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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.

  1. 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…
  2. 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.
  3. Doub'ling-nāil, n.p. 407A nail used in constructing the lining of the gun-ports in vessels of war. Clarke.
  4. Doub-lōon′, n.p. 407A Spanish and Portuguese coin, of the value of from fifteen to nearly sixteen dollars.
  5. 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.
  6. 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…
  7. 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…
  8. 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.…
  9. 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.]…
  10. Doubt'ance, n.p. 407State of being in doubt; uncertainty; doubt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  11. Doubt'er, n.p. 407One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples.
  12. 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…
  13. Doubt'ful-ly, adv.p. 407In a doubtful manner; dubiously; irresolutely; ambiguously; fearfully. Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden.
  14. Doubt'ful-ness, n.p. 407A state of being doubtful; dubiousness; instability of opinion. Watts. 2. Uncertainty of meaning; ambiguity; indefiniteness. Locke. 3. Uncertainty of event or issue. Johnson.
  15. Doubt'ing-ly, adv.p. 407In a doubting manner; dubiously; without confidence.
  16. Doubt'less, a.p. 407Free from fear or apprehension of danger; secure. [Obs.] Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure. Shak.
  17. Doubt'less, adv.p. 407Without doubt or question; unquestionably.
  18. Doubt'less-ly, adv.p. 407Unquestionably. [Obs.] B. & Fl.
  19. Doubt'ous, a.p. 407Doubtful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  20. Douc, n.p. 407(Zool.) A monkey (Simia nemæus), remarkable for its varied and brilliant colors. It is a native of Cochin China. Van der Hoeven.
  21. Dou'ced or Dou'cet, n.p. 407A musical instrument, supposed by some to be the dulcimer. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  22. Douce'-pēre, n.p. 407One of the twelve peers of France. [Obs.] “Looking like a doughty douce-pere.” Spenser.
  23. Dou'cet, n.p. 407
  24. Dow'setp. 407A custard. [Obs.] “Fresh cheese and dowsets.” Drayton. 2. A douced. [Obs.]
  25. Dou'cet, n.p. 407See DOWCET.
  26. Dou-ceur', n.p. 407A present or gift; especially one intended as a bribe. Burke. 2. Gentleness and sweetness of manner; agreeableness. Chesterfield.
  27. Dōuche, n.p. 407A jet or current of water or vapor directed with considerable force upon some diseased part of the body with a view to benefit it medicinally.
  28. Dou'cine, n.p. 407(Arch.) The same as Cyma recta. See CYMA.
  29. Douck'er, n.p. 407(Ornith.) The diver, a large water-bird of the genus Colymbus. [Prov. Eng.] Ray.
  30. Dōu'lon, n.p. 407A copper coin, current in the East Indies.
  31. Dōugh, n.p. 407Paste of bread; a mass of flour or meal moistened and kneaded, but not yet baked. My cake is dough, my undertaking has not come to maturity. Shak.
  32. Dōugh'-bāked, a.p. 407Imperfectly baked; hence, not brought to perfection; unfinished; and also, of weak or dull understanding. Halliwell.
  33. Dough'-fāce, n.p. 407One who is flexible, and easily molded. [U. S.] Bartlett.
  34. Dōugh'-fāced, a.p. 407Easily molded; pliable. [U. S.]
  35. Dōugh'face-ism, n.p. 407The character of a dough-face; willingness to be led about by one of stronger mind or will; cowardly weakness; pliability. [U. S.]
  36. Dough'i-ness, n.p. 407The state of being doughy.
  37. Dough'-knēad'ed, a.p. 407Soft; like dough. Milton.
  38. Dōugh'nŭt, n.p. 407A small, roundish cake, made of flour, eggs, and sugar, moistened with milk or with water, and fried in lard.
  39. Dough'ti-ly, adv.p. 407In a doughty manner.
  40. Dough'ti-ness, n.p. 407The quality of being doughty; valor; bravery.
  41. Dough'ty, a.p. 407Characterized by bravery; valiant; eminent; noble; illustrious; redoubtable; as, a doughty hero. Doughty families, hugging old musty quarrels to their hearts, buffet each other from generation to…
  42. Dōugh'y, a.p. 407Like dough; soft; yielding to pressure; pale. Shak.
  43. Dou-lōc'ra-cy, n.p. 407A government by slaves. “A people . . . fallen under a doulocracy.” Hare.
  44. Dōum'-pălm, n.p. 407See DOOM-PALM.
  45. Dōur, a.p. 407Hard; inflexible; obstinate; bold; intrepid; hardy. [Scot.] “A dour wife, a sour old carlin.” C. Reade.
  46. Dōur'd, n.p. 407(Bot.) The same as DURAMEN. 2. A kind of grain or millet. See DURRA.
  47. Douse, v. t.p. 407To thrust or plunge into water; to dip; to dowse. 2. (Naut.) To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly; as, douse the topsail. 3. [Corrupted from dout, q. v.] To extinguish. “Douse the glim.”…
  48. Douse, v. i.p. 407To fall suddenly into water. Hudibras.
  49. Dous'ing-chōck, n.p. 407(Ship-building.) One of several pieces fayed across the apron and lapped on the knight-heads or inside stuff above the upper deck. Ogilvie:
  50. Dout, v. t.p. 407To put out; to extinguish. [Obs.] First in the intellect it douts the light. Sylvester.
  51. Dout'er, n.p. 407An extinguisher for candles. [Obs.]
  52. Douz'ēave, n.p. 407(Mus.) A scale of twelve degrees.
  53. Dōve, n.p. 407(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Columba, or pigeon family, some species of which are domesticated, and all of gentle and inoffensive character; a pigeon; especially, a tame pigeon. The common dove…
  54. Dōve'-cōte, n.p. 407A small building or box, raised to a considerable height above the ground, in which domestic pigeons breed; any apartment or house for doves.
  55. Dōve'-eyed, a.p. 407Having eyes like a dove; meek-eyed; as, dove-eyed Peace.
  56. Dōve'kĭe, n.p. 407An aquatic bird (Uria grylle) of the arctic regions. Kane.
  57. Dōve'let, n.p. 407A young or small dove. Booth.
  58. Dō'ver's Pow'derp. 407(Med.) A compound of ipecacuanha, opium, and sulphate of potash, designed as a sedative and sudorific.
  59. Dôve's'-fōot, n.p. 408(Bot.) (a.) A species of geranium; G. molle. Loudon. (b.) The columbine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  60. Dôve'ship, n.p. 408The possession of dove-like qualities. [Obs.] Hall.