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.
Dis-tĭn'guish, v. t. p. 395To separate or recognize by visible marks; as, the manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression. 2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject; as…Dis-tin'guish, v. i. p. 395To make distinctions; to find or show the difference; to exercise discrimination; as, it is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle. 2. To…Dis-tin'guish-a-ble, a. p. 395Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub. A simple idea . . . is not distinguishable into…Dis-tin'guish-a-ble-ness, n. p. 395The state of being distinguishable.Dis-tin'guish-a-bly, adv. p. 395So as to be distinguished.Dis-tin′guished, p. a. p. 395Having distinction; made eminent or known. Syn.—Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious.—DISTINGUISHED, EMINENT, CONSPICUOUS, CELEBRATED, ILLUSTRIOUS. A man…Dis-tĭn'guish-ed-ly, adv. p. 395In a distinguished manner. [Rare.] Swift.Dis-tĭn'guish-er, n. p. 395One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity. Broome. 2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer. Dryden.Dis-tīn'guish-ing, p. a. p. 395Constituting difference, or distinction from every thing else; peculiar; characteristic. “The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion.” Locke. Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a particular…Dis-tĭn'guish-ing-ly, adv. p. 395With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.Dis-tĭng'guish-ment, n. p. 395Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.Dis-tī'tle, v. t. p. 395To deprive of title or right. B. Jonson.Dīs'to-mā, n. p. 395(Zoöl.) A genus of intestinal worms, having two sucker disks, one at each extremity, for attaching themselves to objects.Dis-tōrt', v. t. p. 395[Lat. distorquere, distortum, from prefix dis and torquere, to turn about, to twist; It. distorcere, Sp. & Pg. detorcer, Pr. destorser, O. Fr. destordre, N. Fr. détordre, détorquer. 1. To twist out…Dis-tôrt’, a. p. 395Distorted; deformed. [Obs.] Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spencer.Dis-tôrt'er, n. p. 395One who, or that which, distorts.Dis-tôr'tion, n. p. 395The act of distorting or wresting; a twisting out of regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body. 2. The state of being twisted out of shape; deviation from…Dis-tôrt'ive, a. p. 396Causing or having distortions.Dis-trāct', v. t. p. 396To draw apart or away; to divide. “A city . . . distracted from itself!” Browne. 2. To perplex by inconsistent appeals; to confuse; as, to distract the eye. Mixed metaphors . . . distract the…Dis-trăct', a. p. 396Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.] 2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Dryden.Dis-trăct'ed-ly, adv. p. 396Madly; wildly. Shak.Dis-trāet'ed-ness, n. p. 396A state of being distracted; madness. Bp. Hall.Dis-trăct'er, n. p. 396One who distracts.Dis-trăct'ful, a. p. 396Full of distracting influence. [Rare.] Heywood.Dis-trăct'i-ble, a. p. 396Capable of being drawn aside.Dis-trăc'tile, n. p. 396(Bot.) A connective which divides into two unequal portions, one of which supports a cell, while the other does not. Brande.Dis-trăc'tion, n. p. 396The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation; a diversion. “To create distractions among us.” Burnet. 2. A diversity of direction. [Obs.] His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled…Dis-trăc'tiŏus, a. p. 396Distractive. [Obs.] Cudworth.Dis-trāct'ive, a. p. 396Causing perplexity; distracting. “Distractive thoughts.” Bp. Hall.Dis-trāin′, v. t. p. 396To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it distrain. Spencer. 2. (Law.) To seize for debt; to take, without legal process, from the possession of a wrong-doer, into the possession of…Dis-trâin', v. i. p. 396To make seizure of goods. On whom I can not distrain for debt. Camden.Dis-trāin'a-ble, a. p. 396Liable to be taken for distress. Blackstone.Dis-trāin'er, n. p. 396The same as DISTRAINOR.Dis-trāin'or, n. p. 396One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels. Burrill.Distrait, a. p. 396Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.Dis-traught', a. p. 396Distracted; perplexed. To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls Which are the most distraught and full of pain. E. B. Browning.Dis-trēam', v. i. p. 396To spread or flow over; to stream forth. Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear. Shenstone.Dis-trĕss', n. p. 396Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends. 2. That which occasions suffering; calamity; misfortune; affliction; adversity.…Dis-trĕss', v. t. p. 396To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8. 2. To compel by pain or…Dis-trĕss'ed-ness, n. p. 396A state of being distressed or greatly pained. Scott.Dis-trĕss'ful, a. p. 396Inflicting or bringing distress; calamitous. “Some distressful stroke.” Shak. “Distressful situation.” W. Scott. 2. Indicating distress; proceeding from pain or anguish. “Distressful cries.” Pope.Dis-trĕss'ful-ly, adv. p. 396In a distressed manner.Dis-trèss'ing-ly, adv. p. 396With extreme pain.Dis-trib'ū-ta-ble, a. p. 396Capable of being distributed, or of being assigned in portions. Ramsay.Dis-trĭb'ū-ta-ry, a. p. 396Tending to distribute or be distributed; distributive.Dis-trib'ūte, v. t. p. 396To divide among several; to deal; to apportion; to allot. “To distribute the mystic symbols.” Wirt. 2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. 3. To divide or separate, as into…Dis-trĭb′ūte, v. i. p. 396To make distribution; to give in charity. Distributing to the necessity of saints. Rom. xii. 13.Dis-trĭb'ū-ter, n. p. 396One who distributes or deals out in parts; one who bestows in portions; a dispenser.Dis′tri-bū′tion, n. p. 396The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children. 2. The act of giving in charity…Dis-trĭb'ū-tive, a. p. 396Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing, to each his proper share. “Distributive justice.” Swift. 2. (Logic.) Assigning the various species of a general term. 3.…Dis-trĭb'ū-tive-ly, adv. p. 396By distribution; singly; not collectively.Dis-trĭb'ū-tĭve-ness, n. p. 396Desire of distributing; socialness; good-fellowship. [Rare.] Fell.Dis'trict, n. p. 396(Feudal Law.) All that space within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing. 2. A defined portion of a state or city for legislative, judicial, fiscal, or elective purposes. To…Dis'trict, v. t. p. 396To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district states for the choice of senators.Dis'trict, a. p. 396Rigorous; harsh; severe; formal. [Obs.] “District proofs.” Hackluyt. Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.Dis-tric'tion, n. p. 396Sudden display; flash; glitter, as of a drawn sword. [Rare.] A smile . . . breaks out with the brightest distraction. Collier.Dis'trict-ly, adv. p. 396Strictly; rigidly. [Obs.] Foxe.Dis-trăn'gas, n. p. 396(Law.) A writ commanding the sheriff to distrain a person of his goods or chattels, to compel a compliance with something required of him.Dis-trōüb'le, v. t. p. 396To trouble. [Obs.] Spencer.Dis-trüst', v. t. p. 396Not to confide in or rely upon; to deem of questionable reality or sufficiency. “To distrust the justice of your cause.” Dryden. 2. To suspect of evil or hostility; to discredit; to mistrust; to…