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.
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.Crēst'ed-dīv'er, n. p. 312(Ornith.) A water fowl of large size, having a tuft or crest upon its head, whence the former part of name; the Podiceps cristatus.Crēst'-fallĕn, a. p. 312With lowered front or hanging head; hence, with broken courage and pride; dispirited; dejected; cowed. 2. (Man.) Having the crest hanging to one side;—said of a horse.Crēst'less, a. p. 312Without a crest; not dignified with coat-armor; of low birth.Crēst'-ma-rīne', n. p. 312(Bot.) A plant (Crithmum maritimum);—called also samphire.Crēst'-tile, n. p. 312(Arch.) A tile of peculiar form, used to cover a ridge upon a roof, fitting upon it like a saddle.Crĕs'well, n. p. 312The broad edge or verge of the sole of a shoe. Bailey.Cre-tā'ceoŭs, a. p. 312Having the qualities of chalk; abounding with chalk; as, cretaceous rocks and formations. See CHALK.Cre-tā'ceoŭs-ly, adv. p. 312In a manner like that of chalk; as chalk.Crē'tan, a. p. 312(Geog.) Pertaining to Crete, or Candia.Crē'tan, n. p. 312(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Crete or Candia. [Written also Crete and Cretian.]Crē'tā-tēd, a. p. 312Rubbed with chalk. [Obs.] Bailey.Crēte, n. p. 312(Geog.) A Cretan. See CRETAN.Crē'tian, a. & n. p. 312Same as CRETAN.Crē'tic, n. p. 312(Gr. & Lat. Pros.) A poetic foot, composed of one short syllable between two long syllables.Crĕt'i-cĭsm, n. p. 312A falsehood; lying; cretism.Crē'tin, n. p. 312(Med.) An idiot of a certain kind, frequent in the low valleys of the Alps, generally afflicted also with goiter.Crē'tin-ism, n. p. 312The state or disease of a cretin; idiocy; goiter.Crē'tism, n. p. 312A Cretan practice; a falsehood.Crē'tōse, a. p. 312Chalky; cretaceous. [Obs.]Creux, n. p. 312(Sculp.) Any thing engraved or sculptured by excavation or hollowing out; an intaglio; the reverse of relief.Cre-vāsse′, n. p. 312A deep crevice or split; one of the clefts by which the mass of a glacier is divided. 2. A breach in the levee or embankment of a river. [U. S.]Crēv'et, n. p. 312A crucible or melting pot used by goldsmiths; a cruset.Crēv'īce, n. p. 312A narrow opening resulting from a split or crack; or the separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent. The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the crevice peered about.…Crēv'īce, v. t. p. 312To crack; to flaw. [Rare.] “To crevice the wall.” Wotton.Crēv'is, n. p. 312The craw-fish. [Prov. Eng.]Crew, n. p. 312A company of people associated together; a throng; an assemblage. There a noble crew Of lords and ladies stood on every side. Spenser. Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Army of friends, fit…Crew'el, n. p. 312Worsted yarn slackly twisted.Crew'et, n. p. 312See CRUET.Crĭb, n. p. 312The manger or rack of a stable; a feeding-place. The steer and lion at one crib shall meet. Pope. 2. A stall for oxen or other cattle. 3. A small inclosed bedstead for a child. 4. A box or bin for…Crib, v. t. p. 312To shut or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to confine; to cramp. “If only the vital energy be not cribbed or cramped.” I. Taylor. During my winters and springs I am . . . cribbed and…Crib, v. i. p. 312To crowd together, or to be confined, as in a crib.Crib′bage, n. p. 312A game at cards, in which the dealer makes up a third hand for himself partly out of the hand of his opponent.Crib′bage-bōard, n. p. 312A board with holes, used by cribbage-players, to score their game with pegs.