Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
De-fāil'ance, n. p. 344Failure; deficiency. [Obs.] “Defaillance in degree or continuance.” Comber.De-fāl′căte, v. t. p. 344To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; — used chiefly of money, accounts, rents, income, &c. Lurke.De-fāl'cate, v. i. p. 344To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust.Dē`fal-cā'tion, n. p. 344A cutting off; a diminution, deficit, or withdrawment. 2. That which is cut off, diminished, or abated; as, this loss is a defalcation from the revenue. 3. An abstraction of money, &c., by an officer…De-fālk’, v. t. p. 344To take away; to cut off; to abate. [Obs.] “De-falking the four hundred garnish money.” B. Jon.Dēf'a-mā'tion, n. p. 344The taking from another's reputation; the act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the malicious uttering of falsehoods, or circulation of reports…De-făm'a-to-ry, a. p. 344Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory reports or writings.De-fāme', v. t. p. 344To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse. My guilt thy growing virtues did defame.…De-fāme', n. p. 345Dishonor; disgrace. [Obs.] “In remembrance of thy defame.” Gower.De-fam'er, n. p. 345One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.De-fām'ing-ly, adv. p. 345In a defaming manner.Def'a-mōus, a. p. 345Serving to defame; injurious; slanderous. [Obs.] “Defamous words.” Holinshed.De-făt'i-ga-ble, a. p. 345Capable of being wearied or tired out. [Obs.] “Made on set purpose defatigable.” Glanville.De-făt'i-gāte, v. t. p. 345To weary or tire; to fatigue. [Rare.] “Which defatigating hill.” Sir T. Herbert.De-făt'i-gā'tion, n. p. 345Weariness. [Rare.] Bacon.De-fault', n. p. 345A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default. 2. Fault; offense; ill deed. “His so…De-fault', v. i. p. 345To be wanting in duty; to offend. “That he 'gainst courtesy so fully did default.” Spenser. 2. To fail in fulfilling a contract or agreement; to fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.De-fault', v. t. p. 345To fail to perform; to be guilty of neglect of. “What they have defaulted toward him.” Milton. 2. (Law.) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make an entry…De-fault'er, n. p. 345One who makes default; one who fails to appear in court when called. 2. One who fails to perform a public duty; particularly, one who fails to account for public money intrusted to his care; a…De-fē'a-sance, n. p. 345A defeat; an overthrow. [Obs.] “His foes’ defeasance.” Spenser. 2. A rendering null or void. 3. (Law.) A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void…De-fêa'sanced, a. p. 345(Law.) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.De-fēa'si-ble, a. p. 345Capable of being defeated, annulled, or made void. He came to the crown by a defeasible title. Davies.De-fēa′si-ble-ness, n. p. 345The quality of being de-feasible.De-fēat', n. p. 345An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak. 2. An overthrow, as of an attack, an army, &c.; repulse suffered; rout. “A defeat…De-feat', v. t. p. 345To render null and void, as a title; to make defeasance of, as an estate; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive of. The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession. Hallam. 2. To overcome…De-fēat'ure, n. p. 345Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] “Nothing but loss in their defeature.” Beau. & Fl. 2. Change of features; deformity. [Obs.] “Strange defeatures in my face.” Shak.De-féat'ured, a. p. 345Changed in features; deformed. [Rare.] “Features when defeatured in the way I have described.” De Quincey.Dĕf'e-cāte, v. t. p. 345To clear from impurities, as lees, dregs, &c.; to clarify, to purify. “To defecate the dark . . . oil of amber.” Boyle. 2. To free from extraneous or polluting matter; to clear; to purify. “Defecated…Dĕf'e-cāte, v. i. p. 345(Med.) To void excrement.Dĕf'e-cate, a. p. 345Freed from any thing that can pollute, as dregs, lees, &c.; refined; purified. “Liquor very defecate.” Boyle. “Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.” Bates.Dĕf'e-cā'tion, n. p. 345The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs; purification. 2. (Med.) The act of voiding excrement from the body.De-fĕct', n. p. 345Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; fault; imperfection. Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies. 2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical…De-fēct', v. i. p. 345To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] “Defected honor.” Warner.De-fĕct′, v. t. p. 345To injure; to damage. “None can my life defect.” [R.] Trouble of Q. Elizabeth, 1639.De-fēc'ti-bil'i-ty, n. p. 345The quality of being defectible; imperfection. [Rare.] Digby. Hale. 2. An imperfection; a defect. [Rare.] “Defectibilities in pronunciation.” Bp. Taylor.De-fēct'i-ble, a. p. 345Liable to become defective or imperfect. [Rare.] “A defectible understanding.” Bp. Taylor.De-fĕc'tion, n. p. 345The act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; want or failure in duty; a failing away; apostasy; backsliding. “The general…De-fec'tion-ist, n. p. 345One who advocates or encourages defection.De-fec'tious, a. p. 345Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] “A defectious piece [of writing.]” Sidney.De-fĕc'tive, a. p. 345Wanting in substance, quantity, or quality; incomplete; lacking a part; not full, entire, or perfect; deficient; faulty; applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective…De-fĕct'ive-ly, adv. p. 345In a defective manner; imperfectly.De-fect'ive-ness, n. p. 345The state of being imperfect; faultiness.De-fĕct/ū-ŏs'i-ty, n. p. 345Defectiveness; faultiness. [Obs.] Montague.De-fĕct'ū-ous, a. p. 345Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.Dĕf-e-dā'tion, n. p. 345Pollution. [Obs.]De-fênçe', n. p. 345See DEFENSE.De-fence′, v. t. p. 345To defend; to protect. [Obs.] “Better manned and more strongly defenced.” Hales.De-fénd', v. t. p. 345To ward off; to drive back or away; to repel. [Obs.] “To defend again the renegate.” Chaucer. The other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser. 2. To prohibit; to…De-fĕnd’a-ble, a. p. 345Capable of being defended; defensible. [Rare.]De-fénd'ant, n. p. 345One who defends, or makes defense, against evil; defender. The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spottiswood. 2. (Law.) The party that opposes a complaint, demand, or charge, at…De-fĕnd'ant, a. p. 345Proper or serving for defense; defensive. [Obs.] “Means defendant.” Shak. 2. Making defense; sustaining the character of a defendant. [Rare.]Dĕf'en-dee', n. p. 345One who is protected or defended. [Rare.]De-fénd'er, n. p. 345One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator. Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant defenders. Motley.De-fén'sa-tive, n. p. 345That which serves to guard or defend; as a plaster, or the like, to secure a wound from external injury.De-fénse' or De-fénce', n. p. 345The act of defending, or the state of being defended; prohibition; opposition; protection. Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Temple. In causes of defense 'tis…De-fénse', v. t. p. 345To furnish with defense; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.]De-fĕnse'less, a. p. 345Destitute of defense, or without means of repelling assault or injury; unprotected; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unsheltered.De-fénse'less-ly, adv. p. 345In an unprotected manner.De-fēnse'less-ness, n. p. 346The state of being unguarded or unprotected.De-fēns'er, n. p. 346One who defends; defender. [Obs.] “Comforters, counselors, or defensers.” Foxe.