Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Chăr'ac-ter-ism, n. p. 218The distinction of character. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Chăr'ac-ter-is'tic or Chăr'ac-ter-is'tic-al, a. p. 218Serving to constitute the character; serving to mark the peculiar distinctive qualities of a person or thing; peculiar; appropriate. “Characteristic clearness of temper.” Macaulay.Chăr'ac-ter-is'tic, n. p. 218That which constitutes a character; that which characterizes; that which distinguishes a person or thing from another. “The characteristics of a true critic.” Johnson. 2. (Math.) The index or…Chăr'ac-ter-is'tic-al, a. p. 218The same as CHARACTERISTIC. [Obs.]Chār`ac-ter-is'tic-al-ly, adv. p. 218In a manner that distinguishes character.Chār'ac-ter-is'tic-al-ness, n. p. 218The state or qualities of being characteristic.Chär'ac-ter-i-zā'tion, n. p. 218Act of characterizing.Chär'aç-ter-ize, v. t. p. 218To mark with a peculiar stamp or figure. European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are characterized. Arbuthnot. 2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Hale. 3. To give a character or an…Chăr'ac-ter-lĕss, a. p. 218Destitute of any peculiar character. Shakespeare saw that it was, in fact, the perfection of woman to be characterless. Coleridge.Chăr'ăc-tĕr'y, n. p. 218Manner or means of expressing by marks or characters. [Obs.] Fairies use flowers for their charactery. Shak. 2. That which is charactered or expressed. [Obs.] I will construe to thee All the…Cha-rāde', n. p. 218An enigma based upon a word, the parts of which, taken separately, are significant, their meaning, and that of the whole word, being discovered by description or representation.Chär'bon, n. p. 218(Far.) A small, black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become obliterated.Char'coal, n. p. 218Coal made by charring wood under turf, or in other circumstances to exclude air; wood-coal. Charcoal blacks, the black pigments, consisting of burnt ivory, bone, cork, peach-stones, and other…Chärd, n. p. 218A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent leaves, having a very solid rib running along the middle. Gardner. 2. The whitened or blanched leaves of the artichoke and some other…Châre, n. p. 218A narrow street. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Chär'fron, n. p. 218See CHAMFRON.Chär'ge, n. p. 218The load or burden which is laid upon a person or thing. [Obs.] “Asses of great charge.” Shak. 2. The person or thing committed or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust…Chärge, v. t. p. 218To lay on or impose, as a load or burden. 2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; — followed by with. He never seemed to charge his memory or to trouble his thoughts with a sense of any of…Chärge, v. i. p. 218To make an onset; as, to charge with fixed bayonets. Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanville. Could death charge through such a shining shield? Young.Chärge'a-ble, a. p. 218Capable of being charged, laid, imposed, or imputed; as, a duty chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man. 2. Subject to be charged or accused; as, revenues chargeable with a claim; a man…Chärge'a-ble-ness, n. p. 218The quality of being expensive; cost. Whitlock.Chärge'a-bly, adv. p. 218At great cost; expensively.Chargé d'Affaires, n. p. 218A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, at a foreign court, to whose care are confided the affairs of his nation; a minister of the fourth grade. Kent. Wheaton.Chärge'ful, a. p. 218Creating expense; costly. [Obs.] “The chargeful fashion.” Shak.Chärge'-house, n. p. 218A school-house. [Obs.] 2. A free school. [Obs.] Shak.Chärge'less, a. p. 218Not expensive; free from expense.Chär'ger, n. p. 218One who, or that which, charges. 2. A large dish. [Obs.] Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8. 3. A horse used in battle. And furious every charger neighed. Campbell. 4. (Scots…Chär-ge'ship, n. p. 218The office of a chargé d'affaires.Châr'i-ly, adv. p. 218In a careful, wary, or frugal manner. What paper do you take up so charily? Shak.Châr'i-ness, n. p. 218The quality of being chary, or cautious; care; nicety. Shak.Chăr'i-ot, n. p. 218(Antiq.) A war car or vehicle. First moved the chariots, after whom the foot. Cowper. 2. A four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage, having one seat. Shak.Chär'i-ot, v. t. p. 218To convey in a chariot.Chär'i-ot-ee', n. p. 218A four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two seats.Chär'i-ot-eer', n. p. 218The person who drives or conducts a chariot. Addison.Chär'i-ot-măn, n. p. 218The driver of a chariot.Chā'rism, n. p. 218(Eccl.) An extraordinary gift or talent bestowed upon the early Christians, as of tongues, healing, &c. J. E. Ryland.Chăr'i-ta-ble, a. p. 218Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind. Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . . . . . I will speak to thee. Shak. 2. Liberal in benefactions to the poor, and in relieving them in distress…Chār'i-ta-ble-ness, n. p. 219The quality of being charitable; the exercise of charity.Chār'i-ta-bly, adv. p. 219In a charitable manner; kindly; liberally.Chăr'i-ty, n. p. 219That disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good; love; benevolence; good-will. Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest…Chăr'i-ty-schōōl, n. p. 219A school maintained by voluntary contributions for educating poor children.Chä-rĭ-va-rĭ, n. p. 219A mock serenade of discordant music, kettles, tin horns, &c., designed to annoy and insult. ☞ It was at first directed against widows who married a second time, at an advanced age, but is now…Chärk, v. t. p. 219To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.] See CHAR.Chär'/la-tan, n. p. 219One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an empiric; a mountebank. Butler.Chăr'la-tān'ic-al, a. p. 219Making undue pretensions; quackish. “A charlatanical doctor.” Cowley.Chār`la-tan'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 219After the manner of a charlatan.Chār'la-tan-ism, n. p. 219Quackery; charlatanry.Chār'la-tan-ry, n. p. 219Undue pretensions to skill; quackery; wheedling; empiricism.Chārles’s Wāin p. 219(Astron.) The cluster of seven stars, commonly called the Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, or the Great Bear. ☞ The name is also sometimes applied to the constellation Ursa Minor.Chār'lock, n. p. 219(Bot.) A plant of the mustard family (Sinapis arvensis), which springs up as a weed in wheat-fields. Loudon.Chär'lotte-Russe, n. p. 219(Cookery.) A dish composed of custard or whipped syllabub, inclosed in a kind of sponge cake. Thackeray.Chārm, n. p. 219A magic spell; a sentence or combination of characters supposed to exert supernatural powers. “My high charms work.” Shak. 2. Any thing worn for its supposed efficacy on the wearer, in averting ill…Chärm, v. t. p. 219To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence. “No witchcraft charm thee.” Shak. 2. To subdue or soothe by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay. Music…Chärm, v. i. p. 219To produce the effect of a charm; to act as a charm; to please greatly.Chärm'er, n. p. 219One who charms, or has power to charm; one that uses or has the power of enchantment; a magician. Deut. xviii. 11. 2. One who delights and attracts the affections.Chärm'er-ess, n. p. 219An enchantress. Chaucer.Chärm'ful, a. p. 219Abounding with charms. “His charmful lyre.” Cowley.Chärm'ing, p. a. p. 219Pleasing in the highest degree; delighting. “How charming is divine philosophy.” Milton. Syn.—Enchanting; bewitching; captivating; enrapturing; alluring; fascinating; delightful; pleasurable…Chärm'ing-ly, adv. p. 219In a charming manner; delightfully.Chärm'ing-ness, n. p. 219The power to charm.