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.
Căp'no-mōr, n. p. 194(Chem.) A limpid, colorless oil, of a high refracting power, with an aromatic odor of ginger, obtained from the oil of tar. Gregory.Ca-pōc', n. p. 195A sort of cotton so short and fine that it can not be spun, used in the East Indies to line palanquins, to make mattresses, &c.Ca-pûch', n. p. 195A monk's hood; also, the hood of a cloak.Ca-pach', v. t. p. 195To cover with a hood; and hence, to hoodwink or blind. Capoched your rabbins of the synod, And snapped their canons with a why-not. Hudibras.Cā'pon, n. p. 195A castrated cock; a cock chicken gelded for the purpose of improving his flesh for the table. “The merry-thought of a capon.” W. Irving.Ca'pon, v. t. p. 195To castrate, as a cock. Birch.Cā'pon-et, n. p. 195A young capon. [Rare.]Căp'o-niēre', n. p. 195(Fort.) A work placed in a ditch for its defense by fire-arms, the defenders being covered on the sides, and sometimes overhead. If on the side only, it is single; if overhead, it is double. The work…Ca'pon-ize, v. t. p. 195To castrate, as a fowl. Barrington.Ca-pōt', n. p. 195A winning of all the tricks of cards at the game of piquet by either party of the players: it counts for forty points. Hoyle.Ca-pōt', v. t. p. 195To win all the tricks from, in playing at piquet.Ca-pōte', n. p. 195A long cloak extending from head to feet, worn by women. 2. A coat with a hood, worn by soldiers, sailors, and others. Simmonds.Ca-pouch', n. p. 195Same as CAPOCH.Căp'pa-dîne, n. p. 195A sort of silk flock or waste obtained from the cocoon after the silk has been reeled off, used for shag in making rugs. Simmonds.Cā'pa-nūs, n. p. 195(Zoöl.) A kind of worm very pernicious on account of its adhering to, and gnawing, the bottoms of ships. Ogilvie.Căp'-pā'per, n. p. 195A coarse brown paper, so called from being used to make caps to hold commodities. 2. A kind of writing-paper in large sheets, usually called foolscap.Căp'-pēak, n. p. 195The front piece or visor of a cap, by which it is usually put on and removed from the head. Simmonds.Căp'per, n. p. 195One whose business is to make or sell caps.Căp'ping-plāne, n. p. 195(Join.) A plane used for working the upper surface of staircase-rails. Ogilvie.Cā'pră, n. p. 195(Zoöl.) A genus of ruminant quadrupeds, including the common goat.Căp'rate, n. p. 195(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of capric acid with a base. Gregory.Căp're-o-late, a. p. 195(Bot.) Having tendrils, or spiral claspers, by which plants fasten themselves to other bodies. Martyn.Căp'ric, a. p. 195Obtained from butter, especially the butter and fat of the goat; as, capric acid. Gregory.Ca-prĭc'cĭo, n. p. 195(Mus.) A loose, irregular species of composition in which the composer continually digresses from his subject. Moore.Ca-prĭc'ci-ō'so, a. p. 195(Mus.) In a free, fantastic style. Moore.Ca-prīce', n. p. 195An abrupt change in feeling, opinion, or action, proceeding from some whim or fancy; a freak; a notion. “Caprices of appetite.” W. Irving. Syn.—Freak; whim; fancy; vagary; humor; whimsey; fickleness.Ca-prĭch'ĭō, n. p. 195Freak; fancy. (Obs.) Shak.Ca-prĭ'cious, a. p. 195Governed by caprice; apt to change suddenly; freakish; whimsical; changeable. “Capricious humor.” Hugh Miller. The king had a capricious partiality to the Romish practices. Hallam. Syn.—Arbitrary…Ca-pri'ciōus-ly, adv. p. 195In a capricious manner; whimsically.Ca-pri'cious-ness, n. p. 195The state or quality of being capricious; unsteadiness. “The capriciousness of taste.” Pennant. “The capriciousness of a sickly heart.” W. Irving.Căp'ri-corn, n. p. 195(Astron.) The tenth sign of the zodiac, into which the sun enters at the winter solstice, about the 21st of December; — represented on ancient monuments by the figure of a goat, or a figure having…Căp'rid, a. p. 195Relating to that tribe of ruminant mammals, of which the goat, or genus Capra, is the type.Căp'ri-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 195A process of promoting the production, or accelerating the ripening, of fruit, practiced in the Levant, particularly with the fig. It consists in suspending on the cultivated fig, branches of the…Căp'ri-fōle, n. p. 195The wild climbing vine, called also woodbine or honey-suckle. Spenser.Căp'ri-fōrm, a. p. 195Having the form of a goat.Ca-prĭ'ge-nous, a. p. 195Produced by a goat.Căp'rĭne, a. p. 195Like, or pertaining to, a goat; as, caprine gambols.Căp'ri-ōle, n. p. 195(Man.) A leap that a horse makes in the same place without advancing, in such a manner, that when he is at the height of the leap, he jerks out with his hind legs, even and near. 2. A leap or caper…Căp'ri-pēd, a. p. 195Having feet like those of a goat.Căp'ri-zant, a. p. 195(Med.) Having a leaping or bounding motion; as, a caprizant pulse. Dunglison.Căp'-shēaf, n. p. 195The top sheaf of a stack of grain; the crowning point or part.Căp'si-cĭne, n. p. 195(Chem.) The active principle found in the capsules of cayenne pepper: it has a resinous appearance and a burning taste. Gregory.Căp'si-cŭm, n. p. 195(Bot.) A genus of plants producing fruit in the form of pods or capsules containing berries, both pod and berry having a pungent, biting taste, and when ground forming the red or Cayenne pepper of…Cap-sīze', v. t. p. 195To upset or overturn, as a vessel or other body; as, to capsize a boat. Totten.Căp'size, n. p. 195An upset or overturn.Căp'-squāre, n. p. 195A strong plate of iron which comes over the trunnion of a cannon, and keeps it to its place. Totten.Căp’stan, n. p. 195(Naut.) A strong, massy column of timber, formed somewhat like a truncated cone, and having its upper extremity pierced to receive bars, or levers, for winding a rope round it, to raise great…Cāp'-stōne, n. p. 195(Palæon.) A fossil echinite of the genus Connulus,—so called from its supposed resemblance to a cap.Cap'su-lar or Cap'su-la-ry, a. p. 195Hollow, like a capsule; having the nature of a capsule; pertaining to a capsule. Capsular ligament (Anat.), a membranous, elastic bag or capsule, which surrounds joints in the animal system.…Căp'su-late or Căp'su-lā'ted, a. p. 195Inclosed in a capsule, or as in a chest or box. Derham.Căp'sūle, n. p. 195(Bot.) A seed pod or pericarp opening, when mature, by the separation of its valves. Gray. 2. (Chem.) (a.) A small saucer of clay for roasting or melting samples of ores, &c. (b.) A small, shallow…Căp'tain, n. p. 195A head, or chief officer; the military officer who commands a company or troop, or who has the rank entitling him to do so, though he may be employed on other service;—also, the commander of a ship…Căp'tain, a. p. 195Possessing superiority in rank, courage, value, &c. “Captain jewels in the carcanet.” “Captive good attending captain ill.” Shak.Căp'tain-cy, n. p. 195The rank, post, or commission of a captain. Washington.Căp'tain-cy-gĕn'er-al, n. p. 195The office, power, territory, or jurisdiction of a captain-general.Căp'tain-pa-cha', n. p. 195The Turkish high-admiral. [Also written capitán-pacha.]Căp'tain-ry, n. p. 195The power, or command, over a certain district; chieftainship; captainship. Spenser.Căp'tain-ship, n. p. 195The condition, rank, post, or authority of a captain or chief commander. “To take the captainship.” Shak. 2. Skill in military affairs; as, to show good captainship.Cap-tā'tion, n. p. 195The act or practice of catching favor, or applause, by flattery or address. I am content my heart should be discovered, without any of those dresses, or popular captations, which some men use in…Căp'tion, n. p. 195(Law.) That part of a legal instrument, as a commission, indictment, &c., which shows where, when, and by what authority, it was taken, found, or executed. Bouvier. Wharton. 2. The act of taking or…