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.
Com-mōde', n. p. 257A kind of head-dress formerly worn by ladies, which, by means of a frame of wire-work, raised the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height. “She . . . under high commodes . . . in gaudy colors…Com-mō'di-oŭs, a. p. 257Adapted to its use or purpose, or to wants and necessities; convenient; suitable; fit; as, a commodious house or room. “Wine and many things else commodious for mankind.” Raleigh. Syn.—Convenient…Com-mō'di-ous-ly, adv. p. 257In a commodious manner; suitably.Com-mō'di-ous-ness, n. p. 257Adaptation or suitableness for its purpose; convenience; fitness. “The commodiousness of the harbor.” Johnson.Com-mōd'i-ty, n. p. 257Convenience; accommodation; profit; advantage; interest; commodiousness. [Obs.] Men may seek their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker. 2.…Cŏm'mo-dōre',, n. p. 257The officer who commands a squadron or detachment of ships destined on a particular enterprise. 2. (Eng. Marine.) A naval officer having the temporary rank of rear admiral. Brundle. 3. The senior…Com-mŏd'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 258Measure; agreement. [Obs.] Hakewill.Cōm'moigne, n. p. 258A monk of the same convent. [Obs.] Selden.Cŏm'mon, a. p. 258Belonging equally to more than one, or to many indefinitely; belonging to the public or to all mankind; serving for the use of all; general. “Such actions as the common good requireth.” Hooker. “The…Cŏm'mon, n. p. 258An uninclosed tract of ground, the use of which is not appropriated to an individual, but belongs to the public, or to a number; sometimes applied also to an inclosed tract of public ground. Then…Cŏm'mon, v. i. p. 258To converse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.] Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were communed of. Grafton. 2. To have a joint right with others in common…Côm'mon, adv. p. 258Commonly. [Rare.] Shak.Cŏm'mon-a-ble, a. p. 258Held in common. Bacon. 2. Allowed to pasture on common land. Commonable beasts are either beasts of the plow, or such as manure the ground. Blackstone.Cŏm'mon-age, n. p. 258The right of pasturing on a common; the joint right of using any thing in common with others. “The claim of commonage which the people had in most of the forests.” Burke.Com'mon-al-ty, n. p. 258The common people; those classes and conditions of people who are below the rank of nobility; the commons. The commonalty, like the nobility, are divided into several degrees. Blackstone. The ancient…Cŏm'mon-er, n. p. 258One of the common people; one under the degree of nobility. All below them [the peers] even their children, were commoners, and in the eye of the law equal to each other. Hallam. 2. A member of the…Cŏm'mo-nĭ'tion, n. p. 258Advice; warning; instruction. [Obs.] Bailey.Com-mŏn'i-tive, a. p. 258Monitory. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Com-mŏn'i-to-ry, a. p. 258Calling to mind; giving admonition. [Obs.] Foxe.Cŏm'mon-ly, adv. p. 258Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as, confirmed habits commonly continue through life. 2. In common; familiarly. [Obs.] “As commonly as friend does with his friend.”…Cŏm'mon-ness, n. p. 258Frequent occurrence; a state of being common or usual. 2. Equal participation by two or more. [Rare.]Cŏm'mon-plāçe, a. p. 258Common; trite; not new or extraordinary.Cŏm'mon-plāçe, n. p. 258(Rhet.) A general idea applicable to different subjects; a topic common to two or more subjects. Blair. 2. A trite or customary remark.Cŏm'mon-plāçe, v. t. p. 258To enter in a commonplace-book, or to reduce to general heads. Felton.Cŏm'mon-plāçe'-bo͝ok, n. p. 258A book in which things to be remembered are recorded.Cŏm'mon-plāçe'ness, n. p. 258The quality of being commonplace.Cŏm'mons, n. pl. p. 258The mass of the people, as distinguished from the titled classes or nobility; the commonalty. ’Tis like, the commons, rude, unpolished hinds, Could send such message to their sovereign. Shak. 2. The…Com-mŏn'strāte, v. t. p. 258To teach. [Obs.]Cŏm'mon-ty, n. p. 258(Scots Law.) Land belonging to two or more common proprietors, or a heath or muir, of which there has been a promiscuous possession by pasturage.Còm'mon-ty, n. p. 258A comedy. [Obs.] Is not a community a Christmas gambol? Shak.Cŏm'mon-wēal' or Cŏm'mon-wēalth', n. p. 258An established form of government, or civil polity, or, more generally, a state; a body politic, consisting of a certain number of men, united, by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of…Cŏm'mon-wĕalth's'-man, n. p. 258One who favored the order of polity established on the death of Charles I. by Oliver Cromwell and his coadjutors.Cōm'mo-rance or Cōm'mo-ran-cy, n. p. 258A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place; abode; habitation. Commorancy consists in usually lying there. Blackstone. 2. (Am. Law.) Residence temporarily, or for a short time.Cŏm'mo-rant, a. p. 258(Law.) Dwelling; ordinarily residing; inhabiting. All freeholders within the precinct . . . and all persons commorant therein . . . are obliged to attend the court leet. Blackstone. 2. (Am. Law.)…Cŏm'mo-rā'tion, n. p. 258The act of staying or residing. [Obs.] Cock'eram.Com-mō'ri-ent, a. p. 258Dying at the same time. [Obs.] “Commorient fates and times.” Sir G. Buck.Com-môrse', n. p. 258Remorse. [Obs.] “Sad commorse.” Daniel.Cŏm'mōth-er, n. p. 258A godmother. [Rare.] Cotgrave.Com-mō'tion, n. p. 258Disturbed or violent motion; agitation. 2. A popular tumult; civil or public disturbance or disorder. When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9. 3. Agitation…Com-mō'tion-er, n. p. 258One who excites commotion. [Obs. and rare.] Bacon.Com-mōve', v. t. p. 258To put in motion; to disturb; to agitate; to unsettle. [Rare.] Straight the sands, Commoved around, in gathering eddies play. Thomson.Com-mūn'al, a. p. 258Pertaining to a commune.Com-mūne', v. i. p. 258To converse together familiarly; to exchange sentiments or feelings. “To summon but a few to attend at one time, and to commune with every one apart.” Hallam. 2. To receive the communion; to partake…Cŏm'mūne, n. p. 258A small territorial district in France, governed by an officer called mayor.Com-mū'ni-ca-bil'i-ty, n. p. 258The quality of being communicable; capability of being imparted from one to another. Johnson.Com-mū'ni-ca-ble, a. p. 258Capable of being communicated, or of being given by one to another. To show forth his goodness and impart His good communicable to every soul. Milton. 2. Capable of being recounted. Things not…Com-mū'ni-ca-ble-ness, n. p. 259The state of being communicable.Com·mū'ni·ca·bly, adv. p. 259In the way of communication.Com·mū'ni·cant, n. p. 259One who is entitled to, or does partake of, the sacrament at the celebration of the Lord's supper; a church-member. “A constant frequenter of worship, and a never-failing monthly communicant.”…Com-mū'ni-cāte, v. t. p. 259To share in common; to participate in. [Obs.] “To thousands that communicate our loss.” B. Jon. 2. To impart for joint or common possession; to bestow; to confer. Where God is worshiped, there he…Com-mū'ni-cāte, v. i. p. 259To share or participate; to possess or enjoy in common with others. Ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction. Phil. iv. 14. 2. To have intercourse or the means of…Com-mū'ni-cā'tion, n. p. 259The act of imparting, conferring, or delivering, from one to another; intercourse by words, letters, or messages; interchange of thoughts or opinions, by conference or other means. Use no French, but…Com-mū′ni-ca-tive, a. p. 259Inclined to communicate; ready to impart to others. We have paid for our want of prudence, and determine, for the future, to be less communicative. Swift.Com-mū'ni-ca-tīve-ness, n. p. 259The quality of being communicative; readiness to impart to others; freedom from reserve. Norris.Com-mū'ni-cā'tor, n. p. 259One who communicates. Boyle.Com-mū'ni-ca-to-ry, a. p. 259Imparting knowledge. “Canonical or communicatory letters.” Barrow.Com-mūn'ion, n. p. 259Intercourse between two persons or more; interchange of transactions or offices; a state of giving and receiving; agreement; concord. We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with…Com-mūn'ion-ist, n. p. 259One of the same communion. Dury.Cŏm'mu-nĭsm, n. p. 259The reorganizing of society, or the doctrine that it should be reorganized, by regulating property, industry, and the sources of livelihood, and also the domestic relations and social morals of…Cŏm'mu-nīst, n. p. 259An advocate for the theory or practice of communism.