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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Cōv'ert-ness, n. p. 306Secrecy; privacy. [R.] Bailey.Cōv'ert-ūre, n. p. 306Covering; shelter; defense. 2. (Law.) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a…Cŏv'ert-wāy, n. p. 306(Fort.) The same as COVERED WAY. See COVERED.Côv'et, v. t. p. 306To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of;—used in a good sense. Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Cor. xii. 31. 2. To wish for inordinately or unlawfully; to lust after. Thou shalt not…Cŏv'et, v. i. p. 306To have or indulge inordinate desire; — with after. Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Tim. vi. 10.Cōv'et-a-ble, a. p. 306Capable or worthy of being coveted; desirable.Côv'et-er, n. p. 306One who covets.Côv'et-ing-ly, adv. p. 306With eager desire to possess.Cŏv'et-īse, n. p. 306Avarice. [Obs.] Spenser.Cŏv'et-īve-ness, n. p. 306(Phren.) Excessive desire of accumulating property; acquisitiveness.Cōv'et-ous, a. p. 306Very desirous; eager to obtain;—used in a good sense. “Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue.” Shak. 2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; avaricious. “I am not covetous for…Cŏv'et-ous-ly, adv. p. 306With a strong or inordinate desire to obtain and possess; eagerly; avariciously.Cōv'et-ōŭs-ness, n. p. 306Strong desire; eagerness. [Rare.] When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. Shak. 2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some…Côv'ey, n. p. 306A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young. Hence, a small flock or number of birds together;—said of game; as, a covey of partridges. Addison. 2. A company; a set.Cōv'in, n. p. 306(Law.) A collusive or deceitful agreement or contrivance between two or more persons to prejudice a third. Cowell.Cōv'ing, n. p. 306(Arch.) (a.) The projection of the upper stories of a house over the stories beneath. (b.) The vertical sides or jambs of a fireplace. Gwill.Cōv'in-oŭs, a. p. 306(Law.) Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.Cow, n. p. 306The female of the bovine genus of animals. 2. A kind of chimney cap; a cowl. See COWL.Cow, v. t. p. 306To depress with fear; to sink the spirits or courage; to oppress with habitual timidity and subservience. To vanquish a people already cowed and accustomed to flight. Steele.Cow'ard, n. p. 306A person who lacks courage to meet danger; a timid or pusillanimous man; a poltroon. A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden. A coward does not always escape with disgrace, but sometimes loses…Cow'ard, a. p. 306Destitute of courage; timid; base. Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak. 2. Belonging to a coward; characterizing cowardice; proceeding from, or expressive of, fear or timidity. “Loud and…Cow'ard, v. t. p. 306To make timorous; to frighten. This sleep betokeneth that which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.Cow'ard-ice, n. p. 306Want of courage to face danger; timidity; pusillanimity; fear of exposing one's person to harm. “The cowardice of doing wrong.” Milton. Cowardice alone is loss of fame. Dryden.Cow'ard-ize, v. t. p. 306To render cowardly. [Obs.]Cow'ard-li-ness, n. p. 306Want of courage; timidity; cowardice.Cow'ard-ly, a. p. 306Wanting courage to face danger; timid; timorous; fearful; pusillanimous. The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle have done this slaughter. Shak. 2. Proceeding from fear of danger; befitting a…Cow'ard-ly, adv. p. 306In the manner of a coward; meanly; basely.Cow'ard-ness, n. p. 306Cowardice. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.Cow'ard-oŭs, a. p. 306Cowardly. [Obs.] Barret.Cow'ard-ship, n. p. 306Cowardice. [Obs.] Shak.Cow'-bāne, n. p. 306(Bot.) A genus of poisonous aquatic plants, Cicuta, often destructive to cattle. Loudon.Cow'-bēr'ry, n. p. 306(Bot.) A species of Vaccinium (V. vitis-idæa), which bears berries of a red color, of an acid, astringent taste, and which are sometimes used in cookery.Cow'-cătch'er, n. p. 306A strong wooden or iron frame in front of a locomotive-engine for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, such as cows, &c.Cow'die, n. p. 306(Bot.) A coniferous tree of New Zealand (Dammara Australis), which grows to a great size;—called also kaurie.Cow'er, v. i. p. 306To sink by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; to bend down through fear. Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden. She buries it in the recesses of her bosom, and there lets it cower…Cow'er, v. t. p. 306To cherish with care. [Obs.] Spenser.Cow'hage, n. p. 306(Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus Stizolobium, having crooked pods covered with sharp hairs, which, penetrating the flesh, cause irritation and itching. It is sometimes used in medicine as a…Cow'hērd, n. p. 306One whose occupation it is to tend cows.Cow'hīde, n. p. 306The hide of a cow. 2. Leather made of the hide of a cow. 3. A coarse riding-whip made of cow's hide.Cow'hīde, v. t. p. 306To beat or whip with a cow-hide.Cow'ish, a. p. 306Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.] Shak.Cow'ish, n. p. 306(Bot.) A plant growing in the valley of the Oregon, and producing tuberous roots, resembling the sweet potato in taste.Cow'itch, n. p. 306See COWHAGE.Cowl, n. p. 306<br>1. A monk’s hood or habit.<br>What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl! Pope.<br>2. A cowl-shaped cap for the top of chimneys, often movable with the direction of the wind. [Written also…Cowled, a. p. 306Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk. 2. (Bot.) Shaped like a cowl; as, a cowled leaf.Cow'-leech, n. p. 306One who professes to heal the diseases of cows.Cow'-leech'ing, n. p. 306The act or art of healing the distempers of cows.Cow'lick, n. p. 306A tuft of hair turned up,—usually over the forehead,—as if licked by a cow.Cowl'-stāff, n. p. 306A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling.Cō'-work'er, n. p. 306One who works with another; a co-operator.Cow'-pārs'ley, n. p. 307(Bot.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Chaerophyllum (C. tremulum).Cow'-pārs'nip, n. p. 307(Bot.) A plant of the genus Heracleum: the common species is H. sphondylium; the wild parsnip. London.Cow'-pēa, n. p. 307(Bot.) A kind of pea cultivated in the southern part of the United States, and used as a substitute for clover.Cow'-pŏx, n. p. 307(Med.) A pustular eruption of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by inoculation, preserves from the small-pox:—called also kine-pox. Dunglison.Cow'-quāke, n. p. 307(Bot.) A genus of plants, Briza; quaking-grass.Cow'ry, n. p. 307A small shell, the Cypræa moneta, used for money in Africa and the East Indies: the value, which is always small, varies at different places.Cow's'lip, n. p. 307(Bot.)Cow's'-lip p. 307A species of Primula (P. veris), or primrose, a plant appearing early in the spring in moist places, from the flowers of which a pleasant wine is sometimes made. The American cowslip is of the genus…Cow's'-lŭng'wort, n. p. 307(Bot.) A plant of the genus Verbascum, or mullein.Cow'-tree, n. p. 307(Bot.) A tree of South America, which produces a nourishing fluid, resembling milk; the Galactodendron utile.