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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
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2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. De-spiʹsal, n.p. 362Contempt. [Obs.] “A despisal of religion.” South.
  2. De-spīse', v. t.p. 362To look down upon with contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion of. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. i. 7. Let not your ears despise my tongue forever. Which shall…
  3. De-spīs'ed-ness, n.p. 362The state of being despised.
  4. De-spīs'er, n.p. 362One who despises; a contemner; a scorner.
  5. De-spīs'ing-ly, adv.p. 362In a despising manner; contemptuously.
  6. De-spite', n.p. 362Extreme malice; violent hatred; malignity; malice irritated or enraged; angry hatred; vexation. With all thy despite against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6. 2. An act prompted by feelings of hatred…
  7. De-spite', v. t.p. 362To vex; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Raleigh.
  8. De-spite', prep.p. 362In spite of; as, despite his prejudices. Syn.—See NOTWITHSTANDING.
  9. De-spite'ful, a.p. 362Full of despite; malicious; malignant; as, a despiteful enemy. Haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters. Rom. i. 30.
  10. De-spîte'ful-ly, adv.p. 362In a despiteful manner; maliciously; cruelly. Pray for them which despitefully use you. Matt. v. 44.
  11. De-spite'ful-ness, n.p. 362The state of being despiteful.
  12. Des-pĭt'e-ōus, a.p. 362Feeling or showing despite; malicious. [Obs.] “Despitous reproaches.” Holland. He was to sinful man not despitous. Chaucer.
  13. Des-pĭt'e-oŭs-ly, adv.p. 362In a despiteous manner. [Obs.] Speed.
  14. De-spoil', v. t.p. 362To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe; to deprive for spoil; to bereave; to rob; to pillage;—usually followed by of. The clothed earth is then bare, Despoiled is the summer fair. Gower. He…
  15. De-spoil′, n.p. 363Despoliation. [Obs.] Wolsey.
  16. De-spoil'er, n.p. 363One who despoils or strips by force.
  17. De-spoil'ment, n.p. 363Act of despoiling; a plundering.
  18. De-spō'li-ā'tion, n.p. 363The act of despoiling, or the state of being despoiled.
  19. De-spōnd', v. i.p. 363To give up; to abandon hope; to lose courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to despair. I should despair, or at least despond. Scott’s Letters. Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at…
  20. De-spŏnd', n.p. 363Despondency. [Obs.] “The slough of despond.” Bunyan.
  21. De-spōnd'ençe or De-spōnd'en-cy, n.p. 363The state of desponding; abandonment of hope; discouragement; permanent depression or dejection. The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness, [and] saunter about with looks of…
  22. De-spōnd'ent, a.p. 363Marked by despondence; given to despondence; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner.
  23. De-spōnd'ent-ly, adv.p. 363In a despondent manner.
  24. De-spōnd'er, n.p. 363One destitute of hope.
  25. De-spōnd'ing-ly, adv.p. 363In a desponding manner.
  26. De-spōn'sa'ge, n.p. 363Betrothal. [Obs.] Ethelbert . . . went peaceably to King Offa for desponsage of A thilrid, his daughter. Foxe.
  27. De-spŏn'/sāte, v. t.p. 363To betroth. [Obs.]
  28. Dēs'pon-sā'tion, n.p. 363A betrothing; alliance. [Obs.] For all this desponsation of her . . . she had not set one step toward the consummation of her marriage. Bp. Taylor.
  29. De-spōn'so-ry, n.p. 363A written pledge of marriage. The desponsories . . . in which Don Carlos was constituted the prince's proxy to marry the Infanta on his behalf. Clarendon.
  30. Dēs'pot, n.p. 363One who exercises or possesses absolute power over another; a master; a lord; especially, a sovereign invested with absolute power. 2. One who rules regardless of a constitution or laws; a tyrant.
  31. Des-pŏt'ic or Des-pŏt'ic-al, a.p. 363Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute in power; unrestrained by, or regardless of, constitution and laws; evincing despotism; tyrannical; arbitrary.
  32. Des-pŏt'ic-al-ly, adv.p. 363In a despotic manner.
  33. Des-pöt'ic-al-ness, n.p. 363The state of being despotic.
  34. Dēs'pot-izm, n.p. 363The power, spirit, or principles of a despot; absolute control over others; tyranny. 2. A government which is directed by a despot; absolutism; autocracy. Despotism is the only form of government…
  35. Dĕs'pu-māte or De-spū'māte, v. i.p. 363To throw off impurities; to form froth or scum; to foam.
  36. Dēs'pu-mā'tion, n.p. 363The separation of the froth or scum on the surface of liquor; clarification; scumming.
  37. De-spūme′, v. t.p. 363To free from froth or foam. [Obs.] “If honey be despūmed.” Holland.
  38. Dēs'qua-mā'tion, n.p. 363(Med.) The separation of the cuticle or epidermis in the form of flakes or scales; exfoliation.
  39. Des-quām'a-to-ry, n.p. 363An instrument for the performance of the operation of desquamation.
  40. Dēss, n.p. 363The same as DESK. [Obs.]
  41. Des-sért′, n.p. 363A service of pastry, fruits, or sweetmeats, at the close of an entertainment; the last course at the table after the meat.
  42. Des-tĕm'per or Dis-tĕm'per, n.p. 363(Paint.) A peculiar sort of painting with opaque colors, ground and diluted with water, glue, &c. Elmes.
  43. Dĕs'tin, n.p. 363Destiny. [Obs.] Unless the Destiny's adamantine band / Should tie my teeth, I can not choose but bite. Marston.
  44. Dĕs'ti-na-ble, a.p. 363Capable of being destined. [Obs.] “Miracle of the order destinable.” Chaucer.
  45. Dĕs'ti-na-bly, adv.p. 363In a destinable manner.
  46. Dĕs'ti-nal, a.p. 363Determined by destiny; fated. [Obs.] “The destinal chain.” Chaucer.
  47. Dĕs'ti-nāte, v. t.p. 363To destine, design, or appoint. [Obs.] “That name that God . . . did destinate.” Udall.
  48. Dĕs'ti-nate, a.p. 363Appointed; destined; determined. [Obs.] “Destinate to hell.” Foxe.
  49. Dĕs'ti-nā'tion, n.p. 363The act of destining or appointing. 2. That to which any thing is destined or appointed; predetermined end, object, or use. 3. End of a journey; place or point aimed at. Syn. — Appointment; design…
  50. Dĕs'tine, v. t.p. 363To determine the future condition or application of; to appoint by decree or authority; to set apart by design or intention; to ordain; to allot; to doom; — generally with the remoter object preceded…
  51. Dĕs'ti-nĭst, n.p. 363A believer in destiny; a fatalist.
  52. Dĕs'ti-ny, n.p. 363That to which any person or thing is destined; appointed or predetermined state; foreordained condition; fate; doom. Thither he Will come to know his destiny. Shak. 2. The fixed order of things…
  53. **Dés'ti-tūte**, a.p. 363Not having in possession; in want; devoid; deficient; lacking; — followed by of. “Totally destitute of all shadow of influence.” Burke. 2. Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of…
  54. Dĕs'ti-tūte, n.p. 363One who is without friends or comfort.
  55. Dĕs'ti-tūte, v. t.p. 363To leave deserted; to forsake. [Obs.] “To forsake or destitute a plantation.” Bacon. 2. To cause to be in want; to deprive; — followed by of. [Obs.] “Destituted of all honor and livings.” Holinshed.
  56. Dĕs'ti-tūte-ness, n.p. 363Destitution. [Rare.] Ash.
  57. Dĕs'ti-tū'tion, n.p. 363The state or condition of being destitute, needy, or without resources; deprivation; deficiency; lack; poverty.
  58. De-stroy′, v. t.p. 363To unbuild; to pull down; to separate violently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of. 2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate. 3. To…
  59. De-stroy'a-ble, a.p. 363Capable of being destroyed. [R.] Plants scarcely destroyable by the weather. Derham.
  60. De-stroy'er, n.p. 363One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.