Dictionary
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.
Couch'an-cy, n. p. 300State of lying down for repose.Couch'ant, a. p. 300Lying down; squatting. 2. (Her.) Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; — said of a lion or other beast. Couchant and levant…Cou'chee, n. p. 300Bed-time; hence, a visit received about bed-time; — opposed to levée. [Obs.] Dryden. “The duke's levee and couchées were so crowded that the antechambers were full. Burnett.Couch'er, n. p. 300One who couches. 2. (O. Eng. Law.) (a.) A factor resident in a country for traffic. (b.) The book in which a corporation or other body registers its particular acts. [Obs.] Jacobs.Couch'-fēl'lōw, n. p. 300A bed-fellow; a companion in lodging. Shak.Couch'-grass, n. p. 300(Bot.) A species of grass (Triticum repens) which extends rapidly its creeping roots, and is very troublesome in fields, gardens, &c.; — called also twitch-grass, quick-grass, quick-grass…Couch'less, a. p. 300Having no couch or bed.Cou'dee, n. p. 300A measure of length; the distance from the elbow to the hand; a cubit.Cou'gar, n. p. 300(Zool.) A carnivorous quadruped of the American continent, of the genus Fēlis (Felis concolor, or Puma concolor of some naturalists);— called also puma and panther.Côugh, n. p. 300A violent effort of the lungs, usually attended with a harsh sound, to throw off irritating or injurious matter, by suddenly expelling air through the glottis; also, the repetition of such efforts…Côugh, v. i. p. 300To make a violent effort, attended with a harsh sound, to throw off obstructing or irritating matter from the throat or lungs, by expelling air forcibly through the glottis.Côugh, v. t. p. 300To expel from the lungs by a cough; to expectorate; — followed by up.Côugh'er, n. p. 300One who coughs.Cou'hage, n. p. 300See COWHAGE.Coul, n. p. 300A vessel or tub. See COWL. Halliwell.Could, imp. p. 300of can. Was able, capable, or susceptible. See CAN.Cou-lisse', n. p. 300A piece of timber having a groove in which something glides. 2. One of the side scenes of the stage in a theater, or the space included between the side scenes. Capable of nothing higher than…Cōul'ter, n. p. 300Same as COLTER.Cōul'ter-nēb, n. p. 300(Ornith.) A sea bird, the Fratercula arctica; — so called from its beak being compressed near the point so as to resemble a coulter in form.Cou'ma-rīne', n. p. 300(Chem.) The concrete essence of the Tonka bean (Dipteris odorata).Coun'cil, n. p. 301[Fr. concile, Pr. concili, Sp., Pg., & It. concilio, from Lat. concilium, from concire, conciere, to bring or assemble together, from con and ciere, ciere, to move, excite, or call to. This word is…Coun'cil-bōard, n. p. 301Council-table; the table round which a council holds consultation. 2. The council itself, in deliberation or session.Coun'cil-ist, n. p. 301One who belongs to a council; one who gives an opinion. I will be in three months an expert councilist. Milton.Coun'cil-man, n. p. 301A member of a council, especially of the common council of a city; a councilor.Coun'cil-or, n. p. 301A member of a council. ☞ The distinction between councilor, a member of a council, and counselor, one who gives counsel, was not formerly made, but is now very generally recognized and observed.Coun'cil-tā'ble, n. p. 301Council-board.Cō'-ŭn'der-stānd'ing, n. p. 301Mutual understanding. [Obs.]Cō-āne', v. t. p. 301To combine or unite. [Obs.] “Co-ened together.” Fellham.Cō'-ū-nite', v. t. p. 301To unite. [Obs.] Henry More.Coun'sel, n. p. 301Mutual advising, instructing, or interchanging of opinions; consultation. The queen is coming with a puissant host, And craves your company for speedy counsel. Shak. 2. Examination of consequences…Coun'sel, v. t. p. 301To give advice or deliberate opinion to for the government of conduct; to advise, admonish, or instruct. Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. Shak. 2. To advise or recommend.…Coun'sel-a-ble, a. p. 301Willing to receive counsel; disposed to follow advice. [Obs.] Few men of so great parts were on all occasions more counselable than he. Clarendon. 2. Suitable to be advised; wise. [Obs.] The danger .…Coun'sel-keep'er, n. p. 301One who can keep a secret.Coun'sel-keep'ing, a. p. 301Keeping secrets. Shak.Coun'sel-or, n. p. 301One who counsels; an adviser. Can he who speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counselor, or no? Shak. 2. One of the members of a council; one appointed to advise a king or chief magistrate in…Coun'sel-or-ship, n. p. 301The office of a counselor, or privy counselor.Count, v. t. p. 301To tell or name one by one, or by groups, for the purpose of ascertaining the whole number of units in a collection; to number; to enumerate; to compute; to reckon. Some people in America counted…Count, v. i. p. 301To number or be counted; hence, to increase or add to the strength or influence, as of some party or interest; as, every additional one counts. 2. To found an account or scheme; to reckon; to rely; —…Count, n. p. 301The act of numbering, or the amount ascertained by numbering; reckoning. Of blessed saints for to increase the count. Spencer. By this count, I shall be much in years. Shak. 2. Esteem. “The one is…Count, n. p. 301A nobleman on the continent of Europe, equal in rank to an English earl.Count-palatine p. 301Formerly the proprietor of a county who possessed royal prerogatives within his county, as did the Earl of Chester, the Bishop of Durham, and the Duke of Lancaster. [Eng.] See COUNTY PALATINE. (b.)…Count'a-ble, a. p. 301Capable of being numbered.Coun'te-nance, n. p. 301The appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien. So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance. Milton. 2. The face; the features. In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.…Coun'te-nance, v. t. p. 301To encourage by a favoring aspect; to sanction; to favor; to approve; to aid; to support; to abet. This concert, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out either by experience or reason.…Coun'te-nan-cer, n. p. 301One who countenances, favors, or supports.Coun'ter, n. p. 301One who counts, or keeps an account; that which indicates a number. 2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, and the like, in the form of a coin, used in reckoning. What comes the wool to? I can not do it…Coun'ter, a. p. 301Contrary; opposite. “Innumerable facts attesting the counter principle.” I. Taylor.Coun'ter, adv. p. 301Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise;—used chiefly with run or go. He thinks it brave . . . to signalize himself by running counter to all the rules of virtue. Locke. 2. In…Coun'ter, v. i. p. 301(Boxing.) To encounter or repel. “His left hand countered provokingly.” C. Kingsley.Coun'ter-âct', v. t. p. 301To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of medicines; to counteract good advice.Coun'ter-ăc'tion, n. p. 301Action in opposition; hinderance; resistance. The whole business between them and the nominal king will be mutual counteractions. Locke. A power capable of resisting and conquering the counteraction…Coun'ter-āct'ive, n. p. 301One who, or that which, counteracts.Coun'ter-ăct/ive, a. p. 301Tending to counteract.Coun'ter-ăct'ive-ly, adv. p. 301By counteraction.Coun'ter-ap-prōach', n. p. 301(Fort.) A work thrown up to meet those of a besieging force, and so to annoy it. See APPROACH.Coun'ter-at-trâc'tion, n. p. 301Opposite attraction.Coun'ter-at-trăct'ive, a. p. 301Attracting in a different or an opposite direction.Coun'ter-bāl'ance, v. t. p. 301To oppose with an equal weight; to act against with equal power or effect; to countervail; to equiponderate. There was so much air drawn out of the vessel, that the remaining air was not able to…Coun'ter-bāl'ançe, n. p. 301Equal opposing weight; power or agency acting in opposition to any thing; equivalent; as the mass of iron cast on the side of a locomotive engine wheel, opposite the crank-pin, to counterbalance the…Coun'ter-băt'ter-y, n. p. 302(Mil.) A battery which returns the fire of an opposing battery.