or bordered by a beach. “The beached verge of the salt flood.” Shak. 2. Driven on a beach; stranded; as, the ship is beached.Bēach'y, a. p. 116Having a beach or beaches. Shak.Bēa'con, n. p. 116A signal-fire to notify the approach of an enemy. No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar. Gay. 2. (Naut.) A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal…Bēa'con, v. t. p. 116To give light to as a beacon; to light up; to illumine. “That beacons the darkness of heaven.” Campbell.Bēa'con-age, n. p. 116Money paid for the maintenance of a beacon. Blackstone.Bēa'con-fire, n. p. 116A fire lighted up as a signal; a signal-fire. Prescott.Bēa'con-less, a. p. 116Having no beacon.Bēad, n. p. 116A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used to count prayers, as by Roman Catholics and the Turks, whence the phrases to tell beads, to bid beads, &c., meaning…Bēad, v. t. p. 116To ornament or distinguish with beads or beading. ’Tis beaded with bubbles. H. Smith.Bēad'-house or Bēdel-house, n. p. 116A dwelling-place for poor religious persons, raised near the church in which the founder was interred, and for whose soul they were required to pray; an alms-house. Britton.Bēad'ing, n. p. 116(Arch.) A molding in imitation of beads. Simmonds.Bēa'dle, n. p. 116A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites persons to appear and answer;—called also an apparitor or summoner. 2. An officer in a university, who precedes public processions of…Bea'dle-ship, n. p. 116The office of a beadle. A. Wood.Bēad'-mōld or Bēad'-mōuld, n. p. 116A species of fungus or mold, the stems of which consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to resemble a string of beads.Bēad'-proof, a. p. 116Of such a degree of strength that, upon being shaken, a crown of bubbles will stand, for some time, on the surface;—said of spirituous liquors.Bēad'-rōll, n. p. 116(Rom. Cath. Church.) A catalogue of persons, for the rest of whose souls a certain number of prayers are to be said or counted off on the heads of a chaplet; hence, a catalogue in general. “Fame’s…Bēads'-măn, n. p. 116A man employed in praying, generally in praying for another. Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beads-man for ever unto Almighty God. Fuller.Bēads'-wom/an, n. p. 116A praying woman; a woman who resides in an alms-house. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Bēad'-tōol, n. p. 116A cutting tool used in turning, &c., having an edge curved so as to make beads or beading. Ogilvie.Bēad'-tree, n. p. 116(Bot.) A tree of the genus Melia, the best-known species of which (M. azedarach) has blue flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are said to be poisonous. London.Bēa'gle, n. p. 116A small hound, or hunting dog, formerly used in hunting hares.Bēak, n. p. 116(Nat. Hist.) (a.) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny substance, either straight or curving, and ending in a point. (b.) A similar bill in other animals, as the turtles, &c. (c.) The…Bēak, v. t. p. 116(Cock-fighting.) To take hold of with the beak. Wright.Bēaked, a. p. 116Having a beak; ending in a point like a beak. “Each beaked promontory.” Milton. 2. (Nat. Hist.) (a.) Furnished with a process like a beak; rostrate. (b.) Having a long beak-like mouth, like some…Bēak'er, n. p. 116A large drinking-cup or vessel. Couper.Bēak'-i-ron, n. p. 116A bickern; an iron tool, ending in a point, used by blacksmiths. Ash.Bēal, n. p. 116(Med.) A small inflammatory tumor; a pustule.Bēal, v. i. p. 116To gather matter; to swell and come to a head, as a pimple.