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.
Bĕd'-site, n. p. 120A recess in a room for a bed. Of the three bed-rooms, two have fire-places, and all are of fair size, with windows and bed-site well placed. (Quart. Rev.)Bĕd'stăff, n. p. 120A wooden pin anciently inserted on the sides of bedsteads, to keep the clothes from slipping on either side. B. Jonson.Bĕd'stĕad, n. p. 120A frame for supporting a bed.Bĕd'-stēps, n. pl. p. 120Steps for mounting up to a bed of unusual height.Bĕd'-strāw, n. p. 120<br>1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon.<br>2. (Bot.) An odoriferous plant, a species of Galium (G. verum);—so called from a custom formerly practiced of strewing beds with it. [See STRAW, v. t. To strew…Bĕd′/swĕrv-er, n. p. 120One who swerves from his bed; that is, one who is false and unfaithful to the marriage vow. Shak.Bĕd'-tĭck, n. p. 120A case of linen or cotton cloth, used for inclosing the feathers or other materials of a bed. Booth.Bĕd'-time, n. p. 120The time to go to rest; the usual hour of going to bed. Shak.Be-dúck’, v. t. p. 120To duck; to put the head under water; to immerse. “Deep himself beducked.” Spenser.Be-düng’, v. t. p. 120To cover with dung. Bp. Hall.Be-düst', v. t. p. 120To sprinkle, soil, or cover with dust. Sherwood.Bĕd'ward, adv. p. 120Toward bed.Be-dwarf', v. t. p. 120To make a dwarf of; to stunt or hinder the growth of. Donne.Bēd'work, n. p. 120Work done in bed, without toil of the hands, or with ease. Shak.Be-dye′, v. t. p. 120To dye or stain. “With Sarazin blood bedyed.” Spenser.Bee, p. p. p. 120of be, used for been.Bee, n. p. 120(Entom.) A four-winged insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apis. There are many genera and species; the common honey-bee is the Apis mellifica, and lives in swarms, each of which has its own…Bee'-brĕad, n. p. 120A brown, bitter substance, the pollen of flowers collected by bees, as food for their young.Beech, n. p. 120(Bot.) A tree of the genus Fagus. It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears a triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The F. sylvatica is the European species, and…Beech’en, a. p. 120Consisting of the wood or bark of the beech; belonging to the beech. “Plain beechen vessels.” Dryden.Beech'-māst, n. p. 120The fruit or nuts of the beech.Beech'-oil, n. p. 120Oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech-tree.Beech'-tree, n. p. 120The beech.Beef'-ēat'er, n. p. 120(Ornith.) A bird that feeds on bees;—a name given to different species of Merops, a genus of fissirostral passerine birds, of which the M. apiaster of Europe is remarkable for the brilliancy of its…Beef, n. p. 120An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, B. taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full-grown state. [In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural…Beef, a. p. 120Pertaining to, or consisting of the flesh of, the ox, or bovine animals. Swift.Beef'-eat'er, n. p. 120One that eats beef; hence, a large, well-fed person. 2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England. 3. (Ornith.) A South African bird of the genus Buphaga, that feeds on the larvae or maggots hatched…Beef'ing, n. p. 120A bullock fit for slaughter. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Bee'-flow'er, n. p. 120(Bot.) An orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (O. apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects.Beef'-steak, n. p. 120A steak or slice of beef broiled, or for broiling.Beef'-wit'ed, a. p. 120Dull in intellect; stupid; heavy-headed. [Obs.] Shak.Beef'-wood, n. p. 120A red-colored wood from Australia, used for cabinet work. Weale.Bee'-gär'den, n. p. 120A garden or inclosure to set bee hives in. Mortimer.Bee'-glūe, n. p. 120A soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells;—called also propolis.Bee'-hīve, n. p. 120A case or box intended or used as a habitation for bees.Bee'-house, n. p. 120A house for bee-hives. Ogilvie.Beeld or Bield, n. p. 120A place of shelter; protection; refuge. [Scottish and Prov. Eng.] This bosom soft shall be thy beeld. Fairfax. The random bield o' clod or stane. Burns.Bee'-line, n. p. 120The shortest and most direct line from one place to another, like that of a bee through the air. “A bee-line for the brig.” Kane.Bee'-māst'er, n. p. 120One who keeps bees. Mortimer.Bee'mol, n. p. 120(Mus.) A half note. “Two beemols or half notes.” Bacon.Bee'-mōth, n. p. 120(Entom.) A moth of the genus Galleria, from whose eggs are produced larvæ which occasion great mischief in bee-hives. Langstroth.Been p. 120The past participle of be. In old authors it is also the present tense plural of be. Assembled been a senate grave and stout. Fairfax.Beer, n. p. 120A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, with hops and other bitter flavoring matters. 2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, &c. ☞…Beer'-house, n. p. 120A house where malt liquors are sold; an ale-house.Beer'y, a. p. 120Of, or resembling, beer; affected by beer.Beest'ings, n. p. 120See BIESTINGS.Bees'-wăx, n. p. 120The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are constructed.Beet, n. p. 120(Bot.) A plant of the family Chenopodium, and genus Beta, having a succulent root much used for food, and also for making sugar. The two kinds most commonly cultivated in gardens are the red (B.…Bee'tle (bē'tl), n. p. 120A heavy mallet or wooden hammer, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, &c. 2. (Zool.) Any insect of the order Coleoptera, characterized by having four wings, the outer pair being stiff cases for…Bee'tle, v. t. p. 120To produce ornamental figures on, by the use of the instrument called a beetle.Bee'tle, v. i. p. 120To hang or extend out; to be prominent; to jut. “The cliff that beetles o’er his base.” Shak. Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime. Wordsworth.Bee'tle-brow, n. p. 120A prominent brow. Shak.Bee'tle-browed, a. p. 120Having prominent brows. Swift.Bee'tle-hēad, n. p. 120A stupid fellow. Scott.Bee'tle-hĕad'ed, a. p. 120Having a head like a beetle; dull; stupid. Shak.Bee'tle-stōck, n. p. 120The handle of a beetle. Spenser.Beet'-rād'ish or Beet'-rāve, n. p. 120The red beet (Beta vulgaris). London.Beeve, n. p. 120Any bovine quadruped, a bull, ox, or cow. They would knock down the first beeve they met with. W. Irving. ☞ Rarely used in the singular. See BEEF, n., No. 1.Be-fall′, v. t. p. 120To happen to; to occur to. “Let me know The worst that may befall me.” Shak.Be-fall′, v. i. p. 120To come to pass; to happen. I have revealed this discord which befell. Milton. ☞ To befall of is obsolete and not legitimate.