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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. 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.
  2. 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…
  3. 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…
  4. 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.…
  5. 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.]…
  6. Doubt'ance, n.p. 407State of being in doubt; uncertainty; doubt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  7. Doubt'er, n.p. 407One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples.
  8. 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…
  9. Doubt'ful-ly, adv.p. 407In a doubtful manner; dubiously; irresolutely; ambiguously; fearfully. Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden.
  10. 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.
  11. Doubt'ing-ly, adv.p. 407In a doubting manner; dubiously; without confidence.
  12. Doubt'less, a.p. 407Free from fear or apprehension of danger; secure. [Obs.] Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure. Shak.
  13. Doubt'less, adv.p. 407Without doubt or question; unquestionably.
  14. Doubt'less-ly, adv.p. 407Unquestionably. [Obs.] B. & Fl.
  15. Doubt'ous, a.p. 407Doubtful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  16. 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.
  17. Dou'ced or Dou'cet, n.p. 407A musical instrument, supposed by some to be the dulcimer. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  18. Douce'-pēre, n.p. 407One of the twelve peers of France. [Obs.] “Looking like a doughty douce-pere.” Spenser.
  19. Dou'cet, n.p. 407
  20. Dow'setp. 407A custard. [Obs.] “Fresh cheese and dowsets.” Drayton. 2. A douced. [Obs.]
  21. Dou'cet, n.p. 407See DOWCET.
  22. Dou-ceur', n.p. 407A present or gift; especially one intended as a bribe. Burke. 2. Gentleness and sweetness of manner; agreeableness. Chesterfield.
  23. 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.
  24. Dou'cine, n.p. 407(Arch.) The same as Cyma recta. See CYMA.
  25. Douck'er, n.p. 407(Ornith.) The diver, a large water-bird of the genus Colymbus. [Prov. Eng.] Ray.
  26. Dōu'lon, n.p. 407A copper coin, current in the East Indies.
  27. 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.
  28. Dōugh'-bāked, a.p. 407Imperfectly baked; hence, not brought to perfection; unfinished; and also, of weak or dull understanding. Halliwell.
  29. Dough'-fāce, n.p. 407One who is flexible, and easily molded. [U. S.] Bartlett.
  30. Dōugh'-fāced, a.p. 407Easily molded; pliable. [U. S.]
  31. 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.]
  32. Dough'i-ness, n.p. 407The state of being doughy.
  33. Dough'-knēad'ed, a.p. 407Soft; like dough. Milton.
  34. Dōugh'nŭt, n.p. 407A small, roundish cake, made of flour, eggs, and sugar, moistened with milk or with water, and fried in lard.
  35. Dough'ti-ly, adv.p. 407In a doughty manner.
  36. Dough'ti-ness, n.p. 407The quality of being doughty; valor; bravery.
  37. 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…
  38. Dōugh'y, a.p. 407Like dough; soft; yielding to pressure; pale. Shak.
  39. Dou-lōc'ra-cy, n.p. 407A government by slaves. “A people . . . fallen under a doulocracy.” Hare.
  40. Dōum'-pălm, n.p. 407See DOOM-PALM.
  41. Dōur, a.p. 407Hard; inflexible; obstinate; bold; intrepid; hardy. [Scot.] “A dour wife, a sour old carlin.” C. Reade.
  42. Dōur'd, n.p. 407(Bot.) The same as DURAMEN. 2. A kind of grain or millet. See DURRA.
  43. 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.”…
  44. Douse, v. i.p. 407To fall suddenly into water. Hudibras.
  45. 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:
  46. Dout, v. t.p. 407To put out; to extinguish. [Obs.] First in the intellect it douts the light. Sylvester.
  47. Dout'er, n.p. 407An extinguisher for candles. [Obs.]
  48. Douz'ēave, n.p. 407(Mus.) A scale of twelve degrees.
  49. 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…
  50. 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.
  51. Dōve'-eyed, a.p. 407Having eyes like a dove; meek-eyed; as, dove-eyed Peace.
  52. Dōve'kĭe, n.p. 407An aquatic bird (Uria grylle) of the arctic regions. Kane.
  53. Dōve'let, n.p. 407A young or small dove. Booth.
  54. Dō'ver's Pow'derp. 407(Med.) A compound of ipecacuanha, opium, and sulphate of potash, designed as a sedative and sudorific.
  55. Dôve's'-fōot, n.p. 408(Bot.) (a.) A species of geranium; G. molle. Loudon. (b.) The columbine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  56. Dôve'ship, n.p. 408The possession of dove-like qualities. [Obs.] Hall.
  57. Dôve'tail, n.p. 408(Carp.) The manner of fastening boards or timbers together, by letting one piece, in the form of a dove's tail spread, or wedge reversed, into a corresponding cavity in another, so that it can not be…
  58. Dôve'tâil, v. t.p. 408To unite by a tenon in form of a pigeon’s tail spread, let into a board or timber. 2. To fit or connect strongly or skillfully; to fit ingeniously. He put together a piece of work so crossly indented…
  59. Dôve'tail-joint, n.p. 408(Anat.) A suture or serrated articulation; as, of the bones of the head. Ogilvie.
  60. Dôve'tâil-môld'ing, n.p. 408(Arch.) An ornament used in Norman architecture, consisting of a rounded molding arranged so as to form a series of figures in the form of a dove’s tail.