Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Dēal, n. p. 337A part or portion; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent; as, a deal of time and trouble; a deal of cold; a deal of space. ☞ It was formerly limited by some; as, some deal; but this is now…De-āl'bāte, v. t. p. 337To whiten. [Obs.] Cockeram.Dē'al-bā'tion, n. p. 337The act of bleaching; a whitening. [Obs.] Howell.Deā'l'er, n. p. 337One who deals; one who has to do, or has concern, with others; especially, a trader, a trafficker, a shopkeeper, a broker, or a merchant; as, a dealer in dry goods; a dealer in hardware; a dealer in…De-ăm'bu-lāte, v. i. p. 337To walk abroad. [Obs.] Cockcream.De-ām'bu-lā'tion, n. p. 337The act of walking abroad; strolling. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.De-ăm'bu-la-to-ry, a. p. 337Going about from place to place; wandering. [Obs.] “Deambulatory actors.” Bp. Morton.De-ām'bu-la-to-ry, n. p. 337A covered place in which to walk. [Obs.] Warton.Dēan, n. p. 337[O. Fr. dean, deen, dein, now doyen, the eldest of a corporation, a dean, Pr. dega, degua, Sp. & It. decano, O. Sp. dean, Pg. deão, from Lat. decanus, the chief of ten, one set over ten persons, e.…Dēan'er-y, n. p. 337The office or the revenue of a dean. 2. The house of a dean. 3. The jurisdiction of a dean. Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery is divided into parishes. Blackstone.Dēan'ship, n. p. 337The office of a dean.Dēar, a. p. 337Bearing a high price; calling for a large outlay; costly; expensive. The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. Shak. 2. Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year. 3.…Dear, adv. p. 337Dearly; at a high rate. “So dear I love the man.” Shak. If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. Shak.Dēar, v. t. p. 337To make dear; to endear. [Obs.] Shelton.