Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Doubt'ful-ly, adv. p. 407In a doubtful manner; dubiously; irresolutely; ambiguously; fearfully. Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden.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.Doubt'ing-ly, adv. p. 407In a doubting manner; dubiously; without confidence.Doubt'less, a. p. 407Free from fear or apprehension of danger; secure. [Obs.] Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure. Shak.Doubt'less, adv. p. 407Without doubt or question; unquestionably.Doubt'less-ly, adv. p. 407Unquestionably. [Obs.] B. & Fl.Doubt'ous, a. p. 407Doubtful. [Obs.] Chaucer.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.Dou'ced or Dou'cet, n. p. 407A musical instrument, supposed by some to be the dulcimer. [Obs.] Halliwell.Douce'-pēre, n. p. 407One of the twelve peers of France. [Obs.] “Looking like a doughty douce-pere.” Spenser.Dou'cet, n. p. 407Dow'set p. 407A custard. [Obs.] “Fresh cheese and dowsets.” Drayton. 2. A douced. [Obs.]Dou'cet, n. p. 407See DOWCET.Dou-ceur', n. p. 407A present or gift; especially one intended as a bribe. Burke. 2. Gentleness and sweetness of manner; agreeableness. Chesterfield.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.Dou'cine, n. p. 407(Arch.) The same as Cyma recta. See CYMA.Douck'er, n. p. 407(Ornith.) The diver, a large water-bird of the genus Colymbus. [Prov. Eng.] Ray.Dōu'lon, n. p. 407A copper coin, current in the East Indies.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.Dōugh'-bāked, a. p. 407Imperfectly baked; hence, not brought to perfection; unfinished; and also, of weak or dull understanding. Halliwell.Dough'-fāce, n. p. 407One who is flexible, and easily molded. [U. S.] Bartlett.Dōugh'-fāced, a. p. 407Easily molded; pliable. [U. S.]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.]Dough'i-ness, n. p. 407The state of being doughy.Dough'-knēad'ed, a. p. 407Soft; like dough. Milton.Dōugh'nŭt, n. p. 407A small, roundish cake, made of flour, eggs, and sugar, moistened with milk or with water, and fried in lard.Dough'ti-ly, adv. p. 407In a doughty manner.Dough'ti-ness, n. p. 407The quality of being doughty; valor; bravery.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…Dōugh'y, a. p. 407Like dough; soft; yielding to pressure; pale. Shak.Dou-lōc'ra-cy, n. p. 407A government by slaves. “A people . . . fallen under a doulocracy.” Hare.Dōum'-pălm, n. p. 407See DOOM-PALM.Dōur, a. p. 407Hard; inflexible; obstinate; bold; intrepid; hardy. [Scot.] “A dour wife, a sour old carlin.” C. Reade.Dōur'd, n. p. 407(Bot.) The same as DURAMEN. 2. A kind of grain or millet. See DURRA.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.”…Douse, v. i. p. 407To fall suddenly into water. Hudibras.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:Dout, v. t. p. 407To put out; to extinguish. [Obs.] First in the intellect it douts the light. Sylvester.Dout'er, n. p. 407An extinguisher for candles. [Obs.]Douz'ēave, n. p. 407(Mus.) A scale of twelve degrees.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…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.Dōve'-eyed, a. p. 407Having eyes like a dove; meek-eyed; as, dove-eyed Peace.Dōve'kĭe, n. p. 407An aquatic bird (Uria grylle) of the arctic regions. Kane.Dōve'let, n. p. 407A young or small dove. Booth.Dō'ver's Pow'der p. 407(Med.) A compound of ipecacuanha, opium, and sulphate of potash, designed as a sedative and sudorific.Dôve's'-fōot, n. p. 408(Bot.) (a.) A species of geranium; G. molle. Loudon. (b.) The columbine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Dôve'ship, n. p. 408The possession of dove-like qualities. [Obs.] Hall.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…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…Dôve'tail-joint, n. p. 408(Anat.) A suture or serrated articulation; as, of the bones of the head. Ogilvie.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.Dôve'tāil-saw, n. p. 408(Carp.) A saw, used in dovetailing, having a thin plate about nine inches in length, fine teeth, and a rigid back of brass or iron. Ogilvie.Dŏv'ish, a. p. 408Like a dove; innocent. [Obs.] “Joined with dovish simplicity.” Latimer.Dow, n. p. 408A kind of vessel; a baggala; — called also dau. See BAGGALA.Dow, v. t. p. 408To furnish with a dower; to endow. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Dow'a-ble, a. p. 408Capable of being endowed; entitled to dower. Blackstone.Dow'a-ger, n. p. 408(Eng. Law.) A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or who has property of her own brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled…Dow'cet, n. p. 408One of the testicles of a hart or stag. [Written also doucet.] B. Jonson.