Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Comb'-shāped, a. p. 254(Bot.) Toothed like a comb; pectinate. Henslow.Com-būst’, a. p. 254(Astron.) So near the sun as to be obscured or eclipsed by his light; — said of the moon and planets when not more than eight degrees and a half from the sun. [Obs.] “Planets that are oft combust.”…Com-būs'ti-ble, a. p. 254Capable of taking fire and burning; inflammable. Sin is to the soul like fire to combustible matter. South. 2. Easily kindled or excited; quick; irascible. Arnold was a combustible character. W.…Com-būs'ti-ble, n. p. 254A substance that will take fire and burn. Ure.Com-bŭs'ti-ble-ness or Com-bŭs'ti-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 254The quality of being combustible, or of taking fire and burning; capability of being burned.Com-bŭs'tion, n. p. 254The operation of fire on inflammable substances; burning. “Pyral combustion.” Browne. 2. Violent agitation; confusion; tumult. [Obs.] There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of…Com-būs'tiòus, a. p. 254Liable to take fire; inflammable. [Obs.] “Dry, combustious matter.” Shak.Com-bŭs'tive, a. p. 254Disposed to take fire; inflammable; combustible.Cȯme, v. i. p. 254To move hitherward; to draw near; to approach;—opposed to go. In at this gate none pass The vigilance here placed, but such as come Well known. Milton. We are come to you to do a good office. Shak.…Cȯme, n. p. 254A sprout. [Obs.] Mortimer.Co-mē'di-an, n. p. 254An actor or player in comedy. “The famous comedian Roscius, whom a singular merit in his art had recommended to the familiarity and friendship of the greatest men in Rome.” Middleton. 2. A writer of…Cōm'e-dy, n. p. 254A dramatic composition of a light and amusing character, illustrative of the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous accidents of life. The earlier chapters [of the Vicar of…Cōme'li-ly, adv. p. 254In a suitable or decent manner. [Rare.] Sherwood.Cōme'li-ness, n. p. 254The quality of being comely; suitableness; fitness; becomingness; symmetry; gracefulness. Comeliness is a disposing fair Of things and actions in fit time and place. Davies. It is not virtue, wisdom…Cōme'ly, a. p. 254Handsome; graceful; well-proportioned. He that is comely when old and decrepit, surely was very beautiful when he was young. South. 2. Suitable, or becoming, to time, place, circumstances, or…Côme'ly, adv. p. 254In a becoming, suitable, or graceful manner.Còme-ôff', n. p. 254Means of escape; evasion; excuse. We do not want this come-off. Grellmann.Côme-out’er, n. p. 254One who comes out or withdraws from a regular church, or other organization, under the pretense of its being corrupt; a radical reformer. [U. S.] Hayward.Côm'er, n. p. 254One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is present.Cŏm/es-sā/tion, n. p. 254Feasting or reveling. Bp. Hall.Co-mĕs'ti-ble, a. p. 254Suitable to be eaten; eatable. [Obs.] “Some herbs are most comestible.” Elyot. “Comestible wares.” Wotton.Co-mĕs'ti-bles, n. pl. p. 254Eatables. Conybeare.Cŏm'et, n. p. 254(Astron.) One of those members of the solar system which usually move in very eccentric orbits, approaching very near to the sun in their perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at…Cŏm'et, n. p. 254A game at cards. Southerne.Cŏm'et-ē'ri-ūm, n. p. 254An astronomical instrument, intended to represent the revolution of a comet round the sun. Hutton.Côm'et-a-ry, a. p. 254Pertaining to a comet. Cheyne.Côm'et-find'er or Côm'et-seek'er, n. p. 254(Astron.) A telescope having a large field of view and low magnifying power, used for finding comets.Co-mēt'ic, a. p. 254Relating to a comet.Côm'et-ŏg'ra-pher, n. p. 254One who describes or writes about comets.Côm'et-ōg'ra-phy, n. p. 254A description of, or a treatise concerning, comets.Côm'fit or Côm'fit-ūre, n. p. 254A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit or root preserved with sugar and dried; a confect.Cŏm'fit, v. t. p. 255To preserve dry with sugar. The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . . Thou comfitest in sweets to make it last. Cowley.Cŏm'fort, v. t. p. 255To bring strength, support, or consolation to; to give vigor to the spirits of; to relieve from distress or pain; to cheer; to invigorate; to console. I am louted by a traitor villain. And can not…Cŏm'fort, n. p. 255Strength and relief received under affliction; support; solace; consolation. Her soul, heaven's queen, whose name she bears, In comfort of her mother's fears, Hath placed among her virgin train. B.…Còm'fort-a-ble, a. p. 255Affording, imparting, or enjoying comfort; as, a comfortable hope. Be comfortable to my mother, Your mistress, and make much of her. Shak. The lives of many miserable men were saved, and a…Cŏm'fort-a-ble, n. p. 255A heavy stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [U. S.]Cŏm'fort-a-ble-ness, n. p. 255The state of being comfortable. Sidney.Cŏm'fort-a-bly, adv. p. 255In a manner to give comfort or consolation. Hammond.Cŏm'fort-er, n. p. 255One who administers comfort or consolation. Let no comforter delight mine ear But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak. 2. (Script.) The Holy Spirit, referring to his office of comforting…Cóm'fort-ful, a. p. 255Full of comfort. [Obs.]Cŏm'fort-less, a. p. 255Without comfort; without any thing to alleviate misfortune or distress. “Comfortless through tyranny or might.” Spenser. Syn. — Forlorn; desolate; inconsolable; wretched; miserable.Cŏm'fort-less-ly, adv. p. 255In a comfortless manner. When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton.Cŏm'fort-less-ness, n. p. 255State of being comfortless.Cōm'fort-ment, n. p. 255Act or process of administering comfort. [Obs.] “The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador.” Hackluyt.Còm'fort-ress, n. p. 255A female who affords comfort. [Rare.] “To be your comfortress and to preserve you.” B. Jonson.Cŏm'frey, n. p. 255(Bot.) A genus of plants, the Symphytum; especially the common species (S. officinale), which abounds in mucilage, and is used in medicine as an emollient. Loudon.Còm'ic, a. p. 255Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy. I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou writ'st the play. B. Jonson. 2. Raising mirth; fitted to excite merriment. “Mirthful comic…Cŏm'ic-al, a. p. 255Relating to comedy. They deny it to be tragical because its catastrophe is a wedding, which hath ever been accounted comical. Gay. 2. Exciting mirth; diverting; sportive; droll. “Familiar style and…Côm'ic-āl'ī-ty, n. p. 255That which is comical or ludicrous.Com'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 255In a comical manner.Cōm'ic-al-ness, n. p. 255The quality of being comical.Cōm'ic-ry, n. p. 255The power of exciting mirth; comicalness. Cheerful comicry, which will not be satisfied with an elegant simper, but must have the loud and open laugh. H. Giles.Còm'ing-īn, n. p. 255Entrance; arrival. I know . . . thy going-out and thy coming-in. 2 Kings xix. 27. 2. That which comes as revenue; income. What are thy rents? what are thy coming-in? Shak. 3. The act of submitting…Co-mĭ'tĭ-ă, n. pl. p. 255(Rom. Antiq.) The assemblies of the people for electing officers and passing laws.Co-mī'tial, a. p. 255Relating to the comitia, or popular assemblies of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws. Middleton. 2. Of, or pertaining to, assemblies of the people.Cŏm'i-ty, n. p. 255Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals; the extension of civility to individuals or communities; civility; good-breeding; as, comity of manners; the comity of States. Syn.—Civility…Cŏm'mă, n. p. 255(Punct.) A character or point (,) marking the smallest division of a sentence in language, either written or printed, and the shortest pause in reading. 2. (Mus.) A small interval, theoretical rather…Com-mȧnd', v. t. p. 255To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to summon. Go to your mistress, Say I command her come to me. Shak. Agricola, therefore, commanded home for doing too much of what…Com-mȧnd', v. i. p. 255To have or to exercise supreme authority; to possess the chief power; to govern.Com-mȧnd', n. p. 255An authoritative order; mandate; injunction. Warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. Milton. 2. The application or exercise of authority.…