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-vēr'gence or De-vēr'gen-cy, n. p. 366The same as DIVERGENCE.De-vĕst′, v. t. p. 366[Lat. devestire, to undress, from de and vestire, to dress, from vestis, vest, garment, clothing; O. Fr. devestir, now dévêtir, Pr. devestir, desvestir, It. divestire. 1. To divest. See DIVEST.…De-vēst', v. i. p. 366(Law.) To be lost or alienated, as a title or an estate.De-vĕx', a. p. 366Bending down; sloping. [Obs.] Bailey.De-vēx', n. p. 366A surface sloping downward. [Obs.] “The world's devex.” May.De-vĕx'i-ty, n. p. 366A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward. [Obs.] Davies.Dē'vi-ant, a. p. 366Deviating. [Obs.] Chaucer.Dē'vi-āte, v. i. p. 366To go out of one's way; to turn aside from a course or direction; to stray from a path; to err; to wander. There nature deviates, and here wanders will. Pope. Syn.—To swerve; stray; wander; digress…Dē'vi-ātē, v. t. p. 366To cause to deviate. “To deviate a needle.” J. D. Forbes.Dē'vi-ā'tion, n. p. 366The act of deviating; a wandering from one's course; variation from a common or prescribed path. 2. The state of having deviated; an act of sin; error. 3. (Com.) The voluntary departure of a ship…De-vice′, n. p. 366That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an invention; a stratagem. “Their recent device of demanding benevolences.” Hallam. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12.…De-vīce'ful, a. p. 366Full of devices; inventive. [Obs.] A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread. Chapman.De-vīce'ful-ly, adv. p. 366In a deviceful manner. [Obs.]Dĕv'il, n. p. 366The evil one, Satan, represented in the Scriptures as the traducer, father of lies, tempter, &c. 2. An evil spirit; a false god. 3. An expletive indicating surprise or expressing emphasis, or…Dĕv'il, v. t. p. 366To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil. 2. To cut up cloth or rags in an instrument called a devil. 3. To pepper excessively. “A deviled leg of turkey.” W. Irving.Dĕv'il-et, n. p. 366A little devil. [Rare.]Dĕv'il-ing, n. p. 366A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Dĕv'il-ish, a. p. 366Resembling, or pertaining to, the devil; diabolical; wicked in the extreme. “Devilish wickedness.” Sidney. Syn. — Diabolical; infernal; hellish; satanic; wicked; malicious; detestable; destructive.Dĕv'il-ish-ly, adv. p. 366In a devilish manner.Dĕv'il-ish-ness, n. p. 366The qualities of the devil.Dĕv′il-ism, n. p. 366The state of devils; the doctrines or spirit suitable to devils. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Dĕv'il-īze, v. t. p. 366To place among devils; to make like a devil. [Obs.] He that should devilize a saint, should wrong him as much as he that should devilize him. Bp. Hall.Dĕv'il-kĭn, n. p. 366A little devil; a devilet. S. Richardson.Dĕv'il-ry, n. p. 366Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness. “Stark . . . devilry.” T. More.Dĕv'il's-därn'ing-nee'dle, n. p. 366(Entom.) A kind of dragon-fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle.Dēv'il-ship, n. p. 366The character or person of a devil.Dēv'il-try, n. p. 366Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief or cunning; teasing or vexatious conduct.Dĕv'il-wood, n. p. 366(Bot.) A kind of tree; the Olea Americana, a congener of the European olive.Dē'vi-ōūs, a. p. 366Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way. 2. Going out of the right or common course of conduct; erring; as, a devious step. Syn.—Wandering; roving…Dē'vi-ōūs-ly, adv. p. 366In a devious manner.Dē'vi-ōūs-ness, n. p. 366Departure from a regular course; wandering.De-vĭr'gin-āte, v. t. p. 366To deflower. [Obs.] Sandys.De-vīr'gin-āte, a. p. 366Deprived of virginity.De-vīr'gi-nā'tion, n. p. 366The act of devirginating.De-vīs'a-ble, a. p. 366Capable of being devised; invented, or contrived. 2. Capable of being bequeathed or given by will.De-vīse', v. t. p. 366To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to strike out by thought; to plan; to scheme; to invent; to contrive; to project; as, to…De-vīse', v. i. p. 366To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to consider; to contrive. I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. Pope. ☞ It was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. Spenser.De-vīse′, n. p. 366The act of giving or disposing of real estate by a will;—sometimes applied, though improperly, to bequest of personal estate. 2. A will or testament, properly of real estate. 3. Property devised or…De-vīse', n. p. 366Device. See DEVICE. [Obs.]Dĕv'i-see', n. p. 366(Law.) One to whom a devise is made or real estate given by will.De-vīs'er, n. p. 366One who devises; an inventor.De-vīs'or, n. p. 366(Law.) One who devises or gives real estate by will; a testator.Dĕv'i-ta-ble, a. p. 366Avoidable. [Obs.]Dēv'i-tā'tion, n. p. 366An escaping. [Obs.] Bailey.De-vĭt'ri-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 366The act of devitrifying; the changing of glass into stone.De-vĭt'ri-fy, v. t. p. 366To deprive of glass-like character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.Dēv'o-cā'tion, n. p. 366A calling or enticing away; seduction. [Obs.] Halliwell.De-void', a. p. 366Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Destitute; not in possession;—with of; as, devoid of understanding.Devoir, n. p. 366Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility; due respect; compliment. “Do now your devoir.” Chaucer.Dēv'o-lūte, v. t. p. 366To devolve. [Obs.] Government was devoluted and brought into the priests' hands. Foxe.Dĕv'o-lū'tion, n. p. 366The act of rolling down. [Rare.] “The devolution of earth upon the valleys.” Woodward. 2. Removal from one person to another; a passing or falling upon a successor. The devolution of the crown…De-vŏlve', v. t. p. 366To roll onward or downward; to overthrow. Through splendid kingdoms he devolves his maze. Thomson. 2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down;—generally with upon or to.…De-vōlve', v. i. p. 366To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down;—followed by on or upon; as, in the absence of the commander-in-chief, the command devolved upon the next officer in rank; on the…De-vŏlve'ment, n. p. 367The act of devolving,De-vō'ni-an, a. p. 367(Geol.) Pertaining to certain strata which abound in Devonshire, Eng.; of, or pertaining to their age or formation. Devonian age or formation, that next above the Silurian, and containing fossil…Dēv'on-ite, n. p. 367(Min.) A mineral, so called because first found in Devonshire, Eng.; wavellite.Dēv'o-rā'tion, n. p. 367The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.De-vō'ta-ry, n. p. 367A votary. [Obs.] Gregory.De-vōtē', v. t. p. 367To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; —also, in a bad sense, to consign over; to doom; to execrate; to doom to evil; as, to devote one to destruction; the…De-vōtē', a. p. 367Devoted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.