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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Cōm'bat, v. i. p. 253To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force. After the fall of the republic, the Romans combated only for the choice of masters. Gibbon. As if nature's concord broke Two planets rushing from…Cōm'bat, v. t. p. 253To fight with; to oppose by force; to contend against; to resist. Minds combat minds, repelling and repelled. Goldsmith. Syn.—To fight; contend; contest; resist; oppose.Cōm'bat, n. p. 253A struggle to resist, overthrow, or conquer; contest by force; engagement; battle. My courage try by combat if thou dar'st. Shak. 2. (Mil.) An engagement of no great magnitude, or one in which the…Com-băt'a-ble, a. p. 254Liable to occasion of combat; liable to dispute.Cŏm'bat-ant, a. p. 254Contending; disposed to contend. B. Jonson. 2. (Her.) Fighting, or in the position of fighting; — said of two beasts borne in a coat of arms, with their faces to each other.Com'bat-ant, n. p. 254One who engages in combat; a fighter; a champion. “A controversy which long survived the original combatants.” Macaulay. Men become combatants for . . . opinions. Locke.Cŏm'bat-er, n. p. 254One who combats. Sherwood.Com'bat-ive, a. p. 254Disposed to combat.Cŏm'bat-ive-ness, n. p. 254(Phren.) Disposition to contend. Combe.Cōmb'-brōach, n. p. 254The tooth of a wool comb. Simmonds.Cōmb'-brŭsh, n. p. 254A brush to clean combs.Com′ber, n. p. 254One who combs; one whose occupation is to comb wool, &c. 2. A long, curling wave; as, the sea was rough with high combers. See BEACH-COMBER.Cōm'ber, v. t. p. 254To trouble; to impede. [Obs.] See CUMBER. Spenser.Com'ber, n. p. 254Trouble; care; encumbrance. [Obs.] See CUMBER. The stools and other comber are removed when the assembly rises. Evelyn.Cōm'ber, n. p. 254(Ichth.) A long, slender fish, with a red back, found in Cornwall, England.Com-bin'a-ble, a. p. 254Capable of combining. [Obs.] Pleasures are very combinable both with business and study. Lit. Chesterfield.Com-bīn'a-ble-ness, n. p. 254State of being combinable.Cŏm'bi-nate, a. p. 254Espoused; betrothed. [Obs.] She lost her . . . combinate husband. Shak.Cŏm'bi-nā'tion, n. p. 254In general, close union or connection. Hence, 1. The union of persons or things to effect some purpose, or that tends to bring about some result; association; alliance. “To withstand a combination of…Com-bīn'a-tĭve or Com-bīn'a-to-ry, a. p. 254Tending to combination; joining. [Rare.] Clarke.Com-bine', v. t. p. 254To unite or join; to link closely together. So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined. Shak.Com-bīne', v. i. p. 254To form a union; to agree; to coalesce; to confederate. You with your foes combine, And seem your own destruction to design. Dryden. 2. To unite by affinity or natural attraction: as, two substances…Com-bīn'er, n. p. 254One who, or that which, combines.Cōmb'ing, n. p. 254The act of using a comb. 2. Borrowed hair combed over a bald part of the head. Bp. Taylor.Cōmb'ings, n. pl. p. 254See COAMINGS.Cōmb'less, a. p. 254Without a comb or crest; as, a combless cock. Shak.Cöm'bo-lō'io, n. p. 254A Mohammedan rosary, consisting of ninety-nine beads. And by her comboloio lies A Koran of illumined dyes. Byron.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…