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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.

  1. Crŏss'-wind, n.p. 316A side wind; an unfavorable wind.
  2. Crŏss'wize, adv.p. 316In the form of a cross; across.
  3. 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).
  4. Crō'ta-lā'ri-ă, n.p. 316(Bot.) A genus of leguminous hothouse plants; rattle-wort.
  5. Crō'ta-lo, n.p. 316(Mus.) A musical instrument used chiefly by the Turks.
  6. Crō'ta-lūm, n.p. 316(Mus.) A kind of castanet used by the priests of Cybele, or Corybantes.
  7. Crō'ta-lŭs, n.p. 316(Zoöl.) A genus of poisonous serpents, including the rattlesnake.
  8. 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…
  9. Crōtched, a.p. 316Having a crotch; forked. 2. Cross; peevish. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  10. 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…
  11. Crōtch'et, v. i.p. 316To play music in measured time. [Obs.] Donne.
  12. Crōtch'et-ed, a.p. 316Marked or measured by crotchets; having musical notation. Harmar.
  13. Crŏtch'et-y, a.p. 316Given to crotchets; distinguished by crotchets; as, a crotchety man.
  14. Crō'ton, n.p. 316(Bot.) A genus of euphorbiaceous plants belonging to tropical countries.
  15. Croton-oilp. 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.…
  16. Crō'ton-bŭg, n.p. 316(Entom.) A long-winged species of cockroach; Blatta Germanica.
  17. Cro-tŏn'ic, a.p. 316Pertaining to, or derived from, the croton plant.
  18. Crotonicp. 316acid (Chem.), an acid obtained from the seeds of the croton plant (C. tiglium) or from croton-oil.
  19. Crō'ton-īne, n.p. 316(Chem.) A crystallizable substance obtained from croton-oil by boiling it with water and magnesia. Gregory.
  20. Cro-tŏph'a-gā, n. pl.p. 316(Ornith.) A genus of scansorial birds found in South America. Ogilvie.
  21. 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.…
  22. Crouch, v. t.p. 316To sign with the cross; to cross; to bless. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  23. Crouched, p. a.p. 317Marked with the sign of the cross. [Obs.] Crouched friar. See CRUTCHED.
  24. Croud, n.p. 317See CROWD.
  25. 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…
  26. 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…
  27. Crou-pāde', n.p. 317(Man.) A leap in which the horse pulls up his hind legs toward his belly.
  28. Croup'er, n.p. 317See CRUPPER.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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…
  32. 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…
  33. Crōw'-bār, n.p. 317A bar of iron sharpened at one end, and used as a lever for raising heavy bodies.
  34. 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.
  35. 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…
  36. 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…
  37. 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…
  38. 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…
  39. Crowd, v. i.p. 317To play on a crowd; to fiddle. [Obs.] “Fiddlers, crowd on.” Massinger.
  40. 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.
  41. 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…
  42. Crow'-flow'er, n.p. 317(Bot.) A kind of campion.
  43. 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…
  44. Crow'-keep'er, n.p. 317A person employed to scare off crows from newly-planted land, &c.; hence, a stuffed figure set up as a scare-crow. “Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper.” Shak. If thou wilt not thy archery forbear…
  45. Crown, n.p. 317A wreath or garland, or any ornament encircling the head, especially as a badge of dignity or power; hence, any mark of honorable distinction. “An olive-branch and laurel-crown.” Shak. Hid'st thou…
  46. Crown, v. t.p. 317To cover, decorate, or invest with a crown; hence, to invest with royal dignity. She perforce withholds the loved boy, Crown him with flowers. Shak. If you will elect by my advice, Crown him, and…
  47. Crown'-ăn’tler, n.p. 317The topmost branch or antler of the horn of a stag.
  48. Crowned, p. a.p. 317Having a crown; adorned with a crown. Crowned cup. (a.) A cup so full of liquor that the contents rise above the brim like a crown. (b.) A cup adorned with a wreath or garland. [Obs.] Nares.
  49. Crown'er, n.p. 317One who, or that which, crowns. 2. [Corrupted from coroner.] A coroner. The crowner hath set on her, and finds it Christian burial. Shak.
  50. Crown'et, n.p. 317A coronet. [Rare.] Though crownets, Pulteney, blazon on thy plate, Adds the base mark one scruple to their weight? Whitehead. 2. The ultimate end and result of an undertaking; a chief end. Oh! this…
  51. Crōw'-nēt, n.p. 317A net for catching wild fowls.
  52. Crown'-glāss, n.p. 317The finest sort of window-glass, formed in large circular plates or disks, and not containing lead as an ingredient. Ure.
  53. Crown'-im-pē'ri-al, n.p. 317(Bot.) A species of the genus Fritillaria (F. imperialis) of the lily family, having flowers of a showy appearance, which droop from the stalks. Loudon.
  54. Crown'-jew'els, n. pl.p. 317The jewels appertaining to the sovereign. [Eng.] She pawned and set to sale the crown-jewels (a crime heretofore counted treasonable in kings). Milton.
  55. Crown'-lănd, n.p. 317The land belonging to the crown, that is, to the sovereign.
  56. Crown'-law, n.p. 317(Eng. Law.) The law relating to public offenses; criminal law.
  57. Crown'-law/yer, n.p. 317One who acts for the crown; one who pleads in criminal cases. [Eng.]
  58. Crown'less, a.p. 317Without a crown.
  59. Crown'let, n.p. 317A small crown. [Rare.] The chief whose antique crownlet long Still sparkled in the feudal song. W. Scott.
  60. Crown'-ōf'fiçe, n.p. 317(Eng. Law.) A department belonging to the Court of King's or Queen's Bench, commonly called the crown-side of the court, which takes cognizance of all criminal cases, from high-treason down to the…