Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Breech'-pĭn or Breech'-screw, n. p. 162A strong plug firmly screwed in at the breech of a musket or other fire-arm. See MUSKET.Breech'-sight, n. p. 162(Mil.) An instrument used for pointing a fire-arm.Breed, v. t. p. 162To procreate; to generate; to engender; to beget; to hatch. Yet every mother breeds not sons alike. Shak. 2. To take care of in infancy, and through the age of youth; to bring up; to nurse and…Breed, v. i. p. 162To produce a fetus: to bear and nourish young, as in pregnancy. “That they may breed abundantly in the earth.” Gen. viii. 17. The mother had never bred before. Carpenter. 2. To be formed in the…Breed, n. p. 162A race or progeny from the same parents or stock; as, a new breed of sheep. Carpenter. 2. A cast; a kind; a race of men or other animals, which have an alliance by nativity, or some distinctive…Breed'-bāte, n. p. 162One that breeds or originates quarrels. [Obs.] “No tell-tale nor no breed-bate.” Shak.Breed'er, n. p. 162One who, or that which, breeds, produces, brings up, &c. “She was a great breeder.” Dr. A. Carlyle. You love the breeder better than the male. Shak. Italy and Rome have been the best breeders of…Breed'ing, n. p. 163Nurture; education, instruction; formation of manners. Why was my breeding ordered and prescribed, As of a person separate to God? Milton. She had her breeding at my father's charge. Shak. 2.…Breeze or Breeze'-fly, n. p. 163(Entom.) A kind of fly of various species, of the family Tabanidæ, noted for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood. They are among the largest of the two-winged, or…Breeze, n. p. 163A light wind; a gentle gale. Into a gradual calm the breezes sink. Wordsworth. 2. (Fig.) An excited state of feeling; a quarrel; a disturbance. [Colloq.] 3. (Brick-making.) Ashes and cinders used…Breeze, v. i. p. 163To blow gently. For now the breathing airs, from ocean born, Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn. Barlow.Breeze'-less, a. p. 163Motionless; destitute of breezes. A stagnant, breezeless air becalms my soul. Shenstone.Breez'y, a. p. 163Fanning with gentle winds or breezes. 'Mid lawns and shades by breezy rivulets fanned. Wordsworth.Brē'hon, n. p. 163A judge. [Ireland.] ☞ In ancient times, the general laws of Ireland were called Brehon laws, unwritten, like the common law of England. These laws were abolished by statute of Edward III. Blackstone.…Brēme, a. p. 163Fierce; cruel; sharp. [Obs.] [Written also brimme and brim.] From the septentrion cold, in the breme freezing air, Where the bleak north wind keeps still domineering there. Drayton.Brĕn, v. t. p. 163To burn. [Obs.] Or consuming fire brent his shearing-house or stall. Browne.Brĕn'nağe, n. p. 163(O. Eng. Law.) A tribute which tenants in the middle ages paid to their lord, in lieu of bran, which they were obliged to furnish for his hounds.Brĕnt or Brānt, a. p. 163Steep; high. [Obs.] Grapes grow on the brant rocks so wonderfully that ye will marvel how any man dare climb up to them. Ascham.Brĕnt, n. p. 163A brant, or brand-goose; a kind of fowl with a black neck, and a white collar or line round it. See BRANT.Brĕst or Breast, n. p. 163(Arch.) The member of a column, more usually called torus or tore. See TORUS.Brĕst'-sŭm/mer or Brĕast'-sŭm/mer, n. p. 163(Arch.) A summer or beam placed breast-wise to support a superincumbent wall;— used principally over shop windows, to carry the upper part of the front, and supported on posts or columns. Gwilt.Brĕt, n. p. 163The turbot;—called also burt or brut. [Prov. Eng.]Brēt'ful, a. p. 163Brimful. [Obs.] Chaucer.Brĕth'ren, n. p. 163pl. of brother. It is used almost exclusively, in solemn and scriptural language, in the place of brothers. See BROTHER.Bret'on, a. p. 163(Geog.) Relating to Brittany, or Bretagne, in France. Athwart the ledges of rock, Here on the Breton strand; Breton, not Briton. Tennyson.Brĕtt, n. p. 163A long, four-wheel pleasure carriage, with a calash top, and seats for four, besides a driver's seat; a britzska.Brĕt'ti-ce, n. p. 163One of the wooden planks used in supporting the roofs of coal mines.Brē'tzel, n. p. 163A kind of hard, brittle cake.Brēve, n. p. 163(Mus.) A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure, as thus ☐, but now made oval, with a…Bre-vēt', n. p. 163A royal or imperial warrant, granting a favor, privilege, title, or dignity. 2. (Mil.) A commission in the army at large, in distinction from a commission in a particular regiment or corps. ☞ In the…Bre-vĕt', v. t. p. 163(Mil.) To confer rank or title upon by brevet.Bre-vĕt', a. p. 163(Mil.) Taking rank by brevet; as, a brevet major. Campbell.Bre-vĕt'cy, n. p. 163(Mil.) The rank or condition of a brevet.Brē'vi-a-ry, n. p. 163An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary. A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those roots that are to be cut up or gathered. Holland. 2. A book containing the daily…Brē'vi-ate, n. p. 163A short compend; a summary; a brief statement. “I omit in this breviate to rehearse.” Hackluyt. The same little brevates of infidelity have been published and dispersed with great activity. Porteus.Brĕ'vi-āte, v. t. p. 163To abridge. [Obs.] See ABBREVIATE.Bre'vi-a-tūre, n. p. 163An abbreviation. [Rare.] Johnson.Bre-vīēr', n. p. 163(Print.) A small kind of printing type, in size between bourgeois and minion. This line is printed in brevier type.Bre-vĭl'o-quence, n. p. 163A brief and pertinent mode of speaking. [Obs.]Brĕv'i-ped, a. p. 163(Ornith.) Having short legs, as certain birds.Brĕv'i-ped, n. p. 163(Ornith.) A bird having short legs.Brĕv'i-pen, n. p. 163(Ornith.) A bird having short wings, as the ostrich. See BREVIPENNATE.Brĕv'i-pĕn'nate, a. p. 163(Ornith.) Short-winged; having wings that are half-fledged, and therefore short; — applied to a division of birds which can not fly, owing to their size and short wings, including the ostrich…Brĕv'i-ty, n. p. 163Shortness of duration; briefness of time; as, the brevity of human life. 2. Contraction into few words; shortness; conciseness. This argument is stated by St. John with his usual elegant brevity and…Brew, v. t. p. 163To boil or seethe. 2. To prepare, as a liquor, from malt and hops, or from other materials, by steeping, boiling, and fermentation. “She brews good ale.” Shak. 3. To prepare by boiling, mingling, &c.…Brew, v. i. p. 163To perform the business of brewing or making beer. 1. ... wash, wring, brew, bake, scour. Shak. 2. To be in a state of preparation; to be mixing, forming, or gathering; as, a storm brews in the west.…Brew, n. p. 163The mixture formed by brewing; that which is brewed. [Obs.] Bacon.Brew'age, n. p. 163Malt liquor; drink brewed; mixture. “Some well-spiced brewage.” Milton. “A rich brewage, made of the best Spanish wine.” Macaulay.Brew'er, n. p. 163One whose occupation is to prepare malt liquors; one who brews.Brew'er-y, n. p. 163A brew-house; the house and apparatus where brewing is carried on.Brew'-house, n. p. 163A brewery; a house appropriated to brewing.Brew'ing, n. p. 163The act or process of preparing liquors from malt and hops, &c. 2. The quantity brewed at once. A brewing of new beer, set by old beer, maketh it work again. Bacon. 3. A mixing together. [Obs.] I am…Brew'is, n. p. 163Broth or pottage. [Obs.] What an ocean of brew is shall I swim in! Beau. & Fl. Let them of their Bonner's “beef” and “broth” make what brewis they please for their credulous guests. Bp. Hall. 2.…Bre-zĭl'ine, n. p. 163The coloring matter of Brazil-wood. Graham.Bri-ā're-an, a. p. 163Pertaining to, or resembling, Briareus, a giant with a hundred hands; hence, hundred-handed.Bribe, n. p. 163A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to pervert the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, or other person. Undue reward for any thing against justice is a…Bribe, v. t. p. 163To give or promise a reward or consideration to, with a view to pervert the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to hire for bad purposes; to purchase the decision or testimony of, or the performance of…Brībe, v. i. p. 163To give a bribe to a person; to pervert his judgment or corrupt his action by some gift or promise. An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be criminal, and the offender may be…Brībe'less, a. p. 163Incapable of being bribed; not bribed; free from bribes. From thence to heaven's bribeless hall. Raleigh.Brībe'-păn'der, n. p. 163One who procures bribes. [Obs.] Burke.