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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
Illustrations
2,133

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

  1. 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…
  2. 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.
  3. 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…
  4. De-vīse', n.p. 366Device. See DEVICE. [Obs.]
  5. Dĕv'i-see', n.p. 366(Law.) One to whom a devise is made or real estate given by will.
  6. De-vīs'er, n.p. 366One who devises; an inventor.
  7. De-vīs'or, n.p. 366(Law.) One who devises or gives real estate by will; a testator.
  8. Dĕv'i-ta-ble, a.p. 366Avoidable. [Obs.]
  9. Dēv'i-tā'tion, n.p. 366An escaping. [Obs.] Bailey.
  10. De-vĭt'ri-fi-cā'tion, n.p. 366The act of devitrifying; the changing of glass into stone.
  11. De-vĭt'ri-fy, v. t.p. 366To deprive of glass-like character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.
  12. Dēv'o-cā'tion, n.p. 366A calling or enticing away; seduction. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  13. De-void', a.p. 366Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Destitute; not in possession;—with of; as, devoid of understanding.
  14. Devoir, n.p. 366Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility; due respect; compliment. “Do now your devoir.” Chaucer.
  15. Dēv'o-lūte, v. t.p. 366To devolve. [Obs.] Government was devoluted and brought into the priests' hands. Foxe.
  16. 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…
  17. 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.…
  18. 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…
  19. De-vŏlve'ment, n.p. 367The act of devolving,
  20. 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…
  21. Dēv'on-ite, n.p. 367(Min.) A mineral, so called because first found in Devonshire, Eng.; wavellite.
  22. Dēv'o-rā'tion, n.p. 367The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.
  23. De-vō'ta-ry, n.p. 367A votary. [Obs.] Gregory.
  24. 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…
  25. De-vōtē', a.p. 367Devoted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.
  26. De-vōtē', n.p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Sandys.
  27. De-vôt'ed-ness, n.p. 367The state of being devoted or given up; addictedness; as, devotedness to religion.
  28. 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.
  29. De-vōte'ment, n.p. 367The act of devoting, or the state of being devoted. [Rare.] “Her devotement was the demand of Apollo.” Hurd.
  30. De-vōt'er, n.p. 367One who devotes.
  31. 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…
  32. 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.
  33. De-vō'tion-al-ist or De-vō'tion-ist, n.p. 367A person given to devotion. 2. One superstitiously or formally devout.
  34. De-vō'tion-al-ly, adv.p. 367In a devotional manner.
  35. De-vō'tioŭs-ness, n.p. 367Devotion; devoutness. [Obs.] Hammond.
  36. De-vō'to, n.p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Spenser.
  37. De-vō'tor, n.p. 367One who reverences or worships; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beav. & Fl.
  38. 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…
  39. De-vour'er, n.p. 367One who devours; one who, or that which, eats, consumes, or destroys.
  40. De-vour'ing-ly, adv.p. 367In a devouring manner.
  41. 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…
  42. De-vout', n.p. 367A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon. 2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition. [Obs.] Milton.
  43. 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.
  44. De-vout'less, a.p. 367Destitute of devotion.
  45. De-vout'less-ly, adv.p. 367In a devoutless manner.
  46. De-vout'less-ness, n.p. 367Want of devotion.
  47. 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…
  48. De-vout'ness, n.p. 367Quality or state of being devout.
  49. De-vōve', v. t.p. 367To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.
  50. De-vow', v. t.p. 367To give up; to devote. [Obs.] Holland. 2. To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] Fletcher.
  51. Dew, n.p. 367Moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces, particularly at night; — used in composition; as, dew-bespangled, dew-drenched, &c. Her tears fell with the dews at even.…
  52. Dew, v. t.p. 367To wet with dew; to bedew; to moisten. Also, as v. i., to rain slightly. [Obs.]
  53. Dew, n.p. 367The same as DUE, or DUTY. [Obs.] Spenser.
  54. Dew'-bĕr'ry, n.p. 367(Bot.) The fruit of a species of brier of the genus Rubus; in England, the Rubus cæsius, the fruit of which has a whitish, waxy covering, resembling dew; in America, the Rubus Canadensis, a low…
  55. Dew'-be-sprĕnt', a.p. 367Besprent or sprinkled with dew. [Obs.] Milton.
  56. Dew'-claw, n.p. 367The bone or nail behind a deer's foot.
  57. Dew'-drŏp, n.p. 367A drop of dew.
  58. Dew'-fall, n.p. 367The falling, or time of falling, of dew.
  59. Dew'i-ness, n.p. 367State of being dewy.
  60. Dew'lap, n.p. 367The flesh that hangs from the throats of oxen, which laps or licks the dew in grazing. 2. The flesh upon the human throat, especially when flaccid with age. [Burlesque.] On her withered dewlap pour…