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.
Cre-dū'li-ty, n. p. 311Easiness of belief; a disposition to believe on slight evidence. That implicit credulity is the mark of a feeble mind will not be disputed. Sir W. Hamilton.Crĕd'ŭ-lōŭs, a. p. 311Apt to believe on slight or insufficient evidence; easily convinced or imposed upon; unsuspecting. “Youth credulous of happiness.” Landor. So glistened the dire snake, and into fraud Led Eve, our…Crĕd'ŭ-lōŭs-ly, adv. p. 311With credulity.Crēd'ŭ-lōŭs-ness, n. p. 311Easiness of belief; readiness to believe without sufficient evidence. Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of atheists, who believe that chance could make the world, when it can not build a…Creed, n. p. 311A definite summary of what is believed; a brief exposition of important points, as in religion, science, politics, &c.; especially a summary of Christian belief; a religious symbol; as, the Apostolic…Creek, v. t. & i. p. 311To make a harsh, sharp noise. See CREAK.Creek, n. p. 311A small inlet, bay, or cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river. A law was made here to stop their passage in every port and creek. Davies. 2. A small river or brook. 3. Any turn or…Creek'y, a. p. 311Containing or abounding in creeks; like a creek; winding. “The creeky shore.” —Spenser.Creel, n. p. 311An osier basket, such as anglers use.Creep, v. i. p. 311To move along on the ground or on any other surface, as a worm or reptile does; to move as a child does on its hands and knees; to crawl. Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk The earth, and…Creep, n. p. 311(Mining.) A heaving up of the floor of a mine, occasioned by the weight of the strata either side, and so called because it takes place very gradually.Creep'er, n. p. 311One who creeps; any creeping thing. 2. A plant which grows, as does a vine, clinging to the ground or other means of support. His mind [Boswell's] resembled those creepers which the botanists call…Creep'-hōle, n. p. 311A hole into which an animal may creep, to escape notice or danger. 2. A subterfuge; an excuse.Creep'ing-crōw'foot, n. p. 311(Bot.) A plant, the Ranunculus repens.Creep'ing-ly, adv. p. 311By creeping; slowly; in the manner of a reptile. Sidney.Creep'le, n. p. 311A creeping animal; a serpent. [Obs.] There is one creeping beast, or long creeple (as the name is in Devonshire), that hath a rattle at his tail that doth discover his age. Morton, 1632. 2. One who…Creese, n. p. 311A Malay dagger. [Written also crease and kris.]Cre-mail-lère', n. p. 311(Fort.) A horizontal outline which is indented or zigzagged.Cre-mā'tion, n. p. 311A burning; particularly, the burning of the dead. Browne.Cre-mō'na, n. p. 311A superior kind of violin, made at Cremona, in Italy. See CROMORNA.Crē/mo-nēse', n. sing. & pl. p. 311(Geog.) A native or inhabitant, or the natives or inhabitants, of Cremona.Crē/mo-nēse', a. p. 311(Geog.) Pertaining to Cremona.Crē'mor, n. p. 311Any soft substance resembling cream.Crēm'o-sīn, n. p. 311See CRIMSON.Crēms, n. p. 311See KREMS.Crē'nate p. 311Crē'nā-ted, a. p. 311(Bot.) Having the edge cut or notched in the form of a scallop-shell; crenelated.Crĕn'a-tūre, n. p. 311(Bot.) A tooth of a crenate leaf, or any other part that is crenate;—called also crenelle.Crĕn'el-āte, v. t. p. 311To furnish with openings or indentations along the line of a parapet, for soldiers to fire through; as, to crenelate a wall. Crenelated molding (Arch.), a kind of indented molding used in Norman…Crĕn'el-ā'tion, n. p. 311State of being indented or battlemented.Cre-nĕlle', n. p. 311An indentation; an opening in a parapet through which to shoot. Oxf. Gloss.Cre-nĕlled', a. p. 311(Bot.) Indented or notched; as, a crenelled leaf. Henslow.Crĕn'gle or Crĕn'kle, n. p. 311See CRINGLE.Crĕn'ū-late or Crĕn'ū-lā'ted, a. p. 311Diminutive of crenate, q. v.] (Bot.) Having the edge, as of a leaf, cut into very small scallops.Crē'ōle, n. p. 311One born in America, or the West Indies, of European ancestors. 2. One born within or near the tropics, of any color. [This is the usual sense.] ☞ “The term creole negro is employed in the English…Cre-ō'le-an, a. p. 311Pertaining to, or resembling, the Creoles.Crē'o-sōte, n. p. 311(Chem.) An oily, colorless liquid, having the smell of smoke, obtained from the pyroligneous acid and the tarry matter which distill from wood. Ure.Crē'pançe or Crē'pane, n. p. 311(Far.) An injury in a horse's leg, caused by the shoe of one hind foot crossing and striking the other hind foot. It sometimes degenerates into an ulcer.Crĕp'i-tāte, v. i. p. 311To burst with a sharp, abrupt sound, rapidly repeated, as salt in fire, or during calcination; to crackle; to snap.Crĕp'i-tā'tion, n. p. 311The act of crepitating or crackling. 2. (Surg.) The noise of fractured bones, when moved by a surgeon to ascertain the reality of a fracture.Crĕp'i-tŭs, n. p. 311(Med.) The noise produced by a sudden discharge of wind from a narrow orifice; especially, a discharge of wind from the bowels. 2. The crackling noise produced by pressing upon a cellular membrane…Crē'pon, n. p. 311A thin stuff resembling crape, made of either wool or silk, or both.Crĕpt, imp. & p. p. p. 311of creep. See CREEP.Cre-pŭs'çle or Cre-pŭs'cūle, n. p. 311Twilight; the light of the morning from the first dawn to sunrise, and of the evening from sunset to darkness. [Obs.] Bailey.Cre-pŭs'cu-lar or Cre-pŭs'cu-loŭs, a. p. 311Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; resembling the imperfect light of the morning and evening; hence, imperfectly clear or luminous. 2. (Ornith. & Entom.) Flying in the evening, or before…Cre-pŭs'cu-lĭne, a. p. 311Crepuscular. [Obs.] Sprat.Cres-çĕn'do, a. p. 311(Mus.) With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone;—a direction for the performance of music, indicated as in the cut, or the word being…Cres-çĕn'do, n. p. 311(Mus.) (a.) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b.) A passage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone.Crĕs'çent, a. p. 311Increasing; growing. Nature, crescent, does not grow alone In thews and bulk. Shak. Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton. O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set.…Crĕs'çent, n. p. 311The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and convex edge. Dryden. 2. (a.) The figure or likeness of the new moon, borne in the Turkish flag or national…Crés'cent, v. t. p. 312To form into, or ornament with, a crescent, or something of crescent form. [Obs.]Cres-cént'ic, a. p. 312Crescent-shaped. “Crescentic lobes.” R. Owen.Crés'cive, a. p. 312Increasing; growing. “Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty.” Shak.Crēss, n. p. 312(Bot.) A plant of various species, chiefly of the family of Cruciferæ. The leaves of the true kinds have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and anti-scorbutic. She, wretched matron…Cres-sēlle', n. p. 312(Eccl.) A wooden instrument used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during passion week.Crēs'set, n. p. 312An open lamp, filled with combustible material, placed on a beacon, lighthouse, &c., or carried on a pole; any great light. Many a row Of starry lamps and blazing cressets fed With naphtha and…Crēss'-rōck'et, n. p. 312(Bot.) A plant of the order Cruciferæ; Vella pseudocytisus.Crēst, n. p. 312A tuft, or other natural ornament, growing on an animal’s head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent, &c. When the viper issues from the brake, Be quick; with stones, and brands…Crēst, v. t. p. 312To furnish or adorn with a crest; to serve as a crest for. His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm Crested the world. Shak. ’Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain’s brow. Wordsworth. 2. To…Crēst'ed, p. a. p. 312Having a crest. 2. (Bot.) Bearing any elevated appendage like a crest. Gray.