Library

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.

  1. Chĕr'ry-pĕp'per, n.p. 222(Bot.) A species of Capsicum (C. cerasiforme), whose fruit is small and shaped like a cherry. Loudon.
  2. Chĕr'ry-rūm', n.p. 222Rum in which cherries are steeped.
  3. Chĕr'ry-tree, n.p. 222A tree producing cherries, especially the common cultivated trees, and that which produces the black wild cherry, the wood of which is valued for cabinet-work.
  4. Chēr'so-nēse, n.p. 222A peninsula; a tract of land of any indefinite extent, which is nearly surrounded by water, but united to a larger tract by a neck of land, or isthmus; as, the Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland; the…
  5. Chērt, n.p. 222(Min.) An impure, massive, flint-like quartz or hornstone, of various dull shades of color. Dana.
  6. Chērt'y, a.p. 222Like chert; containing chert. Pennant.
  7. Chēr'ub, n.p. 222(Script.) One of an order of angels, variously represented at different times, usually regarded as distinguished by their knowledge from the seraphs, who are supposed to be ardent in love. 2. (Jewish…
  8. Che-ru'bic or Che-ru'bic-al, a.p. 222Pertaining to cherubs; angelic. Sheldon. And the cherubic host, in thousand choirs, Touch their immortal harps of golden wires. Milton.
  9. Chĕr'u-bĭm, n.p. 222The Hebrew plural of cherub.
  10. Chĕr'u-bĭn, a.p. 222Cherubic; angelic. [Obs.] Shak.
  11. Chĕr'u-bĭn, n.p. 222A cherub. [Obs.] Dryden.
  12. Chĕr'up, v. i.p. 222To make a short, shrill sound; to chirp; as, cheruping birds. Drayton.
  13. Chĕr'up, v. t.p. 222To excite or urge on by making a short, shrill sound. He cherups brisk his car-erecting steed. Cowper.
  14. Chĕr'up, n.p. 222A short, sharp noise; as, the cherup of a cricket.
  15. Chĕr'vil, n.p. 222(Bot.) A plant of the genus Chærophyllum, one species of which (C. sativum) is used in soups and salads.
  16. Chē'si-ble, n.p. 222See CHASUBLE.
  17. Chēs’lip, n.p. 222A small vermin that lies under stones.
  18. Chĕss, n.p. 222A game played by two persons, on a board containing sixty-four squares, like that used in checkers, with two differently colored sets of pieces, or men, sixteen in each set: eight are pawns, having…
  19. Chĕss, n.p. 222(Bot.) A kind of grass (Bromus secalinus) which grows among wheat, and is often erroneously regarded as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears some resemblance to oats, and if reaped and ground up…
  20. Chĕss'-ăp'ple, n.p. 222The wild-service (Crataegus terminalis).
  21. Chĕss'-bōard, n.p. 222The board used in the game of chess, having eight rows of squares, eight in each row, alternately of different colors.
  22. Chēs'sel, n.p. 222The wooden vat in which cheese is pressed. Gardner.
  23. Chēs'sex, n.p. 222(Mil.) The boards used for the flooring of a temporary military bridge. [See Illust. of Bateau-bridge.]
  24. Chĕss'-măn, n.p. 222A piece used in the game of chess.
  25. Chēs'som, n.p. 222Mellow earth. Bacon.
  26. Chĕss'-tree, n.p. 222(Naut.) A piece of wood bolted perpendicularly on the side, to confine the clews of the main-sail. Totten.
  27. Chĕst, n.p. 222A box of wood, or other material, in which articles are deposited; it differs from a trunk in not being covered with skin or leather. “Heaps of money crowded in the chest.” Dryden. 2. A coffin.…
  28. Chēst, v. t.p. 222To deposit in a chest; to hoard.
  29. Chēst'ed, a.p. 222Having a chest; as, thick-chested; narrow-chested.
  30. Chēst'-found'er, n.p. 222(Far.) A rheumatic affection of the muscles by which the fore-limbs of a horse are moved, as well as of those which are necessary to respiration. It resembles somewhat the acute rheumatism of the…
  31. Chĕst'nut, n.p. 222(Bot.) (a.) The fruit, seed, or nut of a tree belonging to the genus Castanea (C. vesca), inclosed in a prickly pericarp or bur. (b.) The tree itself, or its timber.
  32. Chēst'nut, a.p. 222Being of the color of a chestnut; of a reddish brown color.
  33. Chĕst'nut-tree, n.p. 222The tree which produces the chestnut (Castanea vesca). It is a valuable timber-tree.
  34. Chēs'ton, n.p. 222A species of plum. Johnson.
  35. Chē'tah, n.p. 222See CHEETAH.
  36. Chēt’wērt, n.p. 222A measure of grain equal to 0.7218 of an imperial quarter, or nearly six Winchester bushels. [Russia.]
  37. Chēv'a-chīē, n.p. 222An expedition with cavalry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  38. Chēv'age, n.p. 222See CHIEFAGE.
  39. Che-vâl', n.p. 222A support or frame.
  40. Che-vāl'-de-frīse or CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE, n.p. 222(Mil.) A piece of timber traversed with wooden spikes, pointed with iron, five or six feet long, used to defend a passage, stop a breach, or make a retrenchment to stop cavalry. “The obstructions of…
  41. Che-vāl'-glāss, n.p. 222A large mirror, mounted so as to swing in a frame; a dressing glass.
  42. Chēv'/a-liēr', n.p. 222A horseman; hence, a knight; a gallant young man. “Mount, chevaliers; to arms.” Shak. 2. A member of certain orders of knighthood.
  43. Chĕv'en, n.p. 222A river fish; the chub. Browne.
  44. Chĕv'er-īl, n.p. 222Soft leather made of kid skin. 2. A yielding disposition. Here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad. Shak.
  45. Chēv'er-il, a.p. 222Having pliability, as that of kid-skin. “A cheverile conscience and a searching wit.” Drayton.
  46. Chēv'er-ilize, v. t.p. 222To make as pliable as kid-leather. Mountagu.
  47. Chēv'i-sānçe, n.p. 222Achievement; deed; performance; enterprise accomplished. [Obs.] “Fortune, the foe of famous chevisance.” Spenser. 2. (Law.) (a.) A making of contracts; a bargain. (b.) An unlawful agreement or…
  48. Chev-rètte’, n.p. 222(Mil.) An engine for raising guns or mortars into their carriages. Simmonds.
  49. Chēv'ron, n.p. 222[Fr., rafter, chevron, Pr. cabrion, cabiron, Sp. cabrion, caviron, cabrio, equivalent to Lat. capriolus, a piece of timber which supports something, from caper, goat. 1. (Her.) An honorable ordinary…
  50. Chēv'roned, a.p. 223Having a chevron, or ornamental figure of a zigzag form. [A garment] whose nether parts, with their bases, were of watchet cloth of silver, chevroned
  51. Chĕv'ron-el, n.p. 223A small chevron.
  52. Chēv'-ro-tāin', n.p. 223(Zoöl.) A species of the genus Moschus, related to the deer, but having no horns, and otherwise peculiar. It is small, light, and graceful, and lives in the mountains of Asia, from the Altai to Java.…
  53. Chēv'y, v. t.p. 223To shake or force with a shivering motion. “One poor fellow was chevied about among the casks in the storm for ten minutes.” Lond. Times.
  54. Chew, v. t.p. 223To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate. 2. To ruminate mentally; to meditate. He chews revenge, abjuring his offense. Prior.
  55. Chew, v. t.p. 223To perform the action of biting and grinding with the teeth; to ruminate; to meditate. Old politicians chew on wisdom past. Pope.
  56. Chew, n.p. 223That which is chewed; that which is held in the mouth at once; a cud. [Low.]
  57. Chew'et, n.p. 223A kind of pie made of chopped substances. [Obs.]
  58. Chē'wĭnk, n.p. 223The ground-robin; — so called from its peculiar note. [U. S.] Bartlett.
  59. Chī'an, a.p. 223(Geog.) Pertaining to Chios, an island in the Ægean Sea, or Grecian Archipelago. Chian earth, a medicinal, dense, compact kind of earth, from Chios, used anciently as an astringent and a cosmetic.
  60. Chē-ăl'o-ōs-cu'ro or Chē-ăl'-os-cu'rop. 223Same as CLARE-OBSCURE, q. v.