Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Dŏt'ter-el, a. p. 406Covered or overgrown with dodder; doddered. [Obs.] Ascham.Dŏt'ter-el or Dŏt'trel, n. p. 406(Ornith.) A wading bird (Charadrius Morinellus), a congener of the plovers. It is said to imitate the action of the fowler, and to be easily taken by stratagem. In catching of dotterels we see how…Douane, n. p. 406A custom-house.Douanier, n. p. 406An officer of the French customs. Gray.Douay Bible p. 406An English translation of the Scriptures, sanctioned by the Roman Catholic church. [Written also Douay Bible.]Double (dŭb'l), a. p. 406Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent. Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2 Kings ii. 9. Darkness and tempest make a double night. Dryden. 2. In pairs; presenting two in…Dōŭb'le, adv. p. 406Twice; twofold. I was double their age. Swift. ☞ Double is often used in composition, denoting two ways, or twice the number or quantity.Doŭb'le, v. t. p. 406To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or the like; to multiply by two; to make twice as great; to duplicate; as, to double a sum of money; to double a number, a length, and…Dōŭb'le, v. i. p. 406To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or value; to increase or grow to twice as much. ’Tis observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years…Dōŭb'le, n. p. 406Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and the like. If the thief be found, let him pay double. Ex. xxii. 7. 2. That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a…Doub'le-bāse or Doub'le-bass, n. p. 406(Mus.) The largest and lowest-toned instrument in the violin form; the contra-basso or violino.Doŭb'le-bīt'ing, a. p. 406Biting or cutting on either side; as, a double-biting ax. Dryden.Doub'le-brēast'ed, a. p. 406Folding or lapping over on the breast, with a row of buttons and button-holes on each side; as, a double-breasted waistcoat or coat.Doub'le-chārge, v. t. p. 406To charge or intrust with a double portion. Shak.Doub'le-dēal'er, n. p. 406One who acts two different parts; a deceitful, trickish person; one guilty of duplicity. L'Estrange.Doub'le-dēal'ing, n. p. 406Artifice; duplicity; deceitful practice; the profession of one thing and the practice of another. Shak.Dōŭb'le-dŷe, v. t. p. 406To dye twice over. Dryden.Doub'le-ēa'gle, n. p. 406A gold coin of the United States, worth twenty dollars.Double-entendre, n. p. 406A word or expression admitting of a double interpretation, one of which is often obscure or indelicate.Doub'le-ēn'/try, n. p. 406A mode of book-keeping in which two entries are made of every transaction, one on the Dr., or left hand, side of one account, and the other on the Cr., or right hand, side of another account, in…Doub'le-e-eyed, a. p. 406Having a deceitful countenance. Spencer.Doub'le-fāce, n. p. 406Duplicity; the acting of different parts, or the expressing of different opinions or feelings.Doub'le-fāced, a. p. 406Showing two faces or facings; deceitful; hypocritical. Milton.Doub'le-first, n. p. 406(Eng. Universities.) One who gains at examinations the highest honor both in the classics and mathematics. Bristol.Doŭb'le-flow'er, n. p. 406(Bot.) A flower having several rows of petals, as the result of cultivation, the petals being multiplied from a single into many rows by a conversion of the stamens, or stamens and carpels, into…Dou'ble-gear, n. p. 406(Mach.) The gearing attached to the headstock of a lathe to vary its speed; — called also back-gear.Doub'le-hānd'ed, a. p. 406Having two hands; deceitful. Glanville.Doub'le-hēad'ed, a. p. 406Having two heads; bicipital.Doub'le-heart'ed, a. p. 406Having a false heart; deceitful; treacherous. Shak.Dou'ble-lock, v. t. p. 406To lock with two bolts; to fasten with double security. Tatler.Doub'le-milled, a. p. 406Twice milled or fulled, to render more compact or fine; — said of cloth; as, double-milled kerseymere.Doub'le-mind'ed, a. p. 406Having different minds at different times; unsettled; wavering; unstable; undetermined. Jas. i. 8.Doub'le-ness, n. p. 406The state of being double or doubled. 2. Duplicity; insincerity. Chaucer.Doub'le-ōc'tāve, n. p. 406(Mus.) An interval composed of two octaves, or fifteen notes, in diatonic progression; a fifteenth.Doub'le-plēa, n. p. 406(Law.) A plea alleging several distinct matters in answer to the declaration, where either of such matters alone would be a sufficient bar to the action. Stephen.Doub'le-quar'rel, n. p. 406(Eccl. Law.) A complaint of the clerk to the archbishop against an inferior ordinary, for delay of justice. Burrill.Doub'le-quick, n. p. 406(Mil.) The fastest time or step, in marching, next to the run, requiring one hundred and sixty-five steps, each thirty-three inches in length, to be taken in one minute. The degree of swiftness may…Doub'le-quick, a. p. 406(Mil.) Performed in the time called double-quick; as, a double-quick step or march.Doub'le-quick, v. i. & t. p. 406(Mil.) To move, or cause to move, in double-quick time.Doub'ler, n. p. 406One who, or that which, doubles. 2. An instrument for augmenting a very small quantity of electricity, so as to render it manifest by sparks or the electrometer.Doub'le-salt, n. p. 407(Chem.) A compound salt consisting of two salts in chemical combination, as common alum, which contains sulphate of alumina and sulphate of potash.Doub'le-shāde, v. t. p. 407To double the natural darkness of a place. Milton.Doubl'e-shī'n-ing, a. p. 407Shining with double luster. “The sports of double-shining day.” Sidney.Dou'ble-star, n. p. 407(Astron.) Two stars so near to each other as to be seen separate by means of a telescope only. ☞ Such stars may be only optically near to each other, or physically connected so that they revolve…Doub'let, n. p. 407Two of the same kind; a pair; a couple. 2. (Print.) A word or phrase unintentionally doubled, or set up the second time. 3. The inner garment of a man; a waistcoat or vest;—so called with respect to…Dou'ble-thread'ed, a. p. 407Consisting of two threads twisted together.Doub'le-tŏngued, a. p. 407Making contrary declarations on the same subject at different times; deceitful. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubled-tongued. 1 Tim. iii. 8.Doub'lets, n. pl. p. 407A game played with dice upon tables, and bearing some resemblance to backgammon. [Obs.] 2. Two dice, each of which, when thrown, has the same number of spots on the face lying uppermost; as, to throw…Dou'ble-vault, n. p. 407(Arch.) A vault or dome composed of two domes, one within the other, the internal dome being of less altitude than the external, and made to harmonize with the proportions of the interior of the…Doub'ling, n. p. 407The act of making double. 2. (Her.) The lining of the mantle borne about the shield or escutcheon. 3. (Slating.) The course of slates at the eaves of a house. Ogilvie.Doub'ling-nāil, n. p. 407A nail used in constructing the lining of the gun-ports in vessels of war. Clarke.Doub-lōon′, n. p. 407A Spanish and Portuguese coin, of the value of from fifteen to nearly sixteen dollars.Doŭb'ly, adv. p. 407In twice the quantity; to twice the degree; as, doubly wise or good; to be doubly sensible of an obligation. Dryden.Doubt, v. i. p. 407To waver or fluctuate in opinion; to hesitate; to be in suspense; to be in uncertainty respecting any thing; to be undetermined. Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt…Doubt, v. t. p. 407To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to dissent from; to hesitate to believe; to withhold confidence from; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it. To admire…Doubt, n. p. 407A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of mind; unsettled state of opinion; suspense; hesitation. Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to know.…Doubt'a-ble, a. p. 407[O. Fr. doubtable, doutable, Sp. dudable, It. dubitabile, Lat. dubitabilis, from dubitare. 1. Capable of being doubted; questionable. 2. Worthy of being feared; formidable; redoubtable. [Obs.]…Doubt'ance, n. p. 407State of being in doubt; uncertainty; doubt. [Obs.] Chaucer.Doubt'er, n. p. 407One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples.Doubt'ful, a. p. 407Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure. 2. Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not…