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.
Bī-ŏ'cel-late, a. p. 134(Entom.) Dotted with two eye-like spots, as a wing.Bī'o-dý-nām'ies, n. p. 134The doctrine of the vital activity or forces. Dunglison.Bī-ōg'ra-pher, n. p. 134One who writes an account or history of the life and actions of a particular person; a writer of lives, as Plutarch.Bī'o-grăph'ic, a. p. 134Pertaining to biography;Bī'o-grāph'ie-al p. 134containing biography. “Biographical writings.” Watson.Bī'o-grăph'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 134In the manner of a biography.Bī-ŏg'ra-phīze, v. a. p. 134To write a history of the life of. Southey.Bi-ōg'ra-phy, n. p. 134<br>1. The history of the life and character of a particular person.<br>2. Biographical writings in general.<br>No species of writing seems more worthy of cultivation than biography. Langhorne.Bī'o-lōg'ie-al, a. p. 134Pertaining to biology.Bī-ŏl'o-gy, n. p. 134The science of life; that part of physiology which treats of life in general, or of the different forces of life. ☞ This term is now also applied to a theory based on the assumption that there is a…Bī'o-lyt'ic, a. p. 134Relating to the destruction of life; as, a biolytic agent. Dunglison.Bī'o-tī'nā or Bī'o-tīne, n. p. 134(Min.) A variety of anorthite found among the volcanic debris of Vesuvius.Bī-păl'mate, a. p. 134(Bot.) Having a palmate arrangement on secondary petioles which are palmately arranged on the primary petiole. Henslow.Bī-pā'roūs or Bīp'a-roūs, a. p. 134Bringing forth two at a birth.Bī-pār'ti-ble or Bī-pār'tīle, a. p. 134That may be divided into two parts.Bĭ-pār'tient, a. p. 134Dividing into two parts. Ash.Bī-pār'tite or Bīp'ar-tite, a. p. 134In two parts; having two correspondent parts, as a legal contract or writing, one for each party; as, a bipartite treaty. “The divine fate is also bipartite.” Cudworth. 2. Divided into two parts to…Bĭ′pār′tĭ′tion, n. p. 134The act of dividing into two parts, or of making two correspondent parts.Bī-pĕc'ti-nate, a. p. 134(Bot.) Having two margins toothed like a comb.Bi′ped, n. p. 134An animal having two feet, as man.Bī-pĕ'dal or Bī'ped, a. p. 134Having two feet, or the length of two feet. By which the man, when heavenly life was ceased, Became a helpless, naked, biped beast. Byron.Bi-pĕl'tate, a. p. 134Having a defense like a double shield.Bi-pĕn'nate or Bi-pĕn'nā-ted, a. p. 134Having two wings. “Bipinnated insects.” Derham.Bi-pĕt'al-oŭs, a. p. 134(Bot.) Having two flower-leaves or petals.Bi-pīn'nate or Bi-pīn'nā-ted, a. p. 134(Bot.) Twice pinnate. Gray.Bi′pin-nāt′i-fid, a. p. 134(Bot.) Doubly pinnatifid. A bipinnatifid leaf is a pinnatifid leaf having its segments pinnatifid.Bi-pli'cate, a. p. 134Twice folded together. Henslow.Bī-plic'i-ty, n. p. 134The state of being twofold; reduplication. [Rare.] Roget.Bi-pō'lar, a. p. 134Doubly polar; having two poles. Coleridge.Bi’pont or Bi-pōnt’ine, a. p. 134(Bibliography.) Relating to books printed at Deuxponts, or Bipontium, in Holland. Clarke.Bi-pū'net'ate, a. p. 134Having two punctures, or spots.Bi-pŭnct'ū-al, a. p. 134Having two points.Bi-pū'pil-lāte, a. p. 134(ENTOM.) Having an eye-like spot on the wing, with two dots or pupils within it of a different color, as in some butterflies.Bi-py̆-răm'i-dal, a. p. 134Consisting of two pyramids placed base to base; as, a bipyramidal dodecahedron; having a pyramid at each of the extremities in a prism, as in quartz crystals. Dana.Bī-quad'rate, n. p. 134(Math.) The fourth power, arising from the multiplication of a square number or quantity by itself. Thus 4 × 4 = 16, which is the square of 4, and 16 × 16 = 256, the biquadrate of that number.Bī'quad-răt'ic, n. p. 134The same as BIQUADRATE.Bī'quad-răt'ic, a. p. 134Pertaining to the biquadratic, or fourth power. Biquadratic equation (Alg.), an equation of the fourth degree, or one in which the unknown quantity is raised to the fourth power. Davies.—Biquadratic…Bī-quĭn'tīle, n. p. 134(Astron.) An aspect of the planets when they are distant from each other by twice the fifth part of a great circle—that is, 144 degrees, or twice 72 degrees.Bi-rā'di-āte or Bi-rā'di-ā'ted, a. p. 134Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin.Birch (18), n. p. 134A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula, as the white or common birch (B. alba); the dwarf birch (B. nana); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea). The smaller branches of the…Birch, or Birch'en,, a. p. 134Made of birch; consisting of birch; as, birchen scepter. “Looks out from Yarrow's birchen tower.” W. Scott.Birch'-wine, n. p. 134Wine made of the vernal juice of the birch.Bird, n. p. 134Properly, a chicken; the young of a fowl; and hence (Modern), a feathered flying animal. (Nat. Hist.) A species of the class Aves, the second among the vertebrates, characterized by a double heart…Bird, v. i. p. 134To catch or shoot birds. 2. Hence, to seek for game or plunder; to thieve. [Rare.] B. Jonson.Bird'-bōlt, n. p. 134An arrow, broad at the end, for shooting birds. [Obs.] Shak.Bird'-cāge, n. p. 134A box or case of wire, small sticks, or wicker, forming open work, for keeping birds confined.Bird'-call, n. p. 134A little stick cleft at one end, in which is put a leaf of some plant, for imitating the cry of birds. 2. A very short metal cylinder, having a circular plate with a small aperture in the center…Bird'-cătch'er, n. p. 134One whose employment is to catch birds; a fowler.Bird'-cātch/ing, n. p. 134The art of taking birds or wild fowls, either for food, for pleasure, or for their destruction, when pernicious to the husbandman.Bird'-chĕr'ry, n. p. 134(Bot.) A species of cherry of the genus Prunus, and subgenus Padus, having the flowers in racemes.Bĭrd'er, n. p. 134A bird-catcher.Bird'-eyed, a. p. 134Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes.Bird'-făn'çi-er, n. p. 134One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting birds, especially such as are rare or curious. 2. One who keeps for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages.Bird'ing-piēce, n. p. 134A fowling-piece. Shak.Bird'-like, a. p. 134Resembling a bird.Bird'-lime, n. p. 134A viscous substance, usually made of the juice of holly bark, extracted by boiling, mixed with a third part of nut oil or thin grease, used to catch birds. For this purpose the twigs of a bush are…Bird'-limed, a. p. 134Smeared with bird lime; spread to insnare; prepared to become attached. When the heart is thus bird-limed, then it cleaves to every thing it meets with. Goodwin.Bird'man, n. p. 134A fowler or bird-catcher.Bird-of-pār'a-dīse, n. p. 134One of a genus of birds (Paradisea), of the order Passeres, or Perchers, found in New Guinea. The largest species is two feet four inches in length. The head and back part of the neck of this species…Bird'-ôr'gan, n. p. 134A small barrel organ, used in teaching birds to sing.