Dictionary
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.
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…Dis-trŭst', n. p. 396Doubt of reality or sincerity; want of confidence, faith, or reliance; as, sycophants should be heard with distrust. 2. Suspicion of evil designs. Alienation and distrust . . . are the growth of…Dis-trüst'er, n. p. 396One who distrusts.Dis-trüst'ful, a. p. 396Apt to distrust; suspicious; mistrustful. Boyle. 2. Not confident; diffident; modest; as, distrustful of ourselves. Distrustful sense with modest caution speaks. Pope.Dis-trüst'ful-ly, adv. p. 396In a distrustful manner; with doubt or suspicion. Milton.Dis-trüst'ful-ness, n. p. 396The state of being distrustful; want of confidence.Dis-trŭst'ing-ly, adv. p. 396With distrust; suspiciously.Dis-trüst'less, a. p. 396Free from distrust or suspicion. Shenstone.Dis-tune', v. t. p. 396To put out of tune. [Obs.] Walton.Dis-tûrb',, v. t. p. 396To throw into confusion; to put into disorder; to derange. Preparing to disturb With all-confounding war the realms above. Cowper. 2. To interfere with; to interrupt; to terminate abruptly; as, care…Dis-tûrb', n. p. 396Disturbance. [Obs.] Milton.Dis-tŭrb'ance, n. p. 396An interruption of a state of peace; derangement of the regular course of things; disquiet; disorder; as, a disturbance of religious exercises; a disturbance of the galvanic current. 2. Confusion of…Dis'tur-bā'tion, n. p. 397Act of disturbing; disturbance. [Obs.] Daniel.Dis-tŭrb'er, n. p. 397One who disturbs or disquiets; a violator of peace; one who causes tumults or disorders. A needless disturber of the peace of God's church. Hooker. 2. One who, or that which, excites passion or…Dis-tŭrn’, v. t. p. 397To turn aside. [Obs.] Daniel.Dis'tyle, n. p. 397(Arch.) A portico with two columns. Ogilvie.Di-sŭl'phate, n. p. 397(Chem.) A salt containing two equivalents of the base to one of sulphuric acid.Di-sül'phu-ret, n. p. 397(Chem.) A sulphuret containing two equivalents of sulphur to one of the base.Dis-ū'ni-fōrm, a. p. 397Not uniform; irregular. [Obs.] Coventry.Dis-ūn'ion, n. p. 397The termination of union; separation; disjunction. 2. A breach of concord and its effect; contention; alienation; conflict. Such a disunion between the two houses as might cloud the happiness of this…Dis-ūn'ion-ist, n. p. 397An advocate of disunion.Dis-ū-nite', v. t. p. 397To destroy the continuity or union of; to divide; to part; to sever; to disjoin; to sunder; as, to disunite particles of matter. 2. To alienate in spirit; to break the concord of. O nations, never be…Dis-ū-nīte′, v. i. p. 397To part; to fall asunder; to become separate. The joints of the body politic do separate and disunite. South.Dĭs-ū-nīt'er, n. p. 397One who, or that which, disjoins.Dis-ū'ni-ty, n. p. 397A state of separation; a want of unity or union of feeling. More.Dis-ū'sage, n. p. 397Gradual cessation of use or custom; neglect of use, exercise, or practice.