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.
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.De-fēn'si-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 346Capability of being defended.De-fēn'si-ble, a. p. 346Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause.De-fĕn'/si-ble-ness, n. p. 346Capability of being defended; defensibility.De-fēn'sion, n. p. 346Defense. [Obs.] Chaucer.De-fēn'sive, a. p. 346Serving to defend; proper for defense; as, defensive armor. “A moat defensive to a house.” Shak. 2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; as, defensive war. 3. In a state or posture to…De-fĕn'sive, n. p. 346That which defends; a safeguard. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives. Bacon. To be on the defensive, or to stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or…De-fēn'sive-ly, adv. p. 346In a defensive manner; on the defensive; in defense.De-fĕn’so-ry, a. p. 346Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations.De-fēr', v. t. p. 346To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay; to protract. Defer the spoil of the city till night. Shak. 2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer. The commissioners . . .…De-fĕr′, v. i. p. 346To put off; to delay; to wait. God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name. Milton. 2. To yield from respect to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to…Dĕf'er-ençe, n. p. 346A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; the act or habit of deferring; regard; respect; complaisance. “Def’erence to the authority of thoughtful and…Dĕf'er-ent, a. p. 346Serving to carry or convey; bearing. [Rare.] “Bodies deferent.” Bacon.Dĕf'er-ent, n. p. 346That which carries or conveys. “Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.” Bacon. 2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery the center of a…Dĕf'er-ĕn'tial, a. p. 346Expressing deference; accustomed to defer.Dēf'er-ēn'tial-ly, adv. p. 346With deference.