Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Bēam, n. p. 116Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use. 2. One of the principal horizontal timbers used in buildings, ships, &c. The beams of a vessel are strong…Bēam, v. t. p. 116To send forth; to emit;—followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light. God beams this light into man's understanding. South.Bēam, v. i. p. 116To emit rays of light, or beams; to shine. He beamed, the day-star of the rising age. Trumbull.Bēam'-bird, n. p. 116(Ornith.) A small European bird, so called because it often builds its nest on the projecting end of a beam or rafter in a building;—also named the spotted fly-catcher. It is the Muscicapa grisola of…Bēamed, a. p. 116Having all its antlers put forth, as the head of a stag. Booth.Bēam'-ĕn'ġine, n. p. 116A steam-engine having a working-beam to transmit power, in distinction from one which has its piston-rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel-shaft.Bēam'-fēath'er, n. p. 116One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk. Booth.Bēam-fill'ing, n. p. 116The filling in of mason-work between beams or joists. Francis.Bēam'less, a. p. 116Emitting no rays of light. “The beamless sun.” Mallet.Beam′let, n. p. 116A small beam of light. Drake.Bēam'-tree, n. p. 116(Bot.) A tree (Pyrus aria) having very tough wood, used for beams. London.Beām'y, a. p. 116Emitting rays of light; radiant; shining. “Beamy gold.” Tickell. 2. Resembling a beam in size and weight; massy. “His . . . beamy spear.” Dryden. 3. Having horns, or antlers. “Beamy stags in toils…Bēan, n. p. 116(Bot.) A well known leguminous plant, and its seed, of many varieties, the principal species being the Faba vulgaris.Bēan'-cā'per, n. p. 116(Bot.) A deciduous plant of warm climates, generally with fleshy leaves and flowers of a yellow or whitish-yellow color, of the genus Zygophyllum. London.Bēan'-ēod, n. p. 116A small vessel used in the rivers of Portugal. It is sharp forward, having its stem bent above into a great curve. Encyc. Brit.Bēan'-fly, n. p. 117A beautiful fly, of a pale purple color, found on bean flowers, produced from a maggot called Mida. Encyc. Brit.Bēan'-goose, n. p. 117(Ornith.) A species of goose (Anser segetum), probably so called from its predilection for beans and other kinds of pulse. P. Cyc.Bēan'-trē'foil, n. p. 117(Bot.) A small tree of the genus Anagyris, which bears a pod curved inward at its extremity. Loudon.Beâr, v. t. p. 117To support or sustain; to hold up. 2. To support and remove or carry; to convey. Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens. 1 Kings v. 15. I'll bear your logs the while. Shak. 3. To…Beâr, v. i. p. 117To suffer, as with pain. [Rare.] But man is born to bear. Pope. 2. To endure with patience; to be patient. [Rare.] I can not, can not bear. Dryden. 3. To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in…Bēar, n. p. 117A bier. [Obs.] Spenser.Beār, n. p. 117(Zoöl.) A wild plantigrade quadruped of the genus Ursus. It belongs to the carnivorous order, but lives mostly on plants and fruits. Among the species are the brown bear of Europe (Ursus arctos), the…Bēar or Bēre, n. p. 117(Bot.) A species of barley (Hordeum hexastichon) having six rows in the ear, cultivated in Scotland and the north of England;—called also big. London.Beâr'a-ble, a. p. 117Capable of being borne or endured; tolerable. Ed. Rev.Beâr'a-bly, adv. p. 117In a bearable manner.Beâr'-bĕr-ry, n. p. 117(Bot.) A trailing plant of the heath family (Arbutus uva-ursi), having leaves which are tonic and astringent;—called also trailing arbutus. London.Beār'-bīnd, n. p. 117(Bot.) A genus of plants of the Convolvulus family, allied to the bind-weed. London.Beār'-clōth or Beār'ing-clōth, n. p. 117A cloth in which a new-born child is covered when carried to church to be baptized. Shak.Beard, n. p. 117The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts of the face, chiefly of male adults. 2. (Zoöl.) (a.) The long hairs about the lower part of the face or head in animals, as the beard of the…Beard, v. t. p. 117To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard, in contempt or anger. 2. To oppose to the face; to set at defiance. I have been bearded by boys. More.Bēard'ed, a. p. 117Having a beard, as a man. 2. Having long, stiff hairs; barbate. "Bearded groves of ears." Milton. 3. Having sharp jags or barbs. "The bearded steel." Dryden.Bēard'-grāss, n. p. 117(Bot.) A plant of different species of the genus Andropogon.Bēard'less, a. p. 117Without a beard; not having arrived to puberty or manhood. 2. Destitute of an awn; as, beardless wheat.