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.
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.De-vōtē', n. p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Sandys.De-vôt'ed-ness, n. p. 367The state of being devoted or given up; addictedness; as, devotedness to religion.Dēv'o-tee', n. p. 367One who is wholly devoted; especially one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot.De-vōte'ment, n. p. 367The act of devoting, or the state of being devoted. [Rare.] “Her devotement was the demand of Apollo.” Hurd.De-vōt'er, n. p. 367One who devotes.De-vō'tion, n. p. 367The act of devoting; consecration. 2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; manifested attachment; affection; especially feelings toward God appropriate to the consecration…De-vō'tion-al, a. p. 367Pertaining to devotion; used in devotion; suited to devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.De-vō'tion-al-ist or De-vō'tion-ist, n. p. 367A person given to devotion. 2. One superstitiously or formally devout.De-vō'tion-al-ly, adv. p. 367In a devotional manner.De-vō'tioŭs-ness, n. p. 367Devotion; devoutness. [Obs.] Hammond.De-vō'to, n. p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Spenser.De-vō'tor, n. p. 367One who reverences or worships; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beav. & Fl.De-vour', v. t. p. 367To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon. We will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20. 2. To seize upon and…De-vour'er, n. p. 367One who devours; one who, or that which, eats, consumes, or destroys.De-vour'ing-ly, adv. p. 367In a devouring manner.De-vout', a. p. 367Exercising the feelings of reverence and worship; given up to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; pious; reverent. “Devout men.” Acts viii. 2. We must be constant and…De-vout', n. p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon. 2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition. [Obs.] Milton.De-vout'ful, a. p. 367Full of devotion; worshipful; devout. [Rare.] Daniel. 2. Sacred. [Rare.] To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.De-vout'less, a. p. 367Destitute of devotion.De-vout'less-ly, adv. p. 367In a devoutless manner.De-vout'less-ness, n. p. 367Want of devotion.De-vout'ly, adv. p. 367In a devout and reverent manner. Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly. Shak. 2. With devout emotions; as, he viewed the cross devoutly. 3. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly. “A consummation…De-vout'ness, n. p. 367Quality or state of being devout.De-vōve', v. t. p. 367To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.