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.
Bride'grōom, n. p. 164A man newly married, or about to be married. As are those dulcet sounds in break of day, That creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear, And summon him to marriage. Shak.Bride'-knŏt, n. p. 164A knot of ribbons worn by the friends at a wedding. [Obs.]Bride'-maid or Brides'-maid, n. p. 164A woman who attends on a bride at her wedding.Bride'-man or Brides'-man, n. p. 164Bride'-stākĕ, n. p. 164A stake or post set in the ground to dance round. Divide the broad bride-cake. Round about the bride-stake. B. Jonson.Bride'well, n. p. 164A house of correction for the con- finement of disorderly persons;—so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St. Bride's or Bridget's well, in London, which was subsequently turned into a…Brĭdġe, n. p. 164A structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river or other watercourse, or over a ravine, railroad, &c., to make a continuous roadway from one bank to the other. 2. (Mus.)…Brĭdġe, v. t. p. 164To build a bridge or bridges over; as, to bridge a river. Their simple engineering bridged with felled trees the streams which could not be forded. Palfrey. 2. To erect bridges on; to make a passage…Bridge'-bōard, n. p. 164(Arch.) A board on which the ends of the steps of wooden stairs are fastened.Bridge'-head, n. p. 164A fortification covering the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy. [Fr. tête du pont.]Brĭdge'less, a. p. 164Having no bridge.Bridg'ing-joist, n. p. 164(Arch.) (a.) A joist sustained by transverse beams below;—called also a binding-joist. (b.) A joist nailed or fixed to the flooring boards. Weale.Bridg'y, a. p. 164Full of bridges. [Obs.] Sherwood.Brī'dle, n. p. 164An instrument with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages, according to its particular form and uses. 2. A restraint; a curb; a…Brī'dle, v. t. p. 164To put a bridle upon; as, to bridle a horse. He bridled her mouth with a silk-weed twist. Drake. 2. To restrain, guide, or govern; to check, curb, or control; as, to bridle the passions. “To bridle a…Bri'dle, v. i. p. 164To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of pride, scorn, or resentment; — often with up. By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as smug Distaff…Brī'dle-hānd, n. p. 164The hand which holds the bridle in riding on horseback.Brī'dle-pāth or Brī'dle-wāy, n. p. 164A path for travelers on horseback. Bancroft.Brī'dle-pōrt, n. p. 164(Naut.) A port-hole or opening in the foremost part of a ship for getting out hawsers, &c.Brī'dler, n. p. 164One who bridles; one who restrains and governs. Milton.Brĭ-dōon', n. p. 164(Mil.) The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. Campbell.Brief, a. p. 164Short in duration; lasting but little time. “How brief the life of man!” Shak. “Brief respite from the miseries and desolations of war.” Porteus. 2. Short in expression; using few words; concise.…Brĭef, n. p. 164An epitome; a short or concise writing; a statement in few words. Bear this sealed brief. With winged haste, to the lord mareschal. Shak. And she told me In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak. 2. (Law.)…Briëf, v. t. p. 164To make an abstract or abridgment of; as, to brief pleadings. Richardson.Briëf'less, a. p. 164Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister.Briëf'ly, adv. p. 164Concisely; in few words.Brief'man, n. p. 164One who makes a brief. 2. A copy of a manuscript.Briëf'ness, n. p. 164Shortness; conciseness in discourse or writing.Brī'er, n. p. 164A prickly plant or shrub. Save when aloft the subtle sunbeams shine On withered briers that o'er the crag recline. Wordsworth. 2. (Bot.) The sweet-brier and the wild-brier, species of the rose.Brī'ered, a. p. 164Set with briers.Brī'er-y, a. p. 164Full of briers; rough; thorny. Flies through the thorny brake and briery wood. Fawkes.Brī'er-y, n. p. 165A place where briers grow. [Obs.]Brĭg, n. p. 165A bridge; as, Bothwell brig. [Scot.] Scott.Brĭg, n. p. 165(Naut.) A vessel with two masts, square-rigged, or rigged nearly like a ship’s mainmast and foremast. The term, however, is variously applied by the mariners of different nations. Hermaphrodite brig…Brī-gāde', n. p. 165(Mil.) A division of troops, whether cavalry or infantry, regular or militia, commanded by a general officer, or brigadier. It consists of an indeterminate number of regiments, squadrons, or…Brī-gāde', v. t. p. 165(Mil.) To form into a brigade, or into brigades.Brīg/a-diēr'-gĕn'er-al, n. p. 165(Mil.) The general officer who commands a brigade, whether of horse or foot, and in rank next below a major-general; — sometimes called simply brigadier.Brīg'and, n. p. 165A lawless fellow who lives by plunder, or who belongs to a band of robbers; a robber; a freebooter. Giving them not a little the air of brigands or banditti. Jeffrey.Brīg'and-age, n. p. 165Theft; robbery; plunder. Warburton.Brīg'an-dīne or Brīg'an-tine, n. p. 165A coat of mail, consisting of thin, jointed scales of plate, pliant and easy to the body. [Obs.] Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet, And brigandine of brass. Milton. Furbish the spears and…Brīg'an-tīne, n. p. 165A piratical vessel. [Obs.] 2. A kind of small brig. The consul obliged him to deliver up his fleet, and restore the ships, reserving only to himself two brigantines. Arbuthnot.Bright, a. p. 165Shedding much light; shining; luminous; lucid; splendid; — opposed to dark. The sun was bright o’erhead. Longfellow. The earth was dark, but the heavens were bright. Drake. 2. Transmitting light…Bright'en, v. t. p. 165To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of. The purple morning, rising with the year, Salutes the spring, as her celestial eyes Adorn the world, and brighten up the…Bright'en, v. i. p. 165To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up. And night shall brighten into day. Cotton. And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the…Bright'-här'/nessed, a. p. 165Having glittering armor. Milton.Bright'-hüed, a. p. 165Having a bright color.Bright'ly, adv. p. 165Splendidly; with luster.Bright'ness, n. p. 165The quality of being bright; splendor; luster; brilliancy. A sudden brightness in his face appeared. Crabbe. 2. Acuteness, applied to the faculties; sharpness of wit. “The brightness of his parts . .…Bright's' Dis-ease' p. 165A granular disease of the cortical part of the kidneys, which causes the secretion of urine containing albumen, and of less specific gravity than natural, and which destroys by inducing other…Bright'sōme, a. p. 165Brilliant; bright. Marston.Bri-gōse', a. p. 165Contentious. [Obs.] Puller.Brigue, n. p. 165A cabal; intrigue; faction; contention; strife; quarrel. [Obs.] Chaucer. Chesterfield.Brigue, v. i. p. 165To canvass; to solicit; to contend. [Obs.] Hurd.Brill, n. p. 165(Ichth.) A fish allied to the turbot (the Pleuronectes rhombus), much esteemed in England for food. [Written also prill.]Bril-lān’te p. 165(Mus.) In a gay, showy, and sparkling style. Moore.Bril'liance, n. p. 165Splendor;Bril'li-an-cy, n. p. 165glitter; great brightness, whether in a literal or tropical sense. With many readers brilliancy of style passes for affluence of thought. Longfellow.Bril'liant, a. p. 165Sparkling with luster; glittering; as, a brilliant star. 2. Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents. Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal…Bril'liant, n. p. 165A diamond of the finest cut, formed into facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more glittering. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table…Brill'iant-ly, adv. p. 165Splendidly. Warton.