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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Căv'il, v. i.p. 208To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. You do not well, in obstinacy. To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak.
  2. Căv'il, v. t.p. 208To receive or treat with objections; to find fault with. [Obs.]
  3. Căv'il, n.p. 208A false or frivolous objection; a fallacious reason, bearing some resemblance to truth; a sophistical argument. “All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief.” South. “Abstract cavils concerning the…
  4. Căv'il-er, n.p. 208One who cavils; one who raises captious objections; a captious disputant. “Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures.” Boyle.
  5. Cāv'il-ing-ly, adv.p. 208In a caviling manner.
  6. Căv'il-lā'tion, n.p. 208The act or practice of caviling, or raising frivolous objections. [Obs.] Hooker.
  7. Căv'il-ōŭs, a.p. 208Apt to object without good reason; captious. [Rare.] Ayliffe.
  8. Căv'il-ōus-ly, adv.p. 208In a cavilous manner; captiously. [Rare.] Milton.
  9. Căv'il-ōŭs-ness, n.p. 208A disposition or aptitude to raise frivolous objections; captiousness. [Rare.]
  10. Cāv'in, n.p. 208(Mil.) A hollow way, or natural hollow, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their approach to a place.
  11. Cā'vĭ-ta-ry, a.p. 209(Zoöl.) Containing a cavity, as the cavitary or nematoid worms. See NEMATOID.
  12. Căv'i-ti'ed, a.p. 209Having cavities. R. Owen.
  13. Cāv'i-ty, n.p. 209A hollow place; an opening; any inclosed space. “An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon.” — Arbuthnot. 2. The state of being hollow; hollowness. “The cavity or hollowness of the…
  14. Cā'vy, n.p. 209(Zoöl.) A quadruped of the genus Cavia, as the guinea pig (Cavia cobaya). These cavies are rodents, having a very short tail, or none at all, and bearing some resemblance to a pig: they are natives…
  15. Caw, v. i.p. 209To cry like a crow, rook, or raven. “Rising and cawing at the gun’s report.” Shak.
  16. Caw, n.p. 209The noise or cry made by the crow, rook, or raven. Cowper.
  17. Cawk or Cauk, n.p. 209(Min.) An opaque, compact variety of sulphate of baryta, or heavy spar. — Dana.
  18. Cawk'er, n.p. 209Same as CALKER.
  19. Cawk'y, a.p. 209Pertaining to cawk; like cawk.
  20. Căx'on, n.p. 209A wig. [Cant.] Miss Mitford.
  21. Cāx'on, n.p. 209A chest of ores of any metal that has been burnt, ground, and washed, and is ready to be refined. — Chalmers.
  22. Căx'ton, n.p. 209(Bibliography.) A book printed by William Caxton, the first English printer, who died in the year 1492. Hansard.
  23. Cāy-ènne' Pēp'perp. 209A very pungent pepper, the product of several species of Capsicum.
  24. Cāy'man, n.p. 209(Zoöl.) A genus of American reptiles of the crocodile family; the alligator. It is distinguished from the true crocodile by not having webbed feet, and by other characteristics. [Sometimes written…
  25. Ca-zique' or Ca-zie', n.p. 209A king or chief among some tribes of Indians in America.
  26. Cāz'zon, n.p. 209The dried dung of cattle, employed for fuel. [Prov. Eng.]
  27. Cease, v. i.p. 209To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over. “To cease from strife.” Prov. xx. 3. 2. To be wanting; to fail. The poor shall never cease out of the land. Deut. xv. 11.
  28. Cease, v. t.p. 209To put a stop to; to bring to an end. But he, her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyed Peace. Milton. Cease, then, this impious rage. Milton.
  29. Cēase, n.p. 209Extinction. [Obs.]
  30. Cēase'less, a.p. 209Without pause or end; incessant; continual; without intermission. All these with ceaseless praise his works behold. Milton.
  31. Cēase'less-ly, adv.p. 209Without intermission or end.
  32. Cecchin, n.p. 209See ZECHIN.
  33. Cē'ci-ty, n.p. 209A state of blindness. [Rare.] There is in them [moles] no cecity, yet more than a cecutiency. — Browne.
  34. Cæ-cū'tien-cy, n.p. 209Partial blindness, or a tendency to blindness. [Rare.] Browne.
  35. Cē'dar, n.p. 209(Bot.) A tree of different species of Cupressus, Abies, and Larix. It is an evergreen, and remarkable for the durability of its wood, which has a fragrant odor. The cedar of Lebanon is the Larix…
  36. Cē'dar, a.p. 209Of, or pertaining to, cedar; as, a cedar chest.
  37. Cē'dar-bird, n.p. 209(Ornith.) A species of chatterer (Ampelis Carolinensis), so named from frequenting cedar trees;—called also American wax-wing. Baird.
  38. Cē'dared, a.p. 209Covered, or furnished with, cedars.
  39. Cē'darn, a.p. 209Pertaining to the cedar, or made of cedar wood; cedrine. [Rare.] — Milton.
  40. Cède, v. t.p. 209To yield or surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cède a fortress, a province, or country, by treaty. The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights. — Jay.
  41. Ce-dīl'īă, n.p. 209A mark placed under the letter c [thus, ç], to show that it is to be sounded like s; as in façade.
  42. Cē'drat, n.p. 209(Bot.) A species of citron-tree. Tooke.
  43. Cē'dre-lā'ceoŭs, a.p. 209(Bot.) Pertaining to a class of trees which includes the cedar-tree of Australia, and the mahogany-tree of the Spanish Main. Smart.
  44. Cē'drine, a.p. 209Belonging to cedar.
  45. Cē'dary, a.p. 209Having the color or properties of cedar.
  46. Cēd'ūle, n.p. 209A scroll; a writing; a schedule. [Obs.] Colgrave.
  47. Cĕd'ŭ-ōŭs, a.p. 209Fit to be felled. [Obs.] Evelyn.
  48. Cēil, v. t.p. 209To overlay or cover the inner roof of; to line the top or roof of. The greater house he ceiled with fir-tree. 2 Chron. iii. 5.
  49. Ceil'ing, n.p. 209(Arch.) The upper, interior surface of an apartment, opposite the floor. Gwilt. 2. (Naut.) The inside planks of a ship.
  50. Cēl'an-dīne, n.p. 209(Bot.) A genus of plants belonging to the poppy family (Chelidonium); — called also swallow-wort, said to be so named because it was formerly supposed to flower at the season when the swallows…
  51. Cēl'ā-tūre, n.p. 209The act or art of engraving or embossing. 2. That which is engraved. [Obs.] Hakewill.
  52. Cĕl'e-brant, n.p. 209One who performs a public religious rite;—applied particularly to the officiating priest in the Roman Catholic church.
  53. Cēl'e-brāte, v. t.p. 209To mention with praise or commendation; to extol; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High. 2. To honor by solemn rites, or by ceremonies of joy and respect; to solemnize; as, to celebrate the…
  54. Cēl'e-brā'ted, a.p. 209Having celebrity; distinguished; well known. Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay. Syn.—Distinguished; famous; renowned; illustrious. See DISTINGUISHED.
  55. Cēl'e-brā'tion, n.p. 209Honor or distinction bestowed, whether by songs, eulogies, rites, or ceremonies; commendation; praise. “His memory deserving a particular celebration.” Clarendon. 2. Commemoration or observance with…
  56. Cĕl'e-brā'tor, n.p. 209One who celebrates. Boyle.
  57. Ce-lē'bri-oŭs, a.p. 209Famous. [Obs.] Speed.
  58. Ce-lē'bri-oŭs-ly, adv.p. 209With praise or renown. [Obs.]
  59. Ce-lē'brī-oŭs-ness, n.p. 209Fame; renown. [Obs.]
  60. Cĕ-lĕb'ri-ty, n.p. 209The condition of being celebrated; distinction or honor conferred; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. “An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy.” Whewell. 2. Celebration.…