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.
Cōurt, n. p. 304An inclosed space; a yard or area; a recess surrounded by parts of a building. Goldsmith took a garret in a miserable court, to which he had to climb from the brink of Fleet Ditch by a dizzy ladder…Court, v. t. p. 304To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to ingratiate one's self with; to pay court to. While the king was thus courting his old adversaries, the friends of the church were not…Cōurt, v. i. p. 305To act the courtier; to imitate the manners of the court. [Rare.] Laud.Coup-tailed, n. p. 305A horse or dog whose tail has been docked. 2. (Mil.) A kind of short gun used at sea.Cōurt'-băr'on, n. p. 305(Law.) An inferior court of civil jurisdiction, attached to a manor, being an inseparable incident thereto, and holden by the steward within the manor; a baron's court;—now fallen into disuse.…Cōurt'-brĕd, a. p. 305Bred at court.Cōurt'-breed'ing, n. p. 305Education at a court.Cōurt'-bŭb'ble, n. p. 305The trifle of a court; any thing worthless. Beau.Cōurt'-cārd, n. p. 305See COAT-CARD.Cōurt'-chāp'lain, n. p. 305A chaplain to a king or prince.Cōurt'-crāft, n. p. 305Artifice; political stratagem; finesse. Bolingbroke.Cōurt'-cŭp'board, n. p. 305A movable closet or buffet in which plate and other articles of luxury were displayed on special occasions. Away with the joint-stools, remove the court-cupboard, look to the plate. Shak.Cōurt'-day, n. p. 305A day in which a court sits to administer justice.Cōurt'-drĕss, n. p. 305A dress suitable for an appearance at court or levee.Cōurt'-drĕss'er, n. p. 305A flatterer. [Rare.] Locke.Cōurt'-ĕl'e-ment, n. p. 305The party of the court; the body of adherents to the court. Milton.Coûrt'e-oŭs, a. p. 305Of court-like or elegant and condescending manners; pertaining to, or expressive of, courtesy; civil; obliging; well-bred; polite; complaisant. “A patient and courteous bearing.” Prescott. His…Coŭrt'e-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 305In a courteous manner.Coürt'e-oūs-ness, n. p. 305Civility of manners; obliging condescension; complaisance.Cōurt'er, n. p. 305One who courts; one who solicits in marriage. Sherwood.Cōurt'e-sān, n. p. 305A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot.Cōurt'e-zān-ship, n. p. 305The state or character of a courtesan; harlotry.Cōurt'e-sy, n. p. 305Elegance and politeness of manners; civility; complaisance. Shepherd, I take thy word, And trust thy honest offered courtesy, Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds With smoky rafters, than in…Cōurt'e'sy, n. p. 305A slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the knees, being the usual gesture of obedience, respect, or civility formerly performed by women. The lady drops a courtesy in token of…Cōurt'e'sy, v. i. p. 305To bow the body slightly, with bending of the knees, as an expression of civility. ☞ This word was formerly used with reference to both sexes, but afterward was applied only to the acts of reverence…Coûrte'sy, v. t. p. 305To treat with civility. [Obs.]Cōurt'-făsh'ion, n. p. 305The fashion of a court. Fuller.Cōurt'-fā'vor, n. p. 305A favor or benefit bestowed by a court or prince. L'Estrange.Cōurt'-fōōl, n. p. 305A buffoon or jester, formerly kept by kings, nobles, &c., for amusement.Cōurt'-guīde, n. p. 305A directory of the names and addresses of the nobility and gentry in a town.Cōurt'-hānd, n. p. 305The hand or manner of writing used in records and judicial proceedings. Shak.Cōurt'-house, n. p. 305A house in which established courts are held, or a house appropriated to courts and public meetings. [U. S.]Cōurt'ier, n. p. 305One who attends or frequents the courts of princes; a member of a princely court. You know I am no courtier, nor versed in state affairs. Bacon. 2. One who courts or solicits favor; one who flatters…Court'ier-y, n. p. 305The manners of a courtier; courtliness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Court'-là'dy, n. p. 305A lady who attends or is conversant in court.Court'-lānds, n. pl. p. 305(Eng. Law.) Lands kept in demesne, that is, in the lord's own hands, to serve his family.Court'-leet, n. p. 305(Eng. Law.) A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone.Cōurt'li-ness, n. p. 305The quality of being courtly; elegance or dignity of manners; civility.Cōurt'ling, n. p. 305A courtier; a sycophantic retainer to a court. B. Jonson.Court'ly, a. p. 305Relating to a court; court-like; high-bred; dignified and elegant. “In courtly company.” Shak. 2. Disposed to favor the great; fawning; obsequious; flattering; sycophantic. Officers . . . supposed to…Court'ly, adv. p. 305In the manner of courts; elegantly; in a flattering manner.cōurt'-mär'tial, n. p. 305A court consisting of military or naval officers, for the trial of offenses against military or naval laws.Cōurt'-plȧs'ter, n. p. 305Sticking-plaster made of silk, with some adhesive substance, commonly gum benzoin, on one side. Ure.Cōurt'-pär'ty, n. p. 305A party attached to the court.Cōurt'shĭp, n. p. 305The act of soliciting favor. He paid his courtship with the crowd As far as modest pride allowed. Swift. 2. The act of wooing in love; solicitation of a woman to marriage. There is something…Cōurt'-yärd, n. p. 305A court or inclosure round a house.Cous'-cous, n. p. 305A kind of food used by the natives of Africa, made of millet flour, with flesh, and the bark of the Adansonia digitata, or baobab tree;—called also lulo.Cou'sin, n. p. 305One collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister; especially, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt. The children of brothers and sisters are usually denominated cousins, or…Coüs'in, a. p. 305Allied. [Obs.] Chaucer.Coüs'in-age, n. p. 305Relationship; kinship. [Obs.] How she stode of cosinage To the emperour. Chaucer.Coŭs'in-ġĕr'man, n. p. 305A first cousin; a cousin in the first generation.Coŭs'in-ho͝od, n. p. 305The state or condition of a cousin.Coŭs'in-ly, a. p. 305Like or becoming a cousin.Cous'si-nĕt', n. p. 305(Arch.) (a.) A stone placed on the impost of a pier for receiving the first stone of an arch. (b.) That part of the Ionic capital between the abacus and quarter round, which serves to form the…Cou-teau', n. p. 305A hanger.Couth, a. p. 305Could; was able: —knew; understood. [Obs.] Above all other one Daniel He loveth, for he couth well Divine, that none other couth; To him were all things couth, As he had it of God's grace. Gower.Cou'zer-an-ite, n. p. 305(Min.) A crystallized mineral;—so called from Couzeran, in the Pyrenees, where it is found.Cōve, n. p. 305A retired nook; especially, a small inlet, creek, or bay; a recess in the sea-shore. Vessels ready for him within secret coves and nooks. Holland. 2. A strip of prairie extending into wood-land…Cōve, v. t. p. 305To brood, cover, or sit over, as birds their eggs. [Obs.] Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel. Holland. 2. (Arch.) To arch over.…Côv'e-na-ble, a. p. 305Fit; proper; suitable. [Obs.] Wycliffe.