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.
Bŏŏk'-bĭnd'er-y, n. p. 151A place for binding books.Book'-bind'ing, n. p. 151The art or practice of binding books; or of sewing the sheets and covering them with leather or other material.Bŏŏk'-ease, n. p. 151A case with shelves for holding books.Bŏŏk'-dĕbt, n. p. 151A debt for items charged to the debtor by the creditor in his book of accounts.Bŏŏk'ful, a. p. 151Full of notions gleaned from books; crowded with undigested learning. [Obs.] “The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read.” Pope.Book'-hold'er, n. p. 151Prompter at a theater. B. & Fl.Book'ish, a. p. 151Given to reading; fond of study; more acquainted with books than with men; learned from books. “A bookish man.” Addison. “Bookish skill.” Bp. Hall.Book'ish-ly, adv. p. 151In the way of being addicted to books or much reading. [Obs.] Thurlow.Book'ish-ness, n. p. 151Addictedness to books; fondness for study.Bōōk'-keep'er, n. p. 151One who keeps accounts; one who has the charge of keeping the books and accounts in an office.Book'-keep'ing, n. p. 151The art of recording mercantile transactions in a regular and systematic manner, so that a man may know the true state of his business and property by an inspection of his books; the art of keeping…Book'-knowl'edge, n. p. 151Knowledge gained by reading books.Bōok'land or Bōck'land, n. p. 151(Old Eng. Laws.) Charter land held by deed under certain rents and free services, which differed in nothing from free socage lands. This species of tenure has given rise to the modern freeholds.…Bōōk'-lĕarned, a. p. 151Versed in books; acquainted with books and literature; ignorant of men, or of the common concerns of life. Whate'er these book-learned blockheads say, Solon's the veriest fool in all the play. Dryden.Book'-learn'ing, n. p. 151Learning acquired by reading; acquaintance with books and literature; usually as distinguished from practical knowledge. Neither does it so much require book-learning and scholarship, as good natural…Book'less, a. p. 151Without books; unlearned. Shenstone.Book'-mād'/ness, n. p. 151A rage for possessing books; bibliomania.Book'-mak'er, n. p. 151One who writes and publishes books; particularly one who gathers his materials from other books; a compiler.Book'-māk'ing, n. p. 151The practice of writing and publishing books, especially of compiling books from the writings of others, without much original thought or research; compilation. “The art of book-making.” Irving.Book'-măn, n. p. 151One whose chief occupation is the study of books. Shak.Book'-märk, n. p. 151Something placed in a book to assist in finding a particular page or place.Book'-māte, n. p. 151A school-fellow.Book'mind'ed-ness, n. p. 151Love of books.Book'-mōn'ger, n. p. 151A dealer in books.Book'-mū'slin, n. p. 151A kind of muslin used for the covers of books.Book'-ōath, n. p. 151The oath made on THE BOOK, or Bible. Shak.Book'-pōst, n. p. 151A department of the British post-office, devoted to the transmission of books. Simmonds.Book'-räck, n. p. 151A frame for supporting a book and keeping it open.Bōōk'-sĕll'er, n. p. 151One whose occupation is to sell books.Book'-sél'ing, n. p. 151The employment of selling books.Book'-shĕlf, n. p. 151A shelf to hold books.Book'-shŏp, n. p. 151A shop or place where books are sold; a book-seller's shop.Book'-stall, n. p. 151A stand or stall, often in the open air, for retailing books.Book'ständ, n. p. 151A place or stand for the sale of books in the streets; a book-stall. 2. A stand or support to hold books for reading or reference.Bōok'stōne, n. p. 151(Min.) See BIBLIOLITE.Book'stōre, n. p. 151In the U. S., a shop where books are kept for sale;—called in England a book-seller's shop.Book'-trāde, n. p. 151The buying and selling of books. For the book-trade is running into a smithery among us. Sir J. Stephens.Book'worm, n. p. 151A worm or mite that eats holes in books. 2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation. I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a book-worm…Bōō’ley, n. p. 151One who has no settled habitation, but wanders from place to place with his flocks and herds, living on their milk, like the Tartars. [Irish.] Spenser.Bōōm, n. p. 151(Naut.) A long pole or spar, run out from various parts of a ship, or other vessel, for the purpose of extending the bottom of particular sails; as, the jib boom, studding-sail boom, main boom…Boom, v. i. p. 151To rush with violence, as a ship under a press of sail. “She comes booming down before it.” Totten. 2. [W. bwmp, a hollow sound; bwmp y gors, the hollow sound of the bog or fen, and aderyn y bwmp…Bōōm'er-ang, n. p. 151A very singular missile-weapon used by the natives of Australia. It is made of hard wood, usually from 20 to 30 inches in length, from 2 to 3 inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick.…Bōōm'ing, p. a. p. 151Rushing with violence; roaring like waves. O'er the sea-beat ships the booming waters roar. Falconer.Bōōm'ing, n. p. 151A violent rushing with heavy roar; as, the booming of the sea; a deep, hollow sound; as, the booming of bitterns. Howitt.Bōōm'-ī'ron, n. p. 151Flat iron rings on the yards through which the studding-sail booms traverse in being rigged out or in. Totten.Bōōn, n. p. 151That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift; a benefaction; a grant; a present. I begged them as a boon to lay His corse in dust, whereon the day Might shine. Byron. 2. [A-S. bên…Bōōn, a. p. 151Gay; merry; jovial; as, two boon companions. Irving. 2. Kind; bountiful. Which . . . nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain. Milton. With as boon a grace and as bold a front…Bōōn, n. p. 151The refuse or useless vegetable matter from dressed flax.Bōōr, n. p. 151A countryman; a peasant; a rustic; a plowman; a clown; hence, one who is rude in manners and illiterate. “The habits and the cunning of a boor.” Thackeray.Bōōr'ish, a. p. 151Like a boor; clownish; rustic; awkward; illiterate. Which is in truth a gross and boorish opinion, how common soever. Milton.Bōōr'ish-ly, adv. p. 151In a boorish or clownish manner; as a boor. Limbs . . . neither weak nor boorishly robust. Fenton.Bōōr'ish-ness, n. p. 151Clownishness; rusticity; coarseness of manners.Bōōse, n. p. 151A stall or inclosure for oxen, cows, or other cattle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Bōōse or Bōōze, v. i. p. 152To drink excessively. See BOUSE. [Vulgar.] Maunder. Yet did he truly in a boozing-bout say of the Duke James. Landor.Bōōs'er, n. p. 152One who drinks to excess; a tippler.Bōōst, v. t. p. 152To lift or push from behind one who is endeavoring to climb; to push up. [Low.] [New England.]Bōō'sy or Bōō'zy, a. p. 152A little Bōō'zy intoxicated; fuddled; merry with liquor. [Collog.] C. Kingsley.Bōōt, v. t. p. 152To profit; to advantage;—generally followed by it: as, what boots it? What subdued To change like this a mind so far imbued With scorn of man, it little boots to know. Byron. What boots to us your…Bōot, n. p. 152That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to supply the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; profit; gain; advantage. I'll give you boot: I'll give you three for one. Shak.…Bōōt, n. p. 152A covering for the foot and leg, ordinarily made of leather. 2. An instrument made of iron, formerly used to torture criminals, particularly in Scotland. So he was put to the torture, which in…