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.
Bīd'ing, n. p. 131Residence; habitation. Rowe.Bĭd'-stănd, n. p. 131One who bids a traveler stand and deliver; a highwayman; a robber. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Bī-ĕn'ni-al, a. p. 131Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election. 2. (Bot.) Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants whose roots and leaves are formed the first year, and which…Bi-ēn'ni-al, n. p. 131(Bot.) A plant that lasts for two years, and then perishes.Bī-ēn'ni-al-ly, adv. p. 131Once in two years; at the return of two years.Bier, n. p. 131A carriage or frame of wood for conveying dead human bodies to the grave.Bier'-balk, n. p. 131The church road for burials. [Obs.] Homilies.Biĕst'ings, n. pl. p. 131The first milk given by a cow after calving. [Written also beestings.] B. Jonson.Bi-fā'cial, a. p. 131Having the opposite surfaces alike. Dana.Bĭ-fā'ri-ous, a. p. 131Twofold; in two rows. 2. (Bot.) Pointing two ways, as leaves that grow only on opposite sides of a branch.Bi-fā'ri-ōus-ly, adv. p. 131In a bifarious manner. A stem or branch is bifariously hairy when the hairs between any two joints come out on the front and back, and in the two adjoining internodes on the right and left sides.Bi'fer, n. p. 131(Bot.) A plant producing fruit twice in one year.Biʹfer-ous, a. p. 131Bearing fruit twice a year, as plants do in warm climates.Bif'fin, n. p. 131A sort of apple peculiar to Norfolk, Eng. [Sometimes called beaufin; but properly beefin (it is said), from its resemblance to raw beef.] Wright. 2. A baked apple crushed down into a flat, round…Bi'fid or Bi'fid-ate, a. p. 131(Bot.) Two-cleft; opening with a cleft; divided by a linear sinus, with straight margins.Bif'i-lar, a. p. 131Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar suspension, a bifilar balance. Bifilar micrometer (often called a bifilar), an instrument for measuring minute distances or angles by means…Bi-flō'rate or Bi-flō'rous, a. p. 131(Bot.) Bearing two flowers.Bĭ′fold, a. p. 131Twofold; double; of two kinds, degrees, &c. “Bi-fold authority.” Shak.Bī-fō'li-ate, a. p. 131(Bot.) Having two leaves.Bi-fō'li-o-late, a. p. 131(Bot.) Having two leaflets, as some compound leaves. Gray.Bi-fō'rate, a. p. 131(Bot.) Having two perforations, as the anthers of the Rhododendron. Brande.Bif'o-rīne, n. p. 131(Bot.) A minute oval sac found in the green pulpy part of the leaves of some plants;—so called because they discharge their contents by an opening at each extremity. Brande.Bĭ′fŏrm or Bĭ′fŏrmed, a. p. 131Having two forms, bodies, or shapes. Croxall.Bi-fōrm'i-ty, n. p. 131A double form. Henry More.Bi-frōnt'ed, a. p. 131Having two fronts. “Bifronted Janus.” Massinger.Bi-fūr′cate or Bi-fūr′că-ted, a. p. 131Forked; divided into two branches.Bi-fur-cā′tion, n. p. 131A forking, or division into two branches. Browne.Bi-fŭr'cous, a. p. 131(Bot.) Two-forked.Big, a. p. 131(Lit.) Having largeness of size, bulk, or magnitude; large; great; bulky. “He's too big to go in there.” Shak. 2. Great with young; pregnant; ready to give birth; hence, figuratively, pregnant as…Big, n. p. 131A kind of barley. See BIGG.Bĭ'ga, n. p. 131(Antiq.) A vehicle drawn by two horses abreast.Big'am, n. p. 131A bigamist. [Obs.] Bp. Peacock.Big'a-mist, n. p. 131One who has committed bigamy, or has two wives or husbands at once. Lamech, the prime bigamist and corrupter of marriage. Donne.Big'a-my, n. p. 132(Law.) The crime of having two wives or husbands at once. Blackstone. ☞ It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy; it is more properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of…Big'a-rōon, n. p. 132(Bot.) A kind of cherry, the large white-heart.Big'-bĕl/lied, a. p. 132Having a great belly; advanced in pregnancy.Big'-bōn'ed, a. p. 132Having large bones. Herbert.Big'-côrnēd, a. p. 132Having large grains. Dryden.Bi-gĕm'i-nate, a. p. 132(Bot.) Having a forked petiole, and a pair of leaflets at the end of each division;—said of a decompound leaf.Bigg, n. p. 132(Bot.) A kind of barley (Hordeum hexastichon) cultivated in the north of Europe. Loudon.Big'gin, n. p. 132A child's cap or hood, or something worn about the head. “An old woman's biggin for a night-cap.” Massinger. 2. [O. Eng. bigging, from big, to build; A.-S. byggan.] A building. [Obs.] Shak. 3. [See…Big'gon or Big'gon-net, n. p. 132A cap or hood with pieces covering the ears.Bight, n. p. 132(Geog.) A bend in the sea-coast forming an open bay; as, the Bight of Benin. 2. (Naut.) The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the ends; that is, a round, bend, or coil not…Bi-glānd'ū-lar, a. p. 132(Bot.) Having two glands, as a plant.Big'ly, adv. p. 132In a big, tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily. “He brawleth bigly.” T. More.Big'-nāmĕd, a. p. 132Having a great and famous name. “Some big-named composition.” Croaker.Big'ness, n. p. 132The quality of being big, especially in the literal sense; largeness of dimensions, implying expansion in breadth, as well as height, and thus distinguished from tallness. “The bigness and uncouth…Big'ot, n. p. 132[Fr. bigot, a bigot or hypocrite, a name originally given to the Normans in France. “Rollo, the first duke of Normandy, was obliged to kiss the foot of King Charles in return for the Province of…Big'ot or Big'ot-ed, a. p. 132Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion, practice, or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and illiberal toward the opinions of others. [Bigot is obs.] In a country more…Big'ot-ed-ly, adv. p. 132In the manner of a bigot; pertinaciously.Big'ot-ry, n. p. 132Perverse or blind attachment to a particular creed, or to certain tenets; unreasonable zeal or warmth in favor of a party, sect, or opinion; excessive prejudice. “Were it not for a bigotry to our own…Big'-sound-ing, a. p. 132Having a pompous sound.Big'-swōllen, a. p. 132Big'-swōln p. 132Swelled to a large size; turgid; greatly swelled; ready to burst. “Big-swollen heart.” “Big-swollen face.” Shak.Big'-wig, n. p. 132A person of consequence; as, the big-wigs of society. [Cant.] In our youth we have heard him spoken of by the big-wigs with extreme condescension. Dickens.Big'-wigged, a. p. 132Distinguished by pomposity of manner. [Eng.]Bĭ'hy-drōg'ū-ret, n. p. 132(Chem.) A compound of two atoms of hydrogen, as the electro-negative ingredient, with one of some other substance, as the electro-positive ingredient.Bi-jou' or BI-JOUX', n. p. 132A trinket, or a little box; a jewel.Bi-jou'try, n. p. 132Small articles of vertu, such as jewelry, trinkets, &c. Simmonds.Bi-jū'gate, a. p. 132(Bot.) Having two pairs, as of leaflets. Gray.