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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'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.
  2. 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…
  3. 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…
  4. 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…
  5. Căp'tious-ly, adv.p. 195In a captious manner; as, to use words captiously.
  6. Căp'tious-ness, n.p. 195Disposition to find fault; inclination to object; peevishness. Locke.
  7. 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…
  8. Căp'ti-vate, a.p. 196Taken prisoner. Women have been captivate ere now. Shak.
  9. Căp'ti-vā'ting, a.p. 196Having power to charm; as, captivating smiles.
  10. Căp'ti-vā'tion, n.p. 196The act of taking a prisoner; a taking one captive. “The captivation of our understanding.” Bp. Hall.
  11. 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…
  12. 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…
  13. Căp'tive, v. t.p. 196To take prisoner; to bring into subjection; to capture. [Obs.] “Their inhabitants slaughtered and captived.” Burke.
  14. 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…
  15. Căp'tor, n.p. 196One who takes, as a prisoner or a prize.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Ca-puc'cio, n.p. 196A capuchin or hood. [Obs.] Spenser.
  19. Ca-puched’, a.p. 196Covered with a hood. [Obs.] They are differently cucullated or capuched upon the head and back. Browne.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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…
  23. Căp'ū-let, n.p. 196See CAPELLET.
  24. Căp'ū-lĭn, n.p. 196The Mexican cherry.
  25. 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…
  26. Cā'put Mōr'tu-ŭmp. 196(Old Chem.) The residuum or remainder of distillation or sublimation; worthless residue. Junius.
  27. 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.…
  28. Căr'a-bīne, n.p. 196(Mil.) A kind of fire-arm. See CARBINE.
  29. Cār'a-bī-neer', n.p. 196A man who carries a carabine; a carbineer.
  30. Cār'a-boid, a.p. 196Like, or pertaining to, a genus of beetles, called Carabæus. Smart.
  31. Cār'ae, n.p. 196Same as CARACK.
  32. 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…
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. Căr'a-col-ī, n.p. 196An alloy of gold, silver, and copper, of which an inferior quality of jewelry is made.
  37. Ca-rāfe', n.p. 196A glass water-bottle for the table or toilet. Simmonds.
  38. Cār'a-gheen, n.p. 196See CARRAGEEN.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. 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.
  42. 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…
  43. 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…
  44. Cār'a-van-eer', n.p. 196The leader or driver of the camels in a caravan.
  45. 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.
  46. 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…
  47. 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…
  48. Car-bāz'o-tate, n.p. 196(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of carbazotic acid with a base.
  49. 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…
  50. Cär'bīne, n.p. 196(Mil.) A fire-arm intermediate between the pistol and musket in length and weight, used by mounted troops.
  51. Căr'bĭ-neer', n.p. 196(Mil.) A soldier armed with a carbine; a light-horseman; a carabineer.
  52. Car-bŏl'ic Āç'idp. 196An oily liquid, colorless, having a burning taste, and the odor of creosote, to which it has great resemblance; it is obtained from coal-tar. Gregory.
  53. Cār'bon, n.p. 196(Chem.) An elementary substance, not metallic in nature, which predominates in all organic compounds. It is combustible, and forms the base of charcoal, and enters largely into mineral coals. In its…
  54. Cär'-bo-nā'-ceoūs, a.p. 196Pertaining, or relating to, or containing, or composed of, carbon. “Carbonaceous matters.” Gregory.
  55. Căr'bo-nāde or Căr'bo-nā'do, n.p. 196(Cookery.) Flesh, fowl, or the like, cut across, seasoned, and broiled on coals. [Obs.]
  56. Căr'bo-nā'do or Căr'bo-nāde, v. t.p. 196To cut or hack for frying or broiling. [Obs.] “A hare daintily carbonadoed.” Beau. & Fl. 2. To cut or hack. [Obs.] “With his keen-edged spear he cut and carbonadoed them.” Massinger.
  57. Cār'bo-nā'rī, n. pl.p. 196Members of a secret political association in Italy, in the early part of the nineteenth century, for changing the government by force into a republic. The origin of the society is uncertain, but is…
  58. Căr'bo-nā'rism, n.p. 196The principles of the Carbonari.
  59. Cär'bon-ate, n.p. 196(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of carbonic acid with a base. Gregory.
  60. Cär'bon-ā'ted, a.p. 196Combined or impregnated with carbonic acid.