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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Căp'tious, a. p. 195Apt to catch at faults; disposed to find fault or to cavil; difficult to suit; peevish; fretful; perverse. “A captious and suspicious age.” Stillingfleet. I am sensible I have not disposed my…Căp'tious-ly, adv. p. 195In a captious manner; as, to use words captiously.Căp'tious-ness, n. p. 195Disposition to find fault; inclination to object; peevishness. Locke.Căp'ti-vāte, v. t. p. 196To take prisoner; to seize by force; to capture; to subdue. [Rare.] Their woes, whom fortune captivates. Shak. 2. To overpower with excellence or beauty; to charm. Small landscapes of captivating…Căp'ti-vate, a. p. 196Taken prisoner. Women have been captivate ere now. Shak.Căp'ti-vā'ting, a. p. 196Having power to charm; as, captivating smiles.Căp'ti-vā'tion, n. p. 196The act of taking a prisoner; a taking one captive. “The captivation of our understanding.” Bp. Hall.Căp'tive, n. p. 196A prisoner taken by force or stratagem in war, by an enemy. Like captives bound to a triumphant car. Shak. Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains. Milton. 2. One charmed or subdued by beauty…Căp'tive, a. p. 196Made prisoner, especially in war; kept in bondage or confinement. A poor, miserable, captive thrall. Milton. My woman's heart grew captive to his honey words. Shak. 2. Serving to confine; relating to…Căp'tive, v. t. p. 196To take prisoner; to bring into subjection; to capture. [Obs.] “Their inhabitants slaughtered and captived.” Burke.Cap-tiv'i-ty, n. p. 196The state of being a prisoner, or of being in the power of an enemy, by force or the fate of war. More celebrated in his captivity than in his greatest triumphs. Dryden. 2. A state of being under…Căp'tor, n. p. 196One who takes, as a prisoner or a prize.Căp't'ure, n. p. 196The act of taking or seizing by force; seizure; arrest; as, the capture of an enemy. 2. The thing taken; a prize; prey taken by force, surprise, or stratagem. Syn.—Seizure; arrest; detention.Căp't/ure, v. t. p. 196To take or seize by force, surprise, or stratagem. Her heart is like some fortress that has been captured. W. Irving.Ca-puc'cio, n. p. 196A capuchin or hood. [Obs.] Spenser.Ca-puched’, a. p. 196Covered with a hood. [Obs.] They are differently cucullated or capuched upon the head and back. Browne.Căp/ū-chĭn’, n. p. 196A garment for females, consisting of a cloak and hood, made in imitation of the dress of capuchin monks. Johnson. 2. A pigeon whose head is covered with feathers.Căp'ū-chĭn', n. p. 196(Eccl.) One of the monks of the order of St. Francis. “A bare-footed and long-bearded capuchin.” W. Scott.Căp'ū-chĭn' or Căp'ū-cĭne, n. p. 196(Zoöl.) A species of monkey (Cebus capucinus), a native of Guinea, characterized by having the hair on the crown and back part of the head of a black color, resembling a monk's cap or hood, the rest…Căp'ū-let, n. p. 196See CAPELLET.Căp'ū-lĭn, n. p. 196The Mexican cherry.Cā'put, n. p. 196(Eng.) The council of a university, by which every grace must be approved before it can be submitted to the senate. It consists of the vice-chancellor, a doctor of each of the faculties of divinity…