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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. Chĭ-bouque' or Chĭ-bouk'p. 223Chĭ-bouk' (chĭ-bo͝ok'), n. [Turkish.] A Turkish tobacco-pipe, usually with a mouth-piece of amber, a stem of some valuable wood, and the bowl of baked clay.
  2. Chĭ'cȧ, n.p. 223A red coloring matter, extracted from the Bignonia chica, used by some of the tribes of North American Indians to stain the skin. 2. A fermented liquor or beer made of maize, &c., by the natives of…
  3. Chi-cāne', n.p. 223An artful subterfuge, or trick, designed to lead away from the merits of a case or question;—specifically applied to legal proceedings; shift; cavil; sophistry. “To shuffle from them by chicane.”…
  4. Chi-cāne', v. t.p. 223To use shifts, cavils, or artifices. Burke.
  5. Chi-cān'er, n.p. 223One who uses shifts, evasions, or undue artifices, in litigation or disputes; a caviler; an unfair disputant. Locke.
  6. Chi-cān'er-y, n.p. 223Mean or unfair artifice to perplex a cause and obscure the truth; stratagem; sophistry. “Irritated by perpetual chicanery.” Hallam. Syn. — Trick; sophistry; quibble; fetch; stratagem.
  7. Chīc'eo-ry, n.p. 223(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cichorium, or succory. C. Intybus, or wild chicory, is extensively cultivated and used for adulterating coffee, the roots being dried, roasted, and ground with the…
  8. Chich, n.p. 223A dwarf pea; the chick-pea.
  9. Chĭch'ling or Chĭch'ling-vētch, n.p. 223(Bot.) A vetch or pea, of the genus Lathyrus, sometimes used for food. Miller.
  10. Chĭck, v. i.p. 223To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers.
  11. Chĭck or Chĭck'en, n.p. 223The young of fowls, particularly of the domestic hen. 2. A young person; — used as a term of endearment. Shak.
  12. Chick'a-bid'dy, n.p. 223A chicken. [Trivial. U. S.]
  13. Chick'a-dee', n.p. 223(Ornith.) A bird, the black-cap titmouse (Parus atricapillus), of North America; — named from its note. Audubon.
  14. Chĭck'a-ree', n.p. 223The American red squirrel, the Sciurus Hudsonius. Bartlett.
  15. Chick'en-heärt'ed, a.p. 223Timid; fearful; cowardly.
  16. Chick'en-pŏx, n.p. 223(Med.) A mild, contagious, eruptive disease, generally attacking children only.
  17. Chick'ling, n.p. 223A small chick or chicken.
  18. Chick'-pēa, n.p. 223A species of the genus Cicer (C. arietinum), cultivated in the south of Europe, and used as lentils are. It is smaller than the common pea, and hence called also dwarf-pea. London.
  19. Chick'-weed, n.p. 223(Bot.) A species of insignificant weeds of the genera Montia, Alsine, and Stellaria; especially S. media, the seeds and flower buds of which are a favorite food of small birds, as finches. Loudon.
  20. Chide, v. t.p. 223To rebuke; to reproach; to blame. “Upbraided, chid, and rated at.” Shak. To chide from, or chide away, to drive away by scolding or reproof. Syn.—To blame; rebuke; reprove; scold; censure; reproach…
  21. Chide, v. i.p. 223To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Ex. xvii. 2. 2. To make a rough, clamorous, roaring noise. “As doth a…
  22. Chide, n.p. 223A gentle noise or murmur. [Rare.] “The chide of streams.” Thomson.
  23. Chid'er, n.p. 223One who chides, clamors, reproves, or rebukes.
  24. Chid'er-ess, n.p. 223She who chides. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  25. Chid'ing-ly, adv.p. 223In a chiding or reproving manner.
  26. Chiēf, a.p. 223Highest in office or rank; headmost; as, a chief priest. Among the chief rulers also many believed on him. John xii. 42. 2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished…
  27. Chiēf, n.p. 223The head or leader of any band or community; a commander. 2. The principal or most important person or thing. 3. (Her.) The upper part of the escutcheon, divided into three points, dexter, middle…
  28. Chiēf, adv.p. 223Chiefly. [Rare.] Thomson.
  29. Chiēf'aġe, n.p. 223A tribute by the head. [Written also chevage.] [Obs.]
  30. Chief'-bâr'on, n.p. 223(Eng. Law.) The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.
  31. Chief'dóm, n.p. 223Sovereignty. [Obs.] Spenser.
  32. Chief'ess, n.p. 223A female chief. [Rare.]
  33. Chief'-jûs'tice, n.p. 223The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court.
  34. Chief'-jūs/tice-ship, n.p. 223The office of chief-justice. Story.
  35. Chiēf'less, a.p. 223Without a chief or leader. Pope.
  36. Chiēf'ly, adv.p. 223In the first place; principally; eminently; above all. Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook, But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton. 2. For the most part; mostly.…
  37. Chiēf'rie, n.p. 223A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [Obs.] Swift.
  38. Chiëf'tainp. 223m. [O. Fr. chieftaine, chiefretain, chefetain, chefetaine, chefvetain, chevetain, chevetaine; N. Fr. capitaine, Fr. capitani, L. Lat. capitaneus, from O. Fr. chef, chief, Lat. caput, head. Cf.…
  39. Chiëf'tain-cy or Chiëf'tain-ship, n.p. 223The rank, office, or quality of a chieftain.
  40. Chiëf'tain-ry, n.p. 223Chieftainship. [Rare.]
  41. Chiēv'ance, n.p. 223An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is extorted as discount. [Obs.] Bacon.
  42. Chiëve or Chëve, v. i.p. 223To come to an issue or conclusion; to turn out; to succeed; as, to chieve well in an enterprise. [Obs. or Prov.] Halliwell.
  43. Chiffonier, n.p. 223A receptacle for rags or shreds. 2. A movable and ornamental piece of furniture; a movable closet. 3. One who gathers rags; a rag-picker.
  44. Chi'gōe or Chig're, n.p. 223(Entom.) A small insect of the flea family (Pulex penetrans), common in the West Indies and South America, which often attacks the feet, penetrating the skin, and rearing a numerous progeny under it.…
  45. Chil'blāin, n.p. 223A blain or sore produced by cold; a tumor affecting the hands and feet, accompanied with inflammation, pain, and sometimes ulceration.
  46. Chil'blāin, v. t.p. 223To produce chilblains upon; to afflict with chilblains.
  47. Child, n.p. 223A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents. Men are but children of a larger growth. Dryden. 2. A young person of either sex; hence…
  48. Child, v. i.p. 223To give birth; to produce young. [Obs.] “The queen Genissa childing died.” Warner. It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.
  49. Child'-beâr'ing, n.p. 223The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition. Milton. Addison.
  50. Child'bĕd, n.p. 223The state of a woman bringing forth a child, or being in labor; parturition.
  51. Chīld'birth, n.p. 223The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor. Taylor.
  52. Childe, n.p. 223A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to the titles of his ancestors, or gained new honors by his own prowess; as, Childe Roland. ☞ “Childe . . . we may…
  53. Child'ed, a.p. 223Furnished with a child. [Obs.]
  54. Chil'der-mas-dāy, n.p. 223(Eccl.) An anniversary of the church of England, held on the 28th of December, in commemoration of the children of Bethlehem slain by Herod; — called also Innocents' Day.
  55. Child'hood, n.p. 223The state of a child, or the time in which persons are children, including the time from birth to puberty; in a more restricted sense, the state or time from infancy to puberty. I have walked before…
  56. Child'ish, a.p. 223Of, or pertaining to, a child; puerile; trifling. Methinks that simplicity in her countenance is rather childish than innocent. Addison. ☞ Childish, as applied to persons who are grown up, is…
  57. Child’ish-ly, adv.p. 224In the manner of a child; in a trifling way; in a weak or foolish manner.
  58. Child'ish-ness, n.p. 224The state or qualities of a child; simplicity; harmlessness; weakness of intellect.
  59. Chīld'less, a.p. 224Destitute of children or offspring.
  60. Chīld'less-ness, n.p. 224State of being without children.