Dictionary
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.
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…Cā'put Mōr'tu-ŭm p. 196(Old Chem.) The residuum or remainder of distillation or sublimation; worthless residue. Junius.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.…Căr'a-bīne, n. p. 196(Mil.) A kind of fire-arm. See CARBINE.Cār'a-bī-neer', n. p. 196A man who carries a carabine; a carbineer.Cār'a-boid, a. p. 196Like, or pertaining to, a genus of beetles, called Carabæus. Smart.Cār'ae, n. p. 196Same as CARACK.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…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.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.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.Căr'a-col-ī, n. p. 196An alloy of gold, silver, and copper, of which an inferior quality of jewelry is made.Ca-rāfe', n. p. 196A glass water-bottle for the table or toilet. Simmonds.Cār'a-gheen, n. p. 196See CARRAGEEN.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.Cā'ranx, n. p. 196(Ichth.) A genus of fishes of the Scomber or mackerel family. The most common species is C. vulgaris, called on the British coast scad or horse-mackerel. Baird.Căr'a-pāce or Căr'a-păx, n. p. 196A thick shell or shield which covers the back of the tortoise, or turtle; the upper shell of the crab, or other crustaceous animal.Cār'at, n. p. 196The weight of four grains, used by jewelers in weighing precious stones and pearls. 2. A twenty-fourth part:—a denomination used in determining the proportionate fineness of gold. The whole mass of…Cār'a-văn or Cār'a-văn', n. p. 196A company of travelers, pilgrims, or merchants, marching or proceeding in a body, or traveling together for greater security, especially through countries infested by robbers, or hostile tribes. “Men…Cār'a-van-eer', n. p. 196The leader or driver of the camels in a caravan.Căr'a-văn'sa-ry or Căr'a-văn'se-ra, n. p. 196A kind of inn, in the East, where caravans rest at night, being a large, square building, with a spacious court in the middle.Căr'a-vĕl, n. p. 196(Naut.) A kind of light, round, old-fashioned ship, with a square poop, rigged like a galley, and not much above a hundred tons in burden; — formerly used by Spaniards and Portuguese. To board the…Cār'a-wāy, n. p. 196(Bot.) A biennial plant of the parsley family (Carum carui). The seeds have an aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent taste. They are used in confectionery, and also in medicine as a carminative. 2. A…Car-bāz'o-tate, n. p. 196(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of carbazotic acid with a base.Căr'ba-zōt'ic, a. p. 196(Chem.) Produced by the decomposition of different substances, as carbolic acid, indigo, salicine, silk, aloes, &c., by means of nitric acid; — applied to an acid which consists of carbon, nitrogen…Cär'bīne, n. p. 196(Mil.) A fire-arm intermediate between the pistol and musket in length and weight, used by mounted troops.Căr'bĭ-neer', n. p. 196(Mil.) A soldier armed with a carbine; a light-horseman; a carabineer.