Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Bĕnd'a-ble, a. p. 125Capable of being bent or incurvated. Sherwood.Bĕnd'er, n. p. 125The person who bends or makes crooked. 2. An instrument used for bending. 3. A spree or frolic; a jollification. [Amer. and vulgar.] Bartlett.Běnd'-leath'er, n. p. 125The best quality of sole-leather. Halliwell.Bĕnd'let, n. p. 125(Her.) A little bend. Burke.Bĕn'dy, a. p. 125(Her.) Divided by bends into four, six, or more parts, diagonally; — said of an escutcheon. Burke.Bĕn'e, n. p. 125(Bot.) The Sesamum orientale, or oil plant;— popularly so called. See BENNE. Mease.Be-nēaped', a. p. 125(Naut.) See NEAPED.Be-nēath’, prep. p. 125Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under. Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies. Pope. 2. (Fig.) Under, as from the effect of pressure. Our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.…Be-nēath' or Be-nĕath', adv. p. 125In a lower place. “The earth which you take from beneath will be barren.” Mortimer. 2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region; as, in heaven above, or in earth beneath. Syn.—See BELOW.Bĕn'e-diet or Bĕn'e-dick, n. p. 125A married man, or a man newly married.Bĕn'e-dĭet, a. p. 125Having mild and salubrious qualities. [Obs.] Bacon.Bĕn'e-dĭct'ine, a. p. 125Pertaining to the order of monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.Bēn'e-dict'ine, n. p. 125(Eccl. Hist.) One of an order of monks, known from the color of their dress as Black Friars, established by St. Benedict in the sixth century. This order was introduced into the United States in…Bĕn'e-dĭc'tion, n. p. 125The act of blessing. 2. Blessing, prayer, or kind wishes uttered in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness; thanks; expression of gratitude; specifically, the…Bĕn'e-dĭc'tion-a-ry, n. p. 125A collected series of benedictions. [Obs.] “The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold.” Richardson.Bēn'e-dict'ive, a. p. 125Tending to bless; giving a blessing. Gauden.Bēn'e-dict'o-ry, a. p. 125Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer. Theodoret.Bĕn'e-făc'tion, n. p. 125The act of conferring a benefit. Johnson. 2. A benefit conferred, especially a charitable donation. Atterbury.Bēn'e-fā'ctor, n. p. 125One who confers a benefit, especially one who makes charitable contributions either for public institutions or for private use.Bēn'e-făc'tress, n. p. 125A woman who confers a benefit.Bēn'e-fice, n. p. 125Life, a benefit, advantage, or kindness. 2. An ecclesiastical living; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of divine service, or the revenue itself. ☞— All church preferments are…Bĕn'e-fĭced, a. p. 125Possessed of a benefice or church preferment. “Beneficed clergymen.” Burke.Bēn'e-fīce-less, a. p. 125Having no benefice. [Obs.] “Beneficeless precisian.” Sheldon.Be-nĕf'i-cence, n. p. 125The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity. And whose beneficence no change exhausts. Cooper. Syn.—See BENEVOLENCE.Be-nĕf'i-cent, a. p. 125Doing good; performing acts of kindness and charity; characterized by beneficence. “The beneficent fruits of Christianity.” Prescott. Syn.—See BENEVOLENT.Be-nĕf'i-cent-ly, adv. p. 125In a beneficent manner.Bĕn'e-fĭ'cial, a. p. 125Conferring benefits; useful; profitable; helpful; contributing to a valuable end; — followed by to. “The war which would have been most beneficial to us.” Swift. 2. (Law.) Receiving, or entitled to…Bēn'e-fi'cial, n. p. 125A church-living; a benefice. [Obs.] Spenser.Bĕn’e-fi’cial-ly, adv. p. 125In a beneficial or advantageous manner; profitably; helpfully.Bĕn'e-fi'cial-ness, n. p. 125The quality of being beneficial; usefulness; profitableness. Hale.Bĕn'e-fi'ci-a-ry, a. p. 125Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; having a dependent and secondary possession. “Beneficiary services.” Spelman. “A beneficiary king.” Bacon.Bĕn'e-fi'ci-a-ry, n. p. 125A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice, and uses its proceeds. Ayliffe. 2. One who receives any thing as a gift, or is maintained by charity. The rich men will be offering sacrifice…Bĕn'e-fi'cien-cy, n. p. 125Kindness or favor bestowed. [Obs.] Browne.Bēn'e-fi'cient, a. p. 125Doing good. [Rare.] Adam Smith.Bĕn'e-fit, n. p. 125An act of kindness; a favor conferred. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2. 2. Whatever contributes to promote prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to…Bĕn'e-fit, v. t. p. 125To be beneficial to, to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to. What course I mean to hold shall nothing benefit your knowledge. Shak.Bĕn'e-fit, v. t. p. 125To gain advantage; to make improvement. To tell you what I have benefited herein. Milton.Be-nē'gro, v. t. p. 125To render dark; to blacken. [Obs. and rare.] “The sun shall be benegreed in darkness.” Hewyt.Be-nēme', v. t. p. 125To name. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. To promise; to give. [Obs.] Spenser.Be-nĕmp'ne, v. t. p. 125To name. [Obs.] Spenser.Bē'ne-plăç'i-to p. 125(Mus.) At pleasure.Bĕn'e-plăc'i-tūre, n. p. 125Will; choice. [Obs.] Glanville.Be-nēt', v. t. p. 125To catch in a net; to insnare. [Obs.] Shak.Be-nĕv'o-lence, n. p. 125The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness. “The wakeful benevolence of the gospel.” (Chalmers. 2. An act…Be-nēv'o-lent, a. p. 125Having a disposition to do good; possessing love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; kind. Syn.—BENEVOLENT, BENEFICENT. Etymologically considered, benevolent implies…Be-nēv'o-lent-ly, adv. p. 125In a benevolent manner; with good will; kindly.Be-nēv'o-lous, a. p. 125Kind; benevolent. [Obs.] Puller.Ben-gal', n. p. 125<br>1. A thin stuff, made of silk and hair, originally brought from Bengal.<br>2. An imitation of striped muslin. Simmonds.Ben-gal'-light, n. p. 125A species of fireworks used as signals, by night or otherwise, producing a steady and vivid blue-colored fire.Ben-gal'-stripes, n. p. 125A kind of cotton cloth woven with colored stripes. Ure.Ben-gal'ee, n. p. 125The language or dialect spoken in Bengal.Ben-gal-ēse', n. sing. & pl. p. 125(Geog.) A native, or the natives, of Bengal. As. Res.Ben-gal-eşe', a. p. 125(Geog.) Pertaining to Bengal, or its inhabitants.Bĕn'icke, n. p. 126A kind of military fête among the Turks, similar to a tournament, but without the presence of ladies. Ogilvie.Be-night', v. t. p. 126To involve in darkness; to shroud with the shades of night. The clouds benight the sky. Garth. 2. To overtake with night. Some virgin, sure, benighted in these woods. Milton. 3. To involve in moral…Be-nīgn', a. p. 126Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant. Creator bounteous and benign. Milton. 2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, &c. “Kind influences and…Be-nig'nant, a. p. 126Kind; gracious; favorable. “Your benignant sovereign.” Burke.Be-nig'nant-ly, adv. p. 126With benignity.Be-nig'ni-ty, n. p. 126Quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness. “Benignity of aspect.” W. Scott. 2. Salubrity; wholesome quality, or that which tends to promote health. Wiseman. Syn.—See BENEVOLENCE.Be-nign'ly, adv. p. 126Favorably; kindly; graciously.