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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Căn'ti-lĕv'er, n. p. 192See CANTALEVER.Căn'til-lāte, v. t. p. 192To chant; to recite with musical tones. M. Stuart.Căn`til-lā'tion, n. p. 192A chanting; recitation with musical modulations.Can-tīne', n. p. 192See CANTEEN.Cânt'ing-ly, adv. p. 192With a cant.Cânt'ing-ness, n. p. 192Quality of uttering in cant.Can-tin'-i-ère', n. p. 192(Mil.) A female sutler to a regiment of soldiers. Simmonds.Căn’tion, n. p. 192A song or verses. [Obs.] Spenser.Căn’tle, n. p. 192A fragment, corner, or edge of any thing. Cuts me from the best of all my land A huge half moon, a monstrous cantle, out. Shak. 2. The hind-bow, or protuberance of a saddle. [Also written cantel.]Cân′tle, v. t. p. 192To cut into pieces; to cut out a piece from. [Obs.] Dryden.Cânt'let, n. p. 192A piece; a little corner; a fragment. Dryden.Căn’to, n. p. 192One of the chief divisions of a poem of some length; a book. 2. (Mus.) The soprano, or highest part.Căn’to-têr’mo, n. p. 192(Mus.) The plain ecclesiastical chant used in cathedral service.Căn′ton, n. p. 192A small portion or division of territory. That little canton of land called the “English pale.” Davies. 2. A small community or clan. Buxton. 3. A small portion or district of territory, constituting…Căn’ton, v. t. p. 193To divide into small parts or districts, as territory; to divide into distinct portions. They canton out to themselves a little province in the intellectual world. Watts. Cantoned building (Arch.)…Căn’ton-al, a. p. 193Pertaining to a canton; divided into cantons.Căn'/ton-ēse', a. p. 193(Geog.) Pertaining to Canton, in China.Căn'/ton-ēse', n. p. 193A native or inhabitant of Canton.Căn′ton-īze, v. t. p. 193To divide into small districts or cantons. “To cantonize the provinces.” Camden.Căn’ton-ment, n. p. 193A part or division of a town or village, assigned to a particular regiment of troops; separate quarters. Marshall. ☞ Troops are in cantonment, or are cantoned, when distributed at any time among…Can-tōon’, n. p. 193A strong stuff or fustian with a fine cord visible on one side and a satiny surface of yarns on the other.Căn’trap, n. p. 193An incantation or spell. 2. Mischief artfully performed. [Scot.]Căn’tred or Căn’tref, n. p. 193A hundred villages, as in Wales. Davies.Căn′ty, a. p. 193Cheerful; sprightly; merry. [Scot. and Prov. Eng.] Contented with little, and canty with mair. Burns. Then at her door the canty dame Would sit. Wordsworth.Căn'vas, n. p. 193A coarse cloth made of hemp or flax, used for tents, sails of ships, painting, and other purposes. By glimmering lanes and walls of canvas led. Tennyson. 2. A clear, unbleached cloth, wove regularly…