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.
Crŏss'-pŭr'pose, n. p. 316A counter or opposing purpose; hence, that which is inconsistent or contradictory. 2. (pl.) A game of the nature of conversation, in which questions and answers are made so to concur as to involve…Crŏss'-quar'ters, n. pl. p. 316(Arch.) An ornament of tracery representing the four leaves of a cruciform flower.Crŏss'-quĕs'tion, v. t. p. 316To cross-examine.Crŏss'-rēad'ing, n. p. 316The reading of the lines of a newspaper directly across the page, through the adjoining columns, thus confounding the sense, and often producing a ludicrous combination of ideas.Crŏss'-rōad, n. p. 316A road that crosses another; an obscure road intersecting or avoiding the main road.Crŏss'-rōw', n. p. 316The alphabet, so named because a cross was formerly placed at the beginning;—called also Christ-cross-row. 2. A row that crosses others.Crŏss'-sēa, n. p. 316(Naut.) A sea or swell in which the waves run in contrary directions.Crŏss'-sill, n. p. 316A sill which supports a cross-tie.Crŏss'-spring'er, n. p. 316(Arch.) A rib extending diagonally from one pier to another in groined vaulting.Crŏss'-stăff, n. p. 316An instrument consisting of a square staff with four cross-pieces of dissimilar size, formerly used for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies at sea. Hutton.Crŏss'-stōne, n. p. 316See HARMOTOME and STAURO-LITE.Crŏss'-tāil, n. p. 316(Mach.) A strong iron bar connecting the side-lever of a marine engine with the piston-rod.Crŏss'-tie, n. p. 316A sleeper connecting the rails of a railroad.Crŏss'-tīn'ing, n. p. 316(Agric.) A harrowing by drawing the harrow back and forth across the same ground.Crŏss'-tree, n. p. 316(Naut.) One of certain pieces of timber, supported by the cheeks and trestle-trees, at the upper ends of the lower masts, to sustain the frame of the top, and on the topmasts, to extend the…Crŏss'-vault'ing, n. p. 316(Arch.) Vaulting formed by the intersection of two or more simple vaults. One form of this is called groin. Gwilt.Crŏss'-wāy, n. p. 316A way that crosses another; an obscure path intersecting or avoiding the main road.Crŏss'-wind, n. p. 316A side wind; an unfavorable wind.Crŏss'wize, adv. p. 316In the form of a cross; across.Crŏss'-wort, n. p. 316(Bot.) (a.) A small herbaceous plant of little beauty, of the genus Crucianella. (b.) A species of the genus Valantia (V. cruciata). (c.) A plant of the genus Gallium (G. cruciatum).Crō'ta-lā'ri-ă, n. p. 316(Bot.) A genus of leguminous hothouse plants; rattle-wort.Crō'ta-lo, n. p. 316(Mus.) A musical instrument used chiefly by the Turks.Crō'ta-lūm, n. p. 316(Mus.) A kind of castanet used by the priests of Cybele, or Corybantes.Crō'ta-lŭs, n. p. 316(Zoöl.) A genus of poisonous serpents, including the rattlesnake.Crōtch, n. p. 316The angle formed by the intersection of two legs or branches; place of division, as of a trunk into branches; fork. 2. (Naut.) A piece of wood or iron, formed with two horns or arms, like a half…Crōtched, a. p. 316Having a crotch; forked. 2. Cross; peevish. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Crōtch'et, n. p. 316A forked piece of wood used as a support in building; a crotch. The crotchets of their cot in columns rise. Dryden. 2. (Mus.) The third principal note, equal in duration to half a minim, or a fourth…Crōtch'et, v. i. p. 316To play music in measured time. [Obs.] Donne.Crōtch'et-ed, a. p. 316Marked or measured by crotchets; having musical notation. Harmar.Crŏtch'et-y, a. p. 316Given to crotchets; distinguished by crotchets; as, a crotchety man.Crō'ton, n. p. 316(Bot.) A genus of euphorbiaceous plants belonging to tropical countries.Croton-oil p. 316an oil obtained from the plant Croton tiglium, of a brownish-yellow color, and hot, biting taste. It is a most powerful drastic cathartic, and is also employed externally as a rubefacient. Loudon.…Crō'ton-bŭg, n. p. 316(Entom.) A long-winged species of cockroach; Blatta Germanica.Cro-tŏn'ic, a. p. 316Pertaining to, or derived from, the croton plant.Crotonic p. 316acid (Chem.), an acid obtained from the seeds of the croton plant (C. tiglium) or from croton-oil.Crō'ton-īne, n. p. 316(Chem.) A crystallizable substance obtained from croton-oil by boiling it with water and magnesia. Gregory.Cro-tŏph'a-gā, n. pl. p. 316(Ornith.) A genus of scansorial birds found in South America. Ogilvie.Crouch, v. i. p. 316To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground, as an animal. Close by the dove its head it crouched, And with the dove it heaves and stirs, Swelling its neck as she swells hers. Coleridge.…Crouch, v. t. p. 316To sign with the cross; to cross; to bless. [Obs.] Chaucer.Crouched, p. a. p. 317Marked with the sign of the cross. [Obs.] Crouched friar. See CRUTCHED.Croud, n. p. 317See CROWD.Croup, n. p. 317The hinder part or buttocks of certain quadrupeds, especially of a horse; hence, the place behind the saddle. So light to the croup the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he…Croup, n. p. 317(Med.) An inflammatory affection of the larynx or trachea accompanied by a hoarse ringing cough and difficult respiration. In the form in which it attacks chiefly young children, it is known as…Crou-pāde', n. p. 317(Man.) A leap in which the horse pulls up his hind legs toward his belly.Croup'er, n. p. 317See CRUPPER.Group'pi-er, n. p. 317He who watches the cards and collects the money at a gaming-table. 2. One who, at a public dinner party, sits at the lower end of the table as assistant chairman. Smart.Crout, n. p. 317A preparation of chopped cabbage tightly packed in layers with salt and spices between them, and allowed to ferment; — usually called sour-crout.Crōw, n. p. 317(Ornith.) A large bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a conical and somewhat curved beak, with projecting plumes at its base, and uttering a harsh, croaking note. The common crow of…Crōw, v. i. p. 317To make the shrill sound characteristic of a cock, either in joy, gayety, or defiance. The cock had crowed, and light Began to clothe each Asiatic hill. Byron. 2. To shout in exultation or defiance…Crōw'-bār, n. p. 317A bar of iron sharpened at one end, and used as a lever for raising heavy bodies.Crōw'-bĕr'ry, n. p. 317(Bot.) A plant of the genus Empetrum, or berry-bearing heath. One species produces a black berry, called also crock-berry, which is sometimes used as food. Loudon.Crowd, v. t. p. 317To press, urge, or drive together. 2. To fill by pressing or urging together; hence, to encumber by excess of numbers or quantity. The balconies and verandas were crowded with spectators, anxious to…Crowd, v. i. p. 317To press together in numbers; to swarm or be numerous. The whole company crowded about the fire. Addison. Images came crowding on his mind faster than he could put them into words. Macaulay. 2. To…Crowd, n. p. 317A number of things collected or closely pressed together; also, a number of things lying or being adjacent. 2. A number of persons congregated and pressed together or collected into a close body…Crowd, n. p. 317An ancient instrument of music with six strings; a kind of violin. [Obs.] [Written also crowd, crouth, and cruth.] The pipe, the tabor, and the trembling crowd. Spenser. A lackey that . . . can…Crowd, v. i. p. 317To play on a crowd; to fiddle. [Obs.] “Fiddlers, crowd on.” Massinger.Crowd'er, n. p. 317One who crowds. 2. One who plays on a violin; a fiddler. [Obs.] Yet it is sung but by some blind crowder. Sidney.Crow'dy, n. p. 317Meal and water stirred together while cold, so as to form a thick gruel, sometimes with the addition of milk also. ☞ The word is frequently used in Scotland as a general designation of food of the…Crow'-flow'er, n. p. 317(Bot.) A kind of campion.Crow'-foot, n. p. 317(Bot.) The genus Ranunculus, of many species, some of which are common weeds, while others are flowering plants of considerable beauty. London. 2. (Naut.) A contrivance consisting of a number of…