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.
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.De-vow', v. t. p. 367To give up; to devote. [Obs.] Holland. 2. To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] Fletcher.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.…Dew, v. t. p. 367To wet with dew; to bedew; to moisten. Also, as v. i., to rain slightly. [Obs.]Dew, n. p. 367The same as DUE, or DUTY. [Obs.] Spenser.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…Dew'-be-sprĕnt', a. p. 367Besprent or sprinkled with dew. [Obs.] Milton.Dew'-claw, n. p. 367The bone or nail behind a deer's foot.Dew'-drŏp, n. p. 367A drop of dew.Dew'-fall, n. p. 367The falling, or time of falling, of dew.Dew'i-ness, n. p. 367State of being dewy.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…Dew'läpt, a. p. 367Furnished with a dewlap. Shak.Dew'less, a. p. 367Having no dew. The bearded grass is dry and dewless. Tennyson.Dew'-point, n. p. 367(Meteor.) The temperature or point of the thermometer at which dew begins to form. It varies according to the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.Dew'-worm, n. p. 367A worm, called otherwise earth-worm, a species of Lumbricus, which lives just under the surface of the ground.Dew'y, a. p. 367Covered with dew. “Dewy landscapes.” Akenside. 2. Accompanied by depositions of dew, or dew-like moisture. “Dewy eve.” Cowper. A dewy mist Went up and watered all the ground. Milton. 3. Pertaining to…Dĕx'ter, a. p. 367Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed to left; as, the dexter side of a shield or coat of arms. On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. Pope. The dexter side of the…Dexter chief or dexter point p. 367a point in the right hand upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut.Dex-tēr'i-eal, a. p. 367Dexterous. [Obs.]Dex-tĕr'i-ty, n. p. 367Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the limbs. 2. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated or difficult…Dĕx'ter-oŭs, a. p. 367Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and active with the hands; adroit; ready; as, a dextrous hand; a dextrous workman. 2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing…Dĕx'ter-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 367In a dexterous manner.Dĕx'ter-oüs-ness, n. p. 367Dexterity; adroitness.Dēx'tral, a. p. 367Right, as opposed to left. Dextral shell (Conch.), one which has its turns or convolutions from right to left, or on the right hand side, when the mouth is turned downward. Wright.Dex-trāl'i-ty, n. p. 367The state of being on the right side. [Obs.] Browne.