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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Căp'rĭne, a.p. 195Like, or pertaining to, a goat; as, caprine gambols.
  2. 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…
  3. Căp'ri-pēd, a.p. 195Having feet like those of a goat.
  4. Căp'ri-zant, a.p. 195(Med.) Having a leaping or bounding motion; as, a caprizant pulse. Dunglison.
  5. Căp'-shēaf, n.p. 195The top sheaf of a stack of grain; the crowning point or part.
  6. 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.
  7. 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…
  8. Cap-sīze', v. t.p. 195To upset or overturn, as a vessel or other body; as, to capsize a boat. Totten.
  9. Căp'size, n.p. 195An upset or overturn.
  10. Căp'-squāre, n.p. 195A strong plate of iron which comes over the trunnion of a cannon, and keeps it to its place. Totten.
  11. 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…
  12. Cāp'-stōne, n.p. 195(Palæon.) A fossil echinite of the genus Connulus,—so called from its supposed resemblance to a cap.
  13. 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.…
  14. Căp'su-late or Căp'su-lā'ted, a.p. 195Inclosed in a capsule, or as in a chest or box. Derham.
  15. 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…
  16. 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…
  17. Căp'tain, a.p. 195Possessing superiority in rank, courage, value, &c. “Captain jewels in the carcanet.” “Captive good attending captain ill.” Shak.
  18. Căp'tain-cy, n.p. 195The rank, post, or commission of a captain. Washington.
  19. Căp'tain-cy-gĕn'er-al, n.p. 195The office, power, territory, or jurisdiction of a captain-general.
  20. Căp'tain-pa-cha', n.p. 195The Turkish high-admiral. [Also written capitán-pacha.]
  21. Căp'tain-ry, n.p. 195The power, or command, over a certain district; chieftainship; captainship. Spenser.
  22. 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.
  23. 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…
  24. 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…
  25. 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…
  26. Căp'tious-ly, adv.p. 195In a captious manner; as, to use words captiously.
  27. Căp'tious-ness, n.p. 195Disposition to find fault; inclination to object; peevishness. Locke.
  28. 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…
  29. Căp'ti-vate, a.p. 196Taken prisoner. Women have been captivate ere now. Shak.
  30. Căp'ti-vā'ting, a.p. 196Having power to charm; as, captivating smiles.
  31. Căp'ti-vā'tion, n.p. 196The act of taking a prisoner; a taking one captive. “The captivation of our understanding.” Bp. Hall.
  32. 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…
  33. 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…
  34. Căp'tive, v. t.p. 196To take prisoner; to bring into subjection; to capture. [Obs.] “Their inhabitants slaughtered and captived.” Burke.
  35. 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…
  36. Căp'tor, n.p. 196One who takes, as a prisoner or a prize.
  37. 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.
  38. 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.
  39. Ca-puc'cio, n.p. 196A capuchin or hood. [Obs.] Spenser.
  40. Ca-puched’, a.p. 196Covered with a hood. [Obs.] They are differently cucullated or capuched upon the head and back. Browne.
  41. 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.
  42. 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.
  43. 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…
  44. Căp'ū-let, n.p. 196See CAPELLET.
  45. Căp'ū-lĭn, n.p. 196The Mexican cherry.
  46. 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…
  47. Cā'put Mōr'tu-ŭmp. 196(Old Chem.) The residuum or remainder of distillation or sublimation; worthless residue. Junius.
  48. Căr, n.p. 196A small vehicle moved on wheels. 2. A carriage for running on the rails of a railway. [U. S.] 3. A chariot of war or of triumph. See millions crowding the gilded car. Prior. The gilded car of day.…
  49. Căr'a-bīne, n.p. 196(Mil.) A kind of fire-arm. See CARBINE.
  50. Cār'a-bī-neer', n.p. 196A man who carries a carabine; a carbineer.
  51. Cār'a-boid, a.p. 196Like, or pertaining to, a genus of beetles, called Carabæus. Smart.
  52. Cār'ae, n.p. 196Same as CARACK.
  53. Căr'a-căl, n.p. 196(Zoöl.) A species of lynx (Felis caracal of Linnæus; Caracal melanotis, of others), a native of Africa, India, Persia, and Turkey, about two feet long. It preys on small quadrupeds and birds; its…
  54. Cār'ack, n.p. 196(Naut.) A large ship of burden, such as the Portuguese formerly used in trading to the East Indies. “Like some huge carack lay.” Waller.
  55. Căr'a-cōle, n.p. 196(Man.) A semi-round, or half turn, which a horseman makes, either to the right or left. 2. (Arch.) A staircase in a spiral form. Gavilt.
  56. Căr'a-cōle, v. i.p. 196To move in a caracole; to wheel. Prince John caracoled within the lists at the head of his jovial party. W. Scott.
  57. Căr'a-col-ī, n.p. 196An alloy of gold, silver, and copper, of which an inferior quality of jewelry is made.
  58. Ca-rāfe', n.p. 196A glass water-bottle for the table or toilet. Simmonds.
  59. Cār'a-gheen, n.p. 196See CARRAGEEN.
  60. Cār'a-mēl, n.p. 196(Chem.) Burnt sugar; a black, porous substance obtained by heating sugar to about 400°. It is soluble in water, forming a dark-brown solution, and is used to color brandy and other spirits. Gregory.