Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Bŭt'ton-tree, n. p. 179(Bot.) The Conocarpus, a genus of plants, natives of the West Indies.Bŭt'ton-weed, n. p. 179(Bot.) A plant, of different species, of the genera Spermacoce and Diodia, of the Cinchona family.Bŭt'ton-wood, n. p. 179(Bot.) The Platanus Occidentalis, Western plane-tree, a large tree growing in North America, producing rough balls, from which it is named;—called also button-ball tree. Michaux.Bŭt'tress, n. p. 179(Arch.) A projecting support to the exterior of a wall, most commonly applied to churches in the Gothic style, but also to other buildings, and sometimes to mere walls; a prop; a support.Bŭt'tress, v. t. p. 179To support by a buttress; to prop. To set it upright again, and to prop and buttress it up for duration. Burke.Bŭtt'-shäft or Bŭt'-shäft, n. p. 179An arrow to shoot at butts with; an arrow. Shak.Bŭtt'-wĕld, n. p. 179(Mech.) A weld formed by forcing together the flattened ends of two pieces of iron or steel, at a welding heat;—called also jump-weld.Bū'ty-rā'ceous or Bū'ty-rōus, a. p. 179Having the qualities of butter; resembling butter.Bu-tyr'ic, a. p. 179(Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, butter. Butyric acid, an acid found in butter; an oily, limpid fluid, having the smell of rancid butter, and an acrid taste, with a sweetish after-taste, like…Bŭx'e-oŭs, a. p. 180Belonging to the box-tree.Bŭx'i-nā or Bŭx'ine, n. p. 180(Chem.) An alkaloid obtained from the Buxus sempervirens, or common box-tree.Bŭx'om, a. p. 180Yielding; pliable or compliant; ready to obey; obedient; meek. [Obs.] So wild a beast, so tame taught to be, And buxom to his bands, is joy to see. Spenser. I submit myself unto this holy church of…Bŭx'om-ly, adv. p. 180In a buxom manner; briskly.Bŭx'om-ness, n. p. 180The quality of being buxom, brisk, or frolicsome.Buy, v. t. p. 180To acquire the property, right, or title to, by paying a consideration or an equivalent, usually in money; to purchase; to acquire by paying a price to the satisfaction of the seller;—opposed to…Buy (bī), v. i. p. 180To negotiate or treat about a purchase. I will buy with you, sell with you. Shak.Buy'er, n. p. 180One who buys; a purchaser.Būzz, v. i. p. 180To make a low, continuous, humming sound, as bees; hence, to utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice. However these disturbers of our peace Buzz in the people's ears. Shak.Būzz, v. t. p. 180To sound forth, or make known by buzzing. How would he [a fly] hang his slender gilded wings And buzz lamenting doings in the air? Shak. 2. To whisper; to spread, as report, by whispers; or to spread…Bŭzz, n. p. 180A continuous, humming noise, as of bees. “The constant buzz of a fly.” Macaulay. 2. A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously; an active or general expression of opinion. There’s a certain…Bŭz'zard, n. p. 180(Ornith.) A bird of prey, of the Falcon family, and genus Buteo. ☞ The B. vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are B. borealis and B. lineatus) are…Bŭz'zard, a. p. 180Senseless; stupid. [Rare.] Milton.Bŭz'zard-et, n. p. 180(Ornith.) A species of hawk, resembling the buzzard in most respects, but its legs are, in proportion, rather longer. Pennant.Bŭzz'er, n. p. 180One who buzzes; a whisperer; one who is busy in telling tales secretly. Shak.Būzz'ing-ly, adv. p. 180With a low, humming sound.Bȳ, prep. p. 180In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; at; on; as, sit by me. Long labors both by sea and land he bore. Dryden. By land, by water, they renew their charge. Pope.…Bȳ, adv. p. 180Near; in the neighborhood; present; in presence; as, there was no person by at the time. 2. Passing near; going or gone past; over; gone; as, the procession has gone by; John went by. 3. Aside; as…By or Bye, n. p. 180A thing not directly aimed at; something which is a secondary object of regard; an object by the way, and the like; as in on or upon the bye, in passing; indirectly; by implication. The Synod of Dort…By, a. p. 180Out of the common path; aside;—used in composition, giving the meaning of something aside or incidental, a collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice.By'ard, n. p. 180A piece of leather crossing the breast, used by the men who drag sledges in coal-mines.By'-bid'der, n. p. 180One who bids at an auction in behalf of the auctioneer or owner, for the purpose of running up the price of articles.By'-blōw, n. p. 180A side or incidental blow. 2. An illegitimate child. [Obs.] The Aga speedily . . . brought her [his disgraced slave] to court, together with her pretty by-blow, the present Padre Otomano. Evelyn.By'-bus'i-ness, n. p. 180Business aside of the common mode, or the principal business.By'-cŏf/fee-house, n. p. 180A coffee-house in an obscure place. Addison.By'-con-cĕrn'ment, n. p. 180An affair distinct from the main business. Dryden.Bȳ'-côr'ner, n. p. 180A private corner. Britain being a by-corner, out of the road of the world. Fuller.By'-de-pĕnd'ence, n. p. 180An appendage; that which depends on something else, or is distinct from the main dependence. Shak.By'-de-sign', n. p. 180An incidental design or purpose. Hudibras.Bȳe, n. p. 180A dwelling. Gibson. 2. In certain games, a station or place of an individual player.By'e'-ĕnd, n. p. 180Private end or interest; secret purpose or advantage. Atterbury.Bȳ'-gōne, a. p. 180Past; gone by. “By-gone fooleries.” Shak.Bŷ'-gōne, n. p. 180Something gone by or past; a past event. “Let the old by-gones be.” Tennyson. Let by-gones be by-gones, let the past be forgotten.Bȳ'-in'ter-est, n. p. 180Self-interest; private advantage. Atterbury.Bŷ'-lāne, n. p. 180A private lane, or one out of the usual road.Bŷ'-lāw, n. p. 180A law aside from the general or public law; a local or subordinate law; a private law or regulation made by a corporation for its own government. There was likewise a law to restrain the by-laws, or…Bŷ'-māt'ter, n. p. 180Something incidental. Bacon.Bŷ'-nāme, n. p. 180A nickname. Camden.Bȳ'-nāme, v. t. p. 180To give a nickname to. Camden.Bŷ'-pās/sage, n. p. 180A passage different from the usual one; a by-way.Bŷ'-pāst, a. p. 180Past; gone by. “By-past perils.” Shak.Bŷ'-pāth, n. p. 180A private path; an obscure way. Shak.Bŷ'-plāce, n. p. 180A retired or private place.Bŷ'-plāy, n. p. 180A scene which is carried on aside, and commonly in dumb show, while the main action proceeds, with a view, ordinarily, to enhance the sport.By'-pūr'pose, n. p. 180An indirect or concealed purpose; a clandestine design.Bȳ're, n. p. 180A cow-house. [Prov. Eng.]Bŷ'-re-spēct', n. p. 180Private end or view. Dryden.Bŷ'-rōad, n. p. 180A private or obscure road. “Through slippery by-roads.” Swift.Bŷ'-rōom, n. p. 180A private room or apartment. “Stand in some by-room.” Shak.Bŷ'-speech, n. p. 180An incidental or casual speech, not directly relating to the point. “To quote by-speeches.” Hooker.Bŷ'-spēll, n. p. 180A proverb. [Obs.]