Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Dēa'con-ess, n. p. 336A female deacon in the primitive church.Dēa'con-hōōd, n. p. 336The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconry.Dēa'con-ry or Dēa'con-ship, n. p. 336The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.Dĕad, a. p. 336Deprived of life; put to death; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a dead man. “The queen, my…Dĕad, adv. p. 336To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly; exactly. [Colloq.] I was tired of reading, and dead sleepy. Dickens.Dĕad, n. p. 336The most quiet or death-like time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of night; the dead of winter. 2. (pl.) Those who are dead; the deceased; the departed. This is…Dĕad, v. i. p. 336To lose life or force. [Obs.] Bacon.Dĕad, v. t. p. 336To make dead; to deprive of life, force, or vigor. [Obs.] Heaven's stern decree, With many an ill, hath numbed and deaded me. Chapman.Dĕad'-ăn'gle, n. p. 336(Mil.) The space in front of a parapet which soldiers within it can not see and can not fire upon.Dead'-cen/ter p. 336Dead'-point, n. p. 336(Mach.) Either of the two opposite points in the orbit of a crank, at which the crank and the connecting-rod lie in the same straight line; as A and B; the corresponding positions of the cross-head…Dead'-col'or-ing, n. p. 336(Paint.) The first layer of colors, usually some shade of gray, on which are laid the finishing colors which give life and beauty to the picture.Dead'-dō'ing, a. p. 336Putting to death; destructive; killing. [Obs.] Hudibras.Dĕad'-dōor, n. p. 336(Ship-building.) A door fitted to the outside of the quarter gallery door, to be used in case the latter should be carried away.Dead'en, v. t. p. 336To impair in vigor, force, or sensibility; to blunt; as, to deaden the force of a ball; to deaden the natural powers or feelings. 2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden…Dead'-eye, n. p. 336(Naut.) A round, flattish, wooden block, encircled by a rope, or an iron band, and pierced with three holes, to receive the lanyard, used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes.…Dĕad'-freight, n. p. 336(Mar. Law.) A sum of money paid by a person who engages to freight a whole vessel, but fails to make out a full cargo, for the space left unoccupied, or the deficiency of the cargo.Dēad'-ground, n. p. 336(Mining.) The portion of a vein in which there is no ore.Dĕad'-hĕad, n. p. 336One who obtains something of commercial value without special payment or charge; especially, one who receives free tickets for theaters, public conveyances, &c. [U. S.] N. Am. Cyc.Dead'-heart'ed, a. p. 336Having a dull, faint heart.Dead'-heart'ed-ness, n. p. 336Want of courage; pusillanimity. Bp. Hall.Dĕad'-hēat, n. p. 336A heat or course between two or more race-horses, in which all come out exactly equal, so that no one beats.Dĕad'ish, a. p. 337Somewhat dead or dull; wanting in liveliness. Stafford.Dēad'-lift, n. p. 337The lifting of a thing at the utmost disadvantage, as of a dead body; hence, an extreme exigency.Dead'-light, n. p. 337(Naut.) A strong shutter, made to fit a cabin window, to prevent the water from entering in a storm.Dēad'li-hōod, n. p. 337The state of the dead.Dĕad'li-ness, n. p. 337The quality of being deadly.Dēad'-lōck, n. p. 337A lock without a spring or latch.Dēad'ly, a. p. 337Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive; certain or likely to cause death; as, a deadly blow or wound. 2. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile. Thy assailant is…Dead'ly, adv. p. 337In a manner resembling, or as if produced by, death. “Deadly pale.” Shak. 2. In a manner to occasion death; mortally. “The groanings of a deadly wounded man.” Ezek. xxx. 24. 3. In an implacable…Dēad'ly-ēār'rot, n. p. 337(Bot.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Thapsia. Loudon.Dĕad'ly-night'shāde, n. p. 337(Bot.) A poisonous plant of the genus Atropa; A. belladonna. Loudon.Dēad'-märch, n. p. 337A piece of solemn music intended to be played as an accompaniment to a funeral procession.Dĕad'ness, n. p. 337The state of being deprived or destitute of life, animation, vigor, spirit, activity, &c.; dullness; inertness; languor; coldness; vapidness; indifference; as, the deadness of a limb, a body, or a…Dĕad'-nĕt/tle, n. p. 337(Bot.) A plant of the genus Lamium, and another of the genus Galeopsis.Dēad'-pāy, n. p. 337(Mil.) The pay drawn for soldiers really dead, whose names are kept on the rolls, and whose pay is appropriated by dishonest officers. O you commanders, That, like me, have no dead-pays. Massinger.Dĕad'-plāte, n. p. 337(Mach.) A solid covering over a part of a fire-grate, to prevent the entrance of air through that part.Dĕad'-plĕdge, n. p. 337A mortgage. See MORTGAGE.Dead'-reck'on-ing, n. p. 337(Naut.) The method of determining the place of a ship from a record kept of the courses sailed as given by compass, and the distance made on each course as found by log, with allowance for lee-way…Dĕad'-rī'sing, n. p. 337(Naut.) The parts of a ship's floor or bottom throughout her length, where the floor timber terminates on the lower futtock. Totten.Dēad'-rōpe, n. p. 337(Naut.) A rope which does not run through any block.Dēads, n. pl. p. 337(Mining.) The substances which inclose the ore on every side.Dēad'-sĕt, n. p. 337A preconcerted scheme to defraud a person in gaming. 2. The fixed position of a pointer-dog in indicating game. 3. A determined and prolonged attempt.Dĕad'-shŏt, n. p. 337An unerring marksman.Dĕad'-strŭck, a. p. 337Confounded; struck with horror. “Dead-struck audience.” Bp. Hall.Dĕad'-wall, n. p. 337A blank wall unbroken by windows or other openings.Dĕad'-wa'ter, n. p. 337(Naut.) The eddy water closing in with a ship's stern, as she passes through the water.Dĕad'-weight, n. p. 337A heavy or oppressive burden.Dĕad'-wind, n. p. 337(Naut.) A wind directly ahead, or opposed to the ship's course.Dĕad'-wood, n. p. 337(Naut.) Blocks of timber laid on the keel of a ship, particularly at the extremities.Dēad'-works, n. pl. p. 337(Naut.) The parts of a ship which are above the surface of the water when she is laden.Deaf, a. p. 337Wanting the sense of hearing either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf. Shak. 2. Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive…Deaf, v. t. p. 337To render deaf; to deafen. [Obs. and rare.] “Deafs his ears.” Dryden.Deaf'en, v. t. p. 337To make deaf; to deprive of the power of hearing; to render incapable of perceiving sounds distinctly. Deafened and stunned with their promiscuous cries. Addison. 2. (Arch.) To render impervious to…Deaf'ly, adv. p. 337Without sense of sounds; obscurely heard.Deaf'ly, a. p. 337Lonely; solitary. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Deaf'-mūte, n. p. 337A person who is deaf and dumb; one who, through deprivation or defect of hearing, has either failed to acquire the power of speech, or has lost it after having acquired it. [See Illust. of…Deaf'ness, n. p. 337Incapacity of perceiving sounds; the state of the organs which prevents the impressions which constitute hearing; want of the sense of hearing. 2. Unwillingness to hear; voluntary rejection of what…Dēal, v. t. p. 337To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to distribute. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? Isa. lviii. 7. And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold. Tickell. 2. To…Dēal, v. i. p. 337To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards. 2. To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to carry on…