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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Dōōm’ster, n.p. 405The public executioner in Scotland, who, formerly, when criminals were condemned to die, repeated over the sentence in the judge’s words, adding, “This I pronounce for doom.” [Obs.] W. Scott.
  2. Dōor, n.p. 405An opening in the wall of a house or of an apartment, for going in and out at; an entrance-way. To the same end, men several paths may tread, As many doors into one temple lead. Denham. 2. The frame…
  3. Dōor'-cāse, n.p. 405The frame which incloses a door.
  4. Dōor'gā, n.p. 405(Myth.) A Hindoo divinity, the consort of Siva, represented with ten arms. [Written also Durga.] Malcolm.
  5. Dōor'ing, n.p. 405A door-case. [Obs.]
  6. Dōor'-keep'er, n.p. 405One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; a porter; a janitor.
  7. Dōor'-nāil, n.p. 405The nail or knob on which the knocker of a door strikes; hence the phrase, dead as a door-nail.
  8. Dōor'-plāte, n.p. 405A plate on a door, giving the name or business of the resident.
  9. Dōor'-stēad, n.p. 405Entrance or place of a door. [Obs. or local.] Warburton.
  10. Dōor'-stōne, n.p. 405The stone at a threshold.
  11. Dōor'-stōp, n.p. 405(Carp.) One of the pieces of wood against which a door shuts in its frame.
  12. Dōor'-wāy, n.p. 405The passage of a door; entrance-way into a room or house.
  13. Dōor'-way-plāne', n.p. 405(Arch.) The space between the door-way, properly so called, and the larger door-archway within which it is placed. It is often richly ornamented with sculptured figures.
  14. Dŏp, v. i.p. 405To dip. [Obs.] Holland.
  15. Dōp, n.p. 405A dip; a low courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  16. Dōp'per, n.p. 405One who dips; hence, in contempt, an Anabaptist. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  17. Dōq'ue†, n.p. 405A warrant. See DOCKET.
  18. Dōr, n.p. 405(Entom.) The blackbeetle, or the hedge-chafer, a species of Scarabæus; — called also dorr, dor-beetle, or dorr-beetle, and dorr-fly.
  19. Dōr, v. t.p. 405To make a fool of; to deceive. [Obs.] [Written also dorr.] B. Jonson.
  20. Dōr, n.p. 405A trick, joke, or deception. Beau. & Fl. To give one the dor, to make a fool of him. [Obs.] Fletcher.
  21. Do-rā'do, n.p. 405A southern constellation, containing six stars; — called also Xiphias, or Swordfish. 2. (Ichth.) A large fish, a species of the genus Coryphæna, or dolphin.
  22. Do-ree' or Dō'ree, n.p. 405(Ichth.) An acanthopterygious fish (Zeus faber of Linnæus). The popular name in England is John-dorée, or dory, well known to be a corruption of jaune-dorée, i. e., golden-yellow. See Dory.
  23. Dōr'-hawk, n.p. 405The European species of the goat-sucker, Caprimulgus Europæus. [Written also dorr-hawk.] Booth.
  24. Dō'ri-an or Dōr'ie, a.p. 405Pertaining to Doris, or the Dorian race, in ancient Greece; as, the Doric dialect. 2. (Arch.) Belonging to, or resembling, the second order of columns, between the Tuscan and Ionic. The Doric order…
  25. Dōr'i-cism, n.p. 405A phrase of the Doric dialect.
  26. Dō'ris, n.p. 405(Zoöl.) A genus of mollusks without shells, having a flower-like, branchial tuft on the back. Carpenter.
  27. Dōr'man-cy, n.p. 405State of being dormant; quiescence. Horsley.
  28. Dōr'mant, a.p. 405Sleeping; as, a dormant animal or person; hence, not in action or exercise; quiescent; at rest; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles. It is by lying…
  29. Dôr'mant, n.p. 405(Arch.) The large beam lying across a room; a joist;—called also dormant-tree, dormond, and dormer. Halliwell.
  30. Dōr'merp. 405
  31. Dôr'mer-wīn'dow, n.p. 405(Arch.) A window placed on the inclined plane of the roof of a house, the frame being placed vertically on the rafters. [Written also dormant.] Gwilt.
  32. Dōr'mi-tīve, n.p. 405(Med.) A medicine to promote sleep; an opiate; a narcotic; a soporific. Arbuthnot.
  33. Dōr'mi-tīve, a.p. 405Causing sleep; as, the dormitive properties of opium. Clarke.
  34. Dōr'mi-to-ry, n.p. 405A room, suite of rooms, or building, used to sleep in; a bed-room; sleeping-quarters, or sleeping-house; a lodging-house. Mortimer. 2. A place where the bodies of the dead repose; a burial-place.…
  35. Dôr'mouse, n.p. 405(Zoöl.) A small rodent mammal of the genus Myoxus, which lives on trees like the squirrel, and feeds on acorns, nuts, &c.;—so called because, as cold weather comes on, it retires to its nest, and is…
  36. Dōrn, n.p. 405(Ichth.) A fish; the thornback, one of the ray family. Carew.
  37. Dōr'nie, n.p. 405A coarse sort of damask made at Tournay (in Flemish Dornick), and used for hangings, &c.; also, a kind of table-linen made at the same place. [Written also darnex, darnick, darnic, and dornic.]…
  38. Dōr'nock, n.p. 405A species of stout, figured linen, made, originally, at Dornock, in Scotland. Ure.
  39. Dō'ron, n.p. 405A gift; a present. [Obs.] 2. A measure of three inches. Ash.
  40. Do-rŏn'i-cŭm, n.p. 405(Bot.) A genus of composite plants; leopard’s-bane.
  41. Dŏrp, n.p. 405A small village. [Obs.] “A mean fishing dorp.” Howell.
  42. Dôrr, n.p. 405See Dor.
  43. Bôrr, v. t.p. 405To deceive. [Obs.] See DOR, v. t. 2. To deafen with noise. [Rare.] Halliwell.
  44. Dŏr'rer, n.p. 405A drone; a sleeper; a lazy person. [Obs.] “Gentlemen content to live idle themselves, like dorrers.” More.
  45. Dôrr'-flȳ, n.p. 405See Dor, n.
  46. Dôrr'-hawk, n.p. 405See DOR-HAWK.
  47. Dôr'sal, a.p. 405Pertaining to the back; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; dorsal awn of a seed.
  48. Dŏr'sale, n.p. 405See DORSEL.
  49. Dôrse, n.p. 405A canopy. See DOSEL. Sutton. 2. The back of a book. “A choice library of books, all richly bound, with gilt dorses.” Wood.
  50. Dôr'sel, n.p. 405A pannier. See DOSSEL. 2. A kind of woolen cloth. 3. A rich canopy or screen hanging at the back of a throne or chair of state; a dosel. [Written also dorsale.]
  51. Dôr'ser, n.p. 405See DOSSER.
  52. Dôr'si-brān'chi-ate, a.p. 405(Physiol.) Having the branchiæ distributed along the back, as some mollusks.
  53. Dor-sĭf'er-oŭs or Dor-sip'a-roŭs, a.p. 405(Bot.) Bearing or producing seeds on the back of the leaves, as the ferns.
  54. Dor-stē'ni-ă, n.p. 405(Bot.) A genus of plants, several species of which afford the contrayerva root, which is diaphoretic and stimulant, and is used in medicine as a tonic.
  55. Dōr'sum, n.p. 405The ridge of a hill. Walton. 2. (Conch.) The upper surface of the body of a shell, when it is so held that the aperture is downward.
  56. Dôr'tour or Dôrt'ûre, n.p. 405A dormitory. [Obs.] Bacon.
  57. Dō'ry, n.p. 405(Ichth.) A fish (Zeus faber), called also John-dory, much esteemed by epicures.
  58. Dō'ry, n.p. 405A canoe or small boat. Marryat.
  59. Dōse, n.p. 405The quantity of medicine given or prescribed to be taken at one time. I am for curing the world by gentle alteratives, not by violent doses. W. Irving. 2. A sufficient quantity; a portion; as much as…
  60. Dōse, v. t.p. 405To proportion, as a medicine, properly to the patient or disease; to form into suitable doses. 2. To give doses to; to give medicine or physic to; to give potions to constantly and without need. 3.…