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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. Beef'ing, n.p. 120A bullock fit for slaughter. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
  2. 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.
  3. Beef'-steak, n.p. 120A steak or slice of beef broiled, or for broiling.
  4. Beef'-wit'ed, a.p. 120Dull in intellect; stupid; heavy-headed. [Obs.] Shak.
  5. Beef'-wood, n.p. 120A red-colored wood from Australia, used for cabinet work. Weale.
  6. Bee'-gär'den, n.p. 120A garden or inclosure to set bee hives in. Mortimer.
  7. 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.
  8. Bee'-hīve, n.p. 120A case or box intended or used as a habitation for bees.
  9. Bee'-house, n.p. 120A house for bee-hives. Ogilvie.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Bee'-māst'er, n.p. 120One who keeps bees. Mortimer.
  13. Bee'mol, n.p. 120(Mus.) A half note. “Two beemols or half notes.” Bacon.
  14. 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.
  15. Beenp. 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.
  16. 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. ☞…
  17. Beer'-house, n.p. 120A house where malt liquors are sold; an ale-house.
  18. Beer'y, a.p. 120Of, or resembling, beer; affected by beer.
  19. Beest'ings, n.p. 120See BIESTINGS.
  20. Bees'-wăx, n.p. 120The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are constructed.
  21. 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.…
  22. 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…
  23. Bee'tle, v. t.p. 120To produce ornamental figures on, by the use of the instrument called a beetle.
  24. 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.
  25. Bee'tle-brow, n.p. 120A prominent brow. Shak.
  26. Bee'tle-browed, a.p. 120Having prominent brows. Swift.
  27. Bee'tle-hēad, n.p. 120A stupid fellow. Scott.
  28. Bee'tle-hĕad'ed, a.p. 120Having a head like a beetle; dull; stupid. Shak.
  29. Bee'tle-stōck, n.p. 120The handle of a beetle. Spenser.
  30. Beet'-rād'ish or Beet'-rāve, n.p. 120The red beet (Beta vulgaris). London.
  31. 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.
  32. Be-fall′, v. t.p. 120To happen to; to occur to. “Let me know The worst that may befall me.” Shak.
  33. 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.
  34. Be-fit′, v. t.p. 120To be suitable to; to suit; to become. “That name best befits thee.” Milton.
  35. Be-flăt'ter, v. t.p. 120To flatter unduly or offensively.
  36. Be-flow'er, v. t.p. 120To besprinkle or scatter over with flowers, or with pustules. Hobbes.
  37. Be-fōam', v. t.p. 120To cover with foam. [Rare.] Dryden.
  38. Be-fōgged', a.p. 120Involved in a fog. W. Irving.
  39. Be-fōol', v. t.p. 120To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive. This story of Ursula was contrived to befool credulous men. Fuller.
  40. Be-fōre', prep.p. 120In front of; preceding in space; as, to stand before the fire, before the house. “Who shall go before them?” Milton. 2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previous to; in order. Before Abraham was, I…
  41. Be-fōre', adv.p. 121On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front. The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron. xiii. 14. 2. In time preceding; earlier; hitherto; already. You tell me, mother, what I knew…
  42. Be-fore'-cit/ed, a.p. 121Cited in a preceding part.
  43. Be-fōre'hānd, adv.p. 121In a state of anticipation or preoccupation;—often followed by with. Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton. The last-cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison. 2.…
  44. Be-fōre’hānd, a.p. 121In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded. “Rich and much beforehand.” Bacon.
  45. Be·före'-mên/tioned, a.p. 121Mentioned before.
  46. Be-fōre'time, adv.p. 121Of old time; formerly; aforetime. The children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 2 Kings xiii. 5.
  47. Be-fort'ūne, v. t.p. 121To happen to; to betide; to befall. I wish all good befortune you. Shak.
  48. Be-foul', v. t.p. 121To make foul; to soil.
  49. Be-friend', v. t.p. 121To act as a friend to; to favor; to aid, benefit, or countenance. “By the darkness befriended.” Longfellow.
  50. Be-friend'ment, n.p. 121The act of befriending.
  51. Be-frĭnge', v. t.p. 121To furnish with a fringe; to adorn as with fringe. Fuller.
  52. Be-fûrred', a.p. 121Covered with fur.
  53. Bēg, n.p. 121The governor of a town, city, or district in Turkey and some other parts of the East; a bey.
  54. Bēg, v. t.p. 121[Cf. A-S. biddan, O. S. biddian, Goth. bidjan, Icel. bidia, O. H. Ger. bitjan, O. Fries. bidia, bidda, Sw. bedja, to beg, the letter d having perhaps been dropped, and i or j changed into g. But it…
  55. Bĕg, v. i.p. 121To ask alms or charity; to practice begging; to live by asking alms. I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.
  56. Bē'gā or Bīg'gāh, n.p. 121In Bengal, a land measure equal to about a third of an acre; 1600 square yards. Malcom.
  57. Be-gĕm', v. t.p. 121To adorn with gems, or as with gems. “Begemmed with dew-drops.” W. Scott. Those lonely realms bright garden isles begem. Shelley.
  58. Be-gĕt', v. t.p. 121To procreate, as a father or sire; to generate; to get. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget. Milton. 2. To produce as an effect; to cause. “Love is begot by fancy.” Granville.
  59. Be-gĕt'ter, n.p. 121One who begets or procreates; a father.
  60. Bĕg'ga-ble, a.p. 121Capable of being begged. Butler.