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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. Cā'ter-er, n.p. 206A provider, buyer, or purveyor of provisions. The little fowls in the air have God for their provider and caterer. Shelton.
  2. Cā'ter-ess, n.p. 206A woman who caters; a female provider of food. Milton.
  3. Cāt'er-pīl'lar, n.p. 206(Entom.) The larve or larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, where the larves have legs for crawling. The…
  4. Căt'er-pil'lar-cătch'er or Căt'er-pil'lar-ēat'er, n.p. 206(Ornith.) A bird belonging to the family of shrikes, and feeding on caterpillars. Baird.
  5. Căt'er-wȧul, v. i.p. 206To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise.
  6. Cât'er-wu'l'ing, n.p. 206The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry. Shak.
  7. Cât'er-y, n.p. 206The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]
  8. Câtes, n. pl.p. 206Provisions; food; viands; especially luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. Though my cates be mean, take them in good part. Shak. Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Churchill. All cates and…
  9. Căt'-e'yed, a.p. 206Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.
  10. Căt'-fall, n.p. 206(Naut.) A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cat-head. Totten.
  11. Căt'-fish, n.p. 206(Ichth.) (a.) The sea-cat or sea-wolf (Anarrhichas lupus), a large fish, often from six to seven feet in length, having a mouth armed with formidable teeth, and of very voracious habits. It is found…
  12. Căt'-gŭt, n.p. 206A kind of cord made from the intestines of animals, especially of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, and other purposes. Tomlinson. 2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.
  13. Câth'a-rine-wheel, n.p. 206(Goth. Arch.) An ornamented window, or compartment of a window, of a circular form, with rosettes or radiating divisions or spokes. 2. (Pyrotechny.) A revolving wheel resembling in form the window of…
  14. Câth'a-rīst, n.p. 206One who pretends to more purity than others possess.
  15. Căt'-hărp-in or Căt'-hărp-ing, n.p. 206(Naut.) A rope or iron leg serving to brace in the shrouds of the lower masts behind their respective yards, to tighten the shrouds, and give more room to draw in the yards, when the ship is…
  16. Ca-thâr'sis, n.p. 206(Med.) A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, &c. Dunglison.
  17. Ca-thär'tic, a.p. 206
  18. Ca-thär'tie-alp. 206Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.
  19. Ca-thär'tic, n.p. 206(Med.) A medicine that promotes alvine discharges, and thus cleanses the stomach and bowels; a purge; a purgative. Dunglison.
  20. Ca-thâr'tie-al-ly, adv.p. 206In the manner of a cathartic.
  21. Ca-thâr'tie-al-ness, n.p. 206The quality of promoting discharges from the bowels.
  22. Ca-thâr'ti-na or Ca-thâr'tine, n.p. 206(Chem.) The bitter, purgative principle of senna. Gregory.
  23. Căt'-hĕad, n.p. 206(Naut.) A timber projecting from the bow of a ship, through which the ropes pass by which the anchor is raised, and to which it may be secured. Totten.
  24. Câth'e-drâ or Ca-thê'drâ, n.p. 206A chair; appropriately, the chair or seat of a person in authority, as a bishop or lecturer.
  25. Ca-thê'dral, n.p. 206The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair or throne. Hook.
  26. Ca-thē'dral, a.p. 206Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service. 2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative. Now, what solemnity can…
  27. Căth'e-drā'ted, a.p. 206Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. Whitlock.
  28. Cāth'e-rē'tic, n.p. 206(Med.) A mild kind of caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences. Dunglison.
  29. Câth'e-rine-peâr, n.p. 206A sort of small pear.
  30. Câth'e-rine-wheel, n.p. 206See CATHARINE-WHEEL.
  31. Căth'e-ter, n.p. 206(Surg.) A tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder to draw off the urine. Dunglison.
  32. Cāth'e-tŏm'e-ter, n.p. 206An instrument for measuring differences of vertical heights, especially the rise and fall of liquid columns in glass tubes. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down…
  33. Căth'e-tĭs, n.p. 206(Geom.) A line or radius, falling perpendicularly on another, as the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle. [Obs.] Barlow.
  34. Căth'ōde, n.p. 206(Electro-chem.) The part of a galvanic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the…
  35. Căt'-hōle, n.p. 206(Naut.) One of two small holes astern, above the gun-room ports, through which hawsers may be passed.
  36. Căth'o-lic, a.p. 206Universal or general; as, the catholic faith. ☞ This epithet is rightly applied to the whole Christian church, although it has been claimed exclusively by the church of Rome, to which it is often…
  37. Cāth'o-lic, n.p. 206An adherent of the Roman Catholic church.
  38. Ca-thŏl'ic-al, a.p. 206Universal; catholic. [Obs.] 2. Relating to the Romish church. [Obs.] Grafton.
  39. Ca-thŏl'i-cĭsm, n.p. 206Quality of being catholic or universal. Taylor. 2. The orthodox faith of the whole Christian church. Swinburne. 3. Adherence to the Roman Catholic church; the Roman Catholic faith. 4. Liberality of…
  40. Cāth'o-lĭc'i-ty, n.p. 206The system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church. 2. The doctrines of the church of Rome. 3. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism.
  41. Ca-thōl'i-cize, v. i.p. 206To become catholic or a Roman Catholic. [Obs.]
  42. Cāth'o-lic-ly, adv.p. 206In a catholic manner; generally; universally. [Obs.] Sir L. Cary.
  43. Cāth'o-lic-ness, n.p. 206Universality. Brevint.
  44. Ca-thŏl'i-cōn, n.p. 206(Med.) A remedy for all diseases; a universal remedy; a panacea.
  45. Ca-thōl'i-cŏs, n.p. 206(Eccl.) The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who ordains bishops, and consecrates the sacred oil used in religious ceremonies. Coleman.
  46. Căt′-hōōk, n.p. 206(Naut.) A large hook fitted to the cat-block, by which the anchor is raised to the cat-head. Totten.
  47. Căt'i-li-nā'ri-an, a.p. 206Resembling, or pertaining to, Catiline, the Roman.
  48. Căt'i-li-nā'ri-an, n.p. 206One who resembles Catiline.
  49. Căt'i-lin-īsm, n.p. 206The principles and practices of Catiline, the Roman conspirator; conspiracy.
  50. Cā'ti-on, n.p. 206(Chem.) An electro-positive substance, which in electro-decomposition is evolved at the cathode. Faraday.
  51. Căt'kin, n.p. 206(Bot.) An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of many scales ranged along a slender stalk, which is the common receptacle, as in hazel, birch, oak, willow, poplar, &c.; — so called from its…
  52. Căt'ling, n.p. 206A little cat. “Cat nor catling.” Drummond. 2. (Surg.) A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife. Harris. 3. The down or moss growing about some trees, resembling the hair of a cat. Harris. 4.…
  53. Căt′-mint or Căt′-nip, n.p. 207(Bot.) A well-known plant of the genus Nepeta, somewhat like mint, having a strong scent, and sometimes used in medicine: the common species is N. cataria. It is so called because cats, as is said…
  54. Căt'o-ca-thār'tic, n.p. 207(Med.) A remedy that purges downward, or by alvine discharges. Dunglison.
  55. Ca-tō'ni-an, a.p. 207Pertaining to, or resembling, Cato the Censor, who was remarkable for the severity of his manners; grave; severe; inflexible.
  56. Căt'-o'-nīne'-tāils, n.p. 207A whip with nine lashes.
  57. Ca-tŏp'ter or Ca-tŏp'tron, n.p. 207A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror. [Obs.]
  58. Ca-tŏp'tric or Ca-tŏp'tric-al, a.p. 207Relating to catoptrics, or vision by reflection.
  59. Ca-tōp'tries, n. sing.p. 207(Physics.) That part of optics which explains the properties and phenomena of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from mirrors or polished bodies. [See MATHEMATICS.]
  60. Ca-tōp'tro-mān'cy, n.p. 207(Antiq.) A species of divination, which was performed by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an…