Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
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.
Be-thŭmp', v. t. p. 128To beat soundly. [Rare.] Shak.Be-tīde', v. t. p. 128To happen to; to befall; to come to. “What will betide the few?” Milton.Be-tīde', v. i. p. 128To come to pass; to happen. What news else betideth here? Shak. ☞ Shakespeare has used it with of. “What would betide of thee?” But this is unusual.Be-tīme' or Be-tīmes', adv. p. 128In good season or time; before it is late; seasonably. To measure life learn thou betimes. Milton. To rise betimes is often harder than to do all the day's work. Barrow. 2. In a short time; soon. He…Be-tō'ken, v. t. p. 128To signify by some visible object; to show by signs. A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow, Betokening peace from God. Milton. 2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that…Be-tŏn', n. p. 128(Masonry.) A kind of concrete or hydraulic cement, rendered more compact by being mixed with gravel, pebbles, &c., and used in submarine works as a foundation of masonry. Simmonds.Bĕt'o-ny, n. p. 128(Bot.) A plant of the genus Betonica (Linn.). The purple or wood betony (B. officinalis, Linn.) grows in shady places, and was formerly used in medicine as a mild corroborant: it is also used to dye…Be-tōok', imp. p. 128of betake.Be-tōrn', a. p. 128Torn in pieces.Be-tōss', v. t. p. 128To put in violent motion; to agitate; to disturb; to toss. Shak.Be-trăp', v. t. p. 128To draw into a trap; to insnare. Gower. 2. To put trappings on; to clothe; to deck. [See ATTRAP.] After them followed two other chariots covered with red satin, and the horses betrapped with the…Be-trā'y, v. t. p. 129To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly; as, an officer betrayed the city; to betray a trust. Jesus said unto them…Be-trā'y'al, n. p. 129Act of betraying.Be-trā'y'er, n. p. 129One who betrays; a traitor.Be-trāy'ment, n. p. 129Act of betraying; breach of trust; betrayal. (Idal.Be-trīm', v. t. p. 129To set in order; to adorn; to deck; to embellish; to trim. Shak.Be-trŏth', v. t. p. 129To contract to any one, in order to a future marriage; to promise or pledge to be the future spouse of another; to affiance; — used of either sex. “To her, my lord, was I betrothed.” Shak. 2. To…Be-trōth'al, n. p. 129The act of betrothing; betrothment. “The feast of betrothal.” Longfellow.Be-trōth'ment, n. p. 129A mutual promise, engagement, or contract between two parties for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; espousals; betrothal. Smollett.Be-trūst’, v. t. p. 129To commit to another in confidence of fidelity; to confide; to intrust. [Rare.] Hall.Be-trŭst'ment, n. p. 129The act of intrusting, or the thing intrusted. Chipman.Bĕt'so, n. p. 129The smallest Venetian coin. Mason.Bĕt'ter, a. p. 129comp. of good. [O. Eng. betere, beter, bet, bett; A-S. bett, bet, betera, betra, betere, betre; Icel. betri, betr; Goth. batiza; O. H. Ger. beziro, peziro; M. H. Ger. bezzer; N. H. Ger. besser, from…Bĕt'ter, n. p. 129Advantage, superiority, or victory; — usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. 2. Improvement; greater excellence. If I have altered him any where for the better. Dryden. 3. One who has a…Bē'tter, adv. p. 129comp. of well. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage, or success. “Better burn it now, than curse it then.” Shak. 2. More correctly. “The better to…Bĕt'ter, v. t. p. 129To improve or meliorate; to increase the good qualities of. Love betters what is best. Wordsworth. He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray. 2. To surpass in excellence; to exceed. [Obs.]…Bĕt'ter, n. p. 129One who bets; a bettor.Bet'ter-ment, n. p. 129A making better; improvement. Montague. 2. (Law.) An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere repairing;—generally used in the plural. Bouvier.Bĕt'ter-ness, n. p. 129The quality of being better or superior. Sidney.Bĕt'tor, n. p. 129One who bets, or lays a wager. Addison.Bet'ty, n. p. 129[Supposed to be a cant word, from Betty, for Elizabeth, as such an instrument is also called Bess (i. e., Elizabeth) in the Canting Dictionary of 1725, and Jenny (i. e., Jane).] A short bar used by…Bĕt'ū-līne, n. p. 129(Chem.) A substance of a resinous nature obtained from the bark of the black birch (Betula nigra);—called also birch camphor.Be-tūm'bled, a. p. 129Thrown into disorder or confusion; tumbled. “From her betumbled couch she starteth.” Shak.Be-tū'tored, a. p. 129Tutored; instructed. Coleridge.Be-tween', prep. p. 129In the intermediate space of, without regard to distance; betwixt; as, New York is between Boston and Philadelphia. 2. From one to another of. “If things should go so between them.” Bacon. 3.…Be-tween'-dĕcks, n. p. 129(Naut.) The open space between two decks of a ship. Totten.Be-twĭxt', prep. p. 129In the intermediate space of; between. “Betwixt two aged oaks.” Milton. 2. From one to another of. There was some speech of marriage betwixt myself and her. Shak.Bĕv'el, n. p. 129A slant or inclination of a surface from a right line, or a plane having any other angle than 45° or 90°; as, the proper bevel of a piece of timber. 2. An instrument consisting of two rules or arms…Bĕv'el, a. p. 129Having the form of a bevel; slanting. Their houses are very ill-built, the walls bevel. Swift 2. Hence, morally distorted; not upright. [Obs.] A bevel angle, any angle other than one of 45° or 90°.Bēv'el, v. t. p. 129To cut to a bevel angle. Moxon.Bēv'el, v. i. p. 129To slant or incline off to a bevel angle, or from a direct line.Bēv'eled, p. a. p. 129Formed to a bevel angle. 2. (Min.) Replaced by two planes inclining equally upon the adjacent planes, as an edge; having its edges replaced as above, as a cube or other solid. Dana.Bēv'el-gēar, n. p. 129(Mech.) A kind of gear in which the two wheels working together lie in different planes, and have their teeth cut at right angles to the surfaces of two cones whose apices coincide with the point…Bĕv'el-ment, n. p. 129(Min.) The replacement of an edge by two similar planes, equally inclined to the including faces or adjacent planes.Bē'ver, n. p. 129A collation or small repast between meals. [Obs.] Without any prejudice to their bevers, drinkings or suppers. Beau. & Fl.Bē'ver, v. i. p. 129To take a small repast between meals.Bēv'er-age, n. p. 129Liquor for drinking; — usually applied to a pleasant or mixed liquor. 2. A mixture of water, cider, and spice; water-cider. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. 3. A treat, or drink-money, given on wearing a new…Bēv'ile, n. p. 129(Her.) A chief broken or opening like a carpenter's bevel. Encyc. Brit.Bēv'y, n. p. 129A flock of birds, especially quails. 2. A company; an assembly or collection of persons, especially ladies. What a bevy of beaten slaves have we here! Beau. & Fl.Be-wāil’, v. t. p. 129To express deep sorrow for, as by wailing; to lament. Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury. Shak. 2. To cause or compass. [Obs. and very rare.] Syn.—See DEPLORE.Be-wāil’, v. i. p. 129To express grief. Shak.Be-wāil'a-ble, a. p. 129Capable or worthy of being bewailed.Be-wāil'er, n. p. 129One who bewails or laments.Be-wāil'ing, n. p. 129The act of lamenting. Raleigh.Be-wāil'ing-ly, adv. p. 129In a mournful manner.Be-wāil'ment, n. p. 129The act of bewailing.Be-wāke', v. t. p. 129To keep awake. [Obs.] Gower.Be-ware', v. i. p. 129To restrain or guard one’s self; hence, to be cautious; to take care; to take heed; — followed by of before the thing that is to be avoided. Beware of all, but most beware of man. Pope. 2. To have a…Be-wâre', v. t. p. 130To avoid; to take care of. [Obs.] “To wish them beware the son.” Milton.Be-wash', v. t. p. 130To drench or souse with water. “Let the maids bewash the men.” Herrick.