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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Căn'not p. 191These words are usually united, even by good writers, but perhaps without sufficient reason; canst not and couldst not are never united.Căn'nu-lar, a. p. 191Having the form of a tube; tubular.Căn'ny or Căn'nie, a. p. 191Having many pleasing or useful qualities; blameless; good; gentle; neat; pretty. [Scot.] The meaning of the word canny varies in different places. In Yorkshire it means sly and knowing with an…Ca-noe', n. p. 191A boat used by rude nations, formed of the trunk of a tree, excavated, by cutting or burning, into a suitable shape. It is impelled by a paddle, instead of an oar. Others devised the boat of one…Căn'on, n. p. 191A law or rule. Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon’gainst self-slaughter. Shak. 2. (Eccl.) A law, or rule of doctrine or discipline, enacted by a council and confirmed by the sovereign; a…Cañon or Cān-yōn', n. p. 191A deep gorge, ravine, or gulch, between high and steep banks, worn by water-courses; — a term in common use in the U. S., in the states and territories bordering upon Mexico. Fremont.Căn'on-bît, n. p. 191That part of a bit let into a horse's mouth. Spencer.Căn'on-ess, n. p. 191A woman who enjoys a prebend, affixed, by the foundation, to maids, without obliging them to make any vows, or renounce the world.Ca-nōn'ic or Ca-nōn'ic-al, a. p. 192Pertaining to a canon; according to the canon or rule. “The oath of canonical obedience.” Hallam. Canonical books, or canonical Scriptures, those books of the Scriptures which are admitted by the…Ca-nŏn'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 192In a canonical manner; in a manner agreeable to the canon.Ca-nōn'ic-al-ness, n. p. 192The quality of being canonical; canonicity. The canonicalness of the apostolical constitutions. Bp. Burnett.Ca-nōn'ie-als, n. pl. p. 192The full dress of the clergy, worn when they officiate. To have grace said every day at his table by an ecclesiastic in full canonicals. Macaulay.Ca-nōn'ie-ate, n. p. 192The office of a canon; canonry.Căn'on-ic'i-ty, n. p. 192The state of belonging to the canon, or genuine books of Scripture.Căn'on-ist, n. p. 192A professor of canon law; one skilled in the study and practice of ecclesiastical law. South.Căn'on-īst'ic, a. p. 192Of, or relating to, a canonist. Apt scholars of this canonistic exposition. Milton.Căn'on-i-zā'tion, n. p. 192The ceremony or act of placing the name of a deceased person in the catalogue of saints. 2. The state of being canonized or sainted. Canonization of saints was not known to the Christian church till…Căn’on-īze, v. t. p. 192To declare a saint; to place upon the catalogue of saints. Thomas a Becket was canonized within three years of his death. Hook.Căn'on-law, n. p. 192(Eccl.) The law sanctioned by the church of Rome, and possessing more or less direct influence in all countries which acknowledge the authority of the pope.Cān'on-law'yer, n. p. 192One versed in the canon law.Căn'on-ry or Căn'on-ship, n. p. 192An ecclesiastical benefice, in a cathedral or collegiate church, which has a prebend, or stated allowance, out of the revenues of the church commonly annexed to it, and is filled by a canon. Hook.Cān'o-py, n. p. 192A covering over a throne, or over a bed; more generally, a covering over the head. “Golden canopies and beds of state.” Dryden. 2. (Arch.) An ornamental projection, in the Gothic style, over doors…Căn'o-py, v. t. p. 192To cover with a canopy. “Canopied with golden clouds.” Chapman.Ca-nō'röüs, a. p. 192Having, or uttering, musical or tuneful sounds; melodious; musical. “Birds that are canorous.” Browne. He sang out a long, loud, and canorous peal of laughter. De Quincey.Ca-nō'roüs-ness, n. p. 192The quality of being musical.Cānt, v. t. p. 192To incline, pitch forward, or place upon the edge, as a cask, to make its contents run more freely. 2. To give a sudden turn or impulse to, as to any thing resting upon its edge; to jerk; to throw…Cānt, n. p. 192An angle; edge; corner; niche. [Obs.] The principal person in the temple was Irene, or Peace; she was placed aloft in a cant. B. Jonson. 2. An inclination from a horizontal line; as, to be on the…Cănt, v. i. p. 192To speak in a whining voice, or an affected, singing tone; to use affectation of language or barbarous jargon. That uncouth, affected garb of speech, or canting language, if I may so call it.…Cānt, n. p. 192An affected, sing-song mode of speaking. 2. The idioms and peculiarities of speech in any sect, class, or occupation. “The cant of any profession.” Dryden. 3. The phraseology of a sect, used without…Cănt, a. p. 192Affected, inelegant, or vulgar; — applied to language. B. Jonson. To introduce and multiply cant words is the most ruinous corruption in any language. Swift.Căn’t p. 192A colloquial contraction for can not. ☞ “The a in can’t and shan’t is broad [has its Italian sound], in consequence of lengthening the vowel to compensate for the omitted sounds.” Smart.Can-tāb', n. p. 192A Cantabrigian. [Colloq.] “The rattle-pated trick of a young Cantab.” W. Scott.Can-tāb'i-le p. 192(Mus.) In a melodious, flowing style; in a singing style, as opposed to bravura.Can-tā'bĭ-le, n. p. 192(Mus.) A piece or passage, whether vocal or instrumental, peculiarly adapted to singing: — sometimes called cantilena.Can-tā'bri-an, a. p. 192(Geog.) Pertaining to Cantabria, on the Bay of Biscay in Spain.Căn/ta-brĭg'i-an, n. p. 192A student or graduate of the university of Cambridge, Eng. Smart.Căn’ta-leup or Căn’ta-loupe, n. p. 192A small, round, ribbed variety of muskmelon, of a very delicate flavor. [Written also cantaloup.] An acre well planted will produce 400 bushels of cantaloups. Gardner.Căn'ta-lĕv'er or Căn'ti-lĕv'er, n. p. 192(Arch.) A projecting block or bracket for supporting a balcony, the upper member of a cornice, the eaves of a house, &c. Gwilt.Can-tăn'ker-oŭs, a. p. 192Very vile or bitter; perverse; malicious; contentious. [Colloq.] “A cantankerous humor.” Thackeray.Căn'tär or Can-tä'ro, n. p. 192A weight in Europe and the East, which varies considerably in different localities; thus, at Rome it is nearly 75 pounds, in Sardinia nearly 44 pounds, in Cairo it is 45 pounds, in Syria about 500…Can-tä'tä or Can-tä'rē, n. p. 192(Mus.) A poem set to music; a musical composition comprising choruses and solos, arranged in a somewhat dramatic manner.Can-tā'tion, n. p. 192A singing. [Obs.]Cânt'a-to-ry, a. p. 192Containing cant or affectation: whining; singing. [Rare.]Can-ta-trī'ce, n. p. 192(Mus.) A female professional singer.Can-teen', n. p. 192A vessel used by soldiers for carrying liquor for drink. [Written also cantine.] Chambers. 2. The sutler's shop in a garrison; also a chest containing culinary and other vessels for officers.Căn’tel, n. p. 192See CANTLE.Căn’ter, v. i. p. 192To move, as a horse, in a moderate gallop, raising the two fore feet nearly at the same time, with a leap or spring.Cân’ter, v. t. p. 192To ride upon a canter.Căn’ter, n. p. 192A moderate gallop; a Canterbury-gallop. 2. A rapid passing over. A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics of the day. Sir J. Stephens.Cân'ter, n. p. 192One who cants or whines; a beggar. Gave all their money to the mendicanting canters. Bp. Taylor. 2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language. The days when he…Căn’ter-bur-y, n. p. 192A receptacle for music, portfolios, loose papers, &c., being a stand with divisions in it. Smart.Căn’ter-bur-y-bĕll, n. p. 192(Bot.) A species of Campanula. See BELL-FLOWER.Căn’ter-bur-y-găl’lop, n. p. 192The moderate gallop of a horse, commonly called a canter;—said to be derived from the pilgrims riding to Canterbury at this pace. Johnson.Căn’ter-bur-y-tāle, n. p. 192A fabulous story;—so called from the tales of Chaucer.Can-thăr'i-dine, n. p. 192(Chem.) The active principle of the cantharis, or Spanish-fly; a volatile, acrid solid, consisting of ten parts of carbon, six of hydrogen, and four of oxygen. Gregory.Căn’tha-ris, n. p. 192(Entom.) A coleopterous insect or beetle of the family Cantharidæ (Cantharis vesicatoria), having an elongated cylindrical body of a brilliant green color, with black antennæ, and a large…Cânt'-hōok, n. p. 192A wooden lever with an iron hook at the end, for canting or turning over heavy logs. [Amer.] Bartlett.Cān’thus, n. p. 192(Anat.) The corner or angle of the eye. Dunglison.Căn’ti-cle, n. p. 192A little song. Bacon. 2. (pl.) The Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon, one of the books of the Old Testament. 3. A canto or division of a song. [Obs.] Spenser.Căn'tile, v. t. p. 192To cut to pieces.