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.
Con-tĕmpt'ĭ-ble, a. p. 283Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain. “The man's intellect was contemptible.” Motley. The arguments of tyranny are as contemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke. 2. Apt to despise…Con-tĕmpt'i-ble-ness, n. p. 283The state of being contemptible, or of being despised; despicableness; meanness; vileness.Con-tĕmpt'i-bly, adv. p. 283In a contemptible manner; meanly; in a manner deserving of contempt.Con-tēmpt'ū-ous, a. p. 283Manifesting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; disdainful. “A proud, contemptuous behavior.” Hammond. Oliver [Goldsmith]... never showed the least sign of that contemptuous…Con-tĕmpt'ū-ōŭs-ly, adv. p. 283In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously. Bp. Taylor.Con-tēmp'tū-ōus-ness, n. p. 283Disposition to contempt; act of contempt; insolence; scornfulness; haughtiness.Con-tend',, v. i. p. 283To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel. For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood. Shak. You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for what…Con-tĕnd', v. t. p. 283To dispute for; to contest. [Rare.] Carthage shall contend the world with Rome. Dryden.Con-tĕnd'ent, n. p. 283An antagonist or opposer. [Obs.] The contendents have been still made a prey to the third party. L'Estrange.Con-tĕnd'er, n. p. 283One who contends; a combatant; a champion.Con-tĕnd'ress, n. p. 283She who contends; a female contestant.Con-tēn'e-ment, n. p. 283(Law.) That which is held together with another thing; that which is connected with a tenement, or thing hidden; as a certain quantity of land adjacent to a dwelling, and necessary to the reputable…Con-tēnt', a. p. 283Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by present enjoyment; in a state of quiet peace; satisfied; at rest. Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi. 8.…Con-tënt’, v. t. p. 284To satisfy the mind of; to make quiet, so as to stop complaint or opposition; to appease; to make easy in any situation; — used chiefly with the reciprocal pronoun. Do not content yourselves with…Con-tĕnt', n. p. 284Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; satisfaction; moderate happiness. Take no content in praise when it is offered thee. Bp. Taylor. 2. Acquiescence without examination. The…Con'tent or Con-tĕnt', n. p. 284That which is contained; — usually in the plural. I shall prove these writings . . . authentic, and the contents true. Grew. 2. The power of containing; capacity; extent. “Ships of great content.”…Cŏn'/ten-tā'/tion, n. p. 284Content; satisfaction. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.Con-tĕnt'ed, a. p. 284Content; easy in mind; satisfied; quiet. “A man who could not rest contented to fill an inferior place.” Palfrey.Con-tënt'ed-ly, adv. p. 284In a contented manner; quietly; without concern.Con-tént'ed-ness, n. p. 284State of resting in mind; quiet; satisfaction of mind with any condition or event. Walton.Con-tënt'ful, a. p. 284Full of contentment; contented. [Obs.] Barrow.Cŏn-tĕn'/tion, n. p. 284A violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim, or injury; contest; quarrel. “Fierce contention.” Milton. “A study which requires effort and contention of mind.” Whewell. 2.…Con-tĕn′tious, a. p. 284Apt to contend; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome. “Despotic and contentious temper.” Macaulay. Midst a contentious world, striving where none are strong. Byron. 2.…Con-tĕn'/tiŏus-ly, adv. p. 284In a contentious manner; quarrelsomely; perversely. Browne.Con-tĕnʹtious-ness, n. p. 284A disposition to contend; quarrelsomeness. Bentley.Con-tĕnt'less, a. p. 284Lacking content; dissatisfied; uneasy.Con-tĕnt'ly, adv. p. 284In a contented way. [Obs.]Con-tĕnt'ment, n. p. 284A resting or satisfaction of mind, without disquiet; acquiescence; satisfaction; content. Contentment without external honor is humility. Grew. Some place the bliss in action, some in ease; Those…Cŏn'tents or Con-tĕnts', n. pl. p. 284See CONTENT, n.Con-têr'mi-na-ble, a. p. 284Capable of being regarded as having the same bounds. Love and life are not conterminable. Wotton.Con-têr'mi-nal, a. p. 284Conterminous. Scott.Con-tĕr'mi-nate, a. p. 284Having the same bounds; conterminous. B. Jonson.Con-tĕr'mi-nōus, a. p. 284Having the same bounds, or boundaries; bordering upon; contiguous. This confirmed so many of them as were conterminous to the colonies and garrisons to the Roman laws. Hale.Cŏn/ter-rā'ne-an or Cŏn/ter-rā'ne-oŭs, a. p. 284Being of the same country. [Obs.] Howell.Con-tês'ser-ā'tion, n. p. 284An assemblage or union in harmony. [Obs.] The holy symbols of the eucharist were intended to be a contesseration and a union of Christian societies to God and with each other. Bp. Taylor.Con-tĕst’, v. t. p. 284To make a subject of dispute, contention, or litigation; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute. The people . . . contested not what was done. Locke. 2. To strive earnestly to hold…Con-tĕst’, v. i. p. 284To engage in dispute, strife, or emulation; to contend; to vie; to emulate;—followed by with. The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of…Cŏn’test, n. p. 284Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate. Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language. Watts. 2. Earnest struggle for superiority, defense, or the like…Con-tĕst'a-ble, a. p. 284Capable of being contested; debatable; disputable; controvertible.Con-tĕst'a-ble-ness, n. p. 284Possibility of being contested. [Obs.]Con-tĕst'ant, n. p. 284One who contests; an opponent; a litigant; a disputant. [Rare.]Cŏn'tes-tā'tion, n. p. 284The act of contesting; strife; dispute. “Lover-like contestation.” Milton. After years spent in domestic contestations, she found means to withdraw. Clarendon. 2. Proof by witnesses; attestation…Con-tĕst'ing-ly, adv. p. 284In a contending manner.Con-tĕst'less, a. p. 284Not to be disputed or questioned. [Rare.] “Now ’tis truth contestless.” A. Hill.Con-tĕx', v. t. p. 284To weave or knit together; to unite or connect closely. [Obs.] Some other cause capable to contex the matter. Boyle.Cŏn’text, n. p. 284Connected structure, as of a discourse; especially the parts of a discourse which precede or follow a sentence quoted. “According to all the light that the contexts afford.” Sharp.Con-tēxt', a. p. 284Knit or woven together; close; firm. [Obs.] “The coats are context and callous.” Derham.Con-tĕxt', v. t. p. 284To knit together; to unite closely. [Obs.] If the subject be history or contexted fable, I hold it better put in prose or blanks. Feltham.Con-tĕxt′ür-al, a. p. 284Pertaining to contexture or disposition. Smith.Con-tĕxt’üre, n. p. 284The disposition and union of the constituent parts of a thing with respect to each other; composition of parts; system; constitution; texture. “That wonderful contexture of all created beings.”…Con-tĕxt'üred, a. p. 284Formed into texture; woven together. [Rare.]Cŏn'-tig-nā'-tion, n. p. 284The act of framing together, or uniting beams in a fabric. Burke. 2. A frame of beams; a story. Wotton.Con-tig'ū-ate, a. p. 284Having closeness of contact; near; approximating. [Obs.] “The two extremities are contiguate, yea, and continuate.” Holland.Cŏn'/ti-gŭ'/i-ty, n. p. 284The state of being in actual or close contact; approximation. To me there appear only three principles of connection among ideas, namely, resemblance, contiguity in time or place, and cause or…Con-tig'ū-ōūs, a. p. 284In actual or close contact; touching; adjacent; near. Joining the contiguous objects by the participation of their colors. Dryden. Syn.—Adjoining; adjacent. See ADJOINING.Con-tĭg'ū-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 284In a manner to touch; without intervening space. Dryden.Con-tig'ū-oüs-ness, n. p. 284A state of contact; close union.Cōn'ti-nence or Cōn'ti-nen-cy, n. p. 284The restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and passions; self-command; specifically, the restraint of the passion for sexual enjoyment; resistance of concupiscence; chastity. He knew when…Cōn'ti-nent, a. p. 284Serving to restrain or limit. [Obs.] My desire All continent impediments would o'erbear That did oppose my will. Shak. 2. Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever. [Obs.] The…Cōn'ti-nent, n. p. 284That which contains any thing. [Obs.] Here's the scroll. The continent and summary of my fortune. Shak. 2. (Geog.) A great extent of land not interrupted by water; one of the larger bodies of land on…