Library

Dictionary

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. Drīb'ble, v. i.p. 413To fall in drops or small drops, or in a quick succession of drops; as, water dribbles from the eaves. 2. To slaver, as a child or an idiot. 3. To fall weakly and slowly. [Obs.] “The dribbling dart…
  2. Drĭb'ble, v. t.p. 413To throw down in drops. “To dribble it all the way up stairs.” Swift.
  3. Drĭb'blet or Drĭb'let, n.p. 413A small piece or part; a small sum; a small quantity of money in making up a sum; as, the money was paid in dribblets. When made up in driblets, as they could, their best securities were at an…
  4. Drīe, v. t.p. 413To suffer or endure; as, to drie one's fate. See DREE. W. Scott.
  5. Drī'er, n.p. 413One who, or that which, dries; that which may expel or absorb moisture; a desiccative; as, the sun and a north-westerly wind are great driers of the earth. 2. (Paint.) A substance, usually a metallic…
  6. Drĭft, n.p. 413That which is driven, forced, or urged along; a mass of any thing carried onward together; as, (a.) A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together into its present position; as, a…
  7. Drĭft, v. i.p. 413To float or be driven along by a current of water; as, the ship drifted astern; a raft drifted ashore. We drifted o’er the harbor bar, And I with sobs did pray. Coleridge. 2. To accumulate in heaps…
  8. Drift, v. t.p. 413To drive into heaps; as, a current of wind drifts snow or sand.
  9. Drīft, a.p. 413Movable by wind or currents; as, drift ice. Kane.
  10. Drĭft'-bōlt, n.p. 413A bolt used for driving out other bolts. Ogilvie.
  11. Drĭft'less, a.p. 413Having no drift; without aim; purposeless.
  12. Drīft'-sāil, n.p. 413(Naut.) A sail used under water during a storm, and serving to keep the head of a vessel right upon the sea, and prevent her driving too fast in a current. Ogilvie.
  13. Drift'-way, n.p. 413A common way for driving cattle in. Cowell. 2. (Mining & Naut.) The same as DRIFT.
  14. Drift'-wind, n.p. 413A driving wind; a wind that drives things into heaps. Beau. & Fl.
  15. Drĭft'-wood, n.p. 413Wood drifted or floated by water.
  16. Drift'y, a.p. 413Full of drifts; tending to form drifts, as snow, and the like.
  17. Drill, v. t.p. 413To pierce or bore with a drill; as, to drill a hole through a piece of metal. 2. To sow, as seeds, in rows, drills, or channels. 3. To draw through; to drain; as, waters drilled through a sandy…
  18. Swiftp. 413
  19. Drill, v. i.p. 413To sow in drills. 2. To flow gently; to trickle. Heywood. 3. To muster for exercise. Beau. & Fl.
  20. Drill, n.p. 413A pointed instrument, used for boring holes, particularly in metals and other hard substances; strictly, a boring tool that cuts with its beveled end by revolving; also, Drill. a drill-press. See…
  21. Cotter drillp. 413or traverse drill, a machine tool for boring slots.
  22. Drill'-bär'rōw, n.p. 413A contrivance mounted on wheels for the purpose of running a drill-furrow, depositing the seed therein, and covering it with earth. Gardner.
  23. Drill'-bōw, n.p. 413A small bow, whose string is used for the purpose of rapidly turning a drill.
  24. Drill'-bōx, n.p. 413A box containing seed for sowing.
  25. Drill'-hăr'rōw, n.p. 413A harrow used for smoothing ground between rows or drills.
  26. Drill'-hūs'band-ry, n.p. 413The practice of sowing seed in rows.
  27. Drill'ing, n.p. 413The act of piercing with a drill, or of using a drill in sowing seeds. 2. [Ger. drillich, L. Lat. trilex, drilex, from Ger. drei, Lat. tres, and licium, a thread of the warp. Cf. TWILL.] A coarse…
  28. Drill'-ma-chine', n.p. 413See DRILL-PRESS.
  29. Drill'-plow or Drill'-plough, n.p. 413A sort of plow for sowing grain in drills; a drill-harrow.
  30. Drill'-press, n.p. 413A machine-tool, embodying one or more drills for making holes in metal, and designated as a vertical, horizontal, or universal drill, a drill-press, or a drilling-machine. The work is fastened upon…
  31. Drill'-ser'geant, n.p. 413(Mil.) A non-commissioned officer, whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military evolutions.
  32. Drill'-stöck, n.p. 413(Mech.) A contrivance for holding and turning a drill. Francis.
  33. Drï'mys, n.p. 413(Bot.) A genus of plants. D. aromatica affords the winter-bark of commerce. Ogilvie.
  34. Drink, v. i.p. 413To swallow any thing liquid, for quenching thirst or other purpose; as, to drink from a brook. 2. To partake of enlivening or intoxicating liquors, in merriment, feasting, or the like; to carouse…
  35. Drĭnk, v. t.p. 414To swallow as liquids; to receive, as a fluid, into the stomach; to imbibe; as, to drink milk or water. There lies she with the blessed gods in bliss, There drinks the nectar with ambrosia mixed.…
  36. Drink, n.p. 414Liquor to be swallowed; any fluid to be taken into the stomach, for quenching thirst, or for medicinal purposes, as water, wine, beer, cider, decoctions, &c.
  37. Drink'a-ble, a.p. 414Capable of being drunk; fit or suitable for drink; potable.
  38. Drink'a-ble, n.p. 414A liquor that may be drunk. Steele.
  39. Drĭnk'a-ble-ness, n.p. 414State of being drinkable.
  40. Drink'er, n.p. 414One who drinks, particularly one who practices drinking spirituous liquors to excess; a drunkard; a tippler.
  41. Drink'er-mōth, n.p. 414(Entom.) A large British moth; Odonestis potatoria. Ogilvie.
  42. Drĭnk'less, a.p. 414Destitute of drink. Chaucer.
  43. Drink'-môn'ey, n.p. 414Money given to buy liquor for drinking one's health; a gratuity to one who has rendered a service; a douceur.
  44. Drink'-ōf'fer-ing, n.p. 414(Script.) A Jewish offering of wine, &c., in their religious services. Kitto.
  45. Drip, v. i.p. 414To fall in drops; as, water drips from eaves. 2. To let fall drops of moisture or liquid; as, a wet garment drips. The dark round of the dripping wheel. Tennyson.
  46. Drip, v. t.p. 414To let fall in drops. The thatch drips fast a shower of rain. Swift.
  47. Drĭp, n.p. 414A falling or letting fall in drops; a dripping; that which drips or falls in drops. On the ear Drops the light drip of the suspended ear. Byron. 2. (Arch.) The edge of a roof; the eaves; a large…
  48. Drĭp'ping, n.p. 414That which falls in drops, as fat from meat in roasting.
  49. Drip'ping-pān, n.p. 414A pan for receiving the fat which drips from meat in roasting.
  50. Drĭp'ple, a.p. 414Weak or rare. [Obs.]
  51. Drip'-stōne, n.p. 414(Arch.) A projecting tablet or molding over the head of door-ways or windows, &c., to throw off rain. 2. A filtering stone. Simmonds.
  52. Drīve, v. t.p. 414To impel or urge onward by force in a direction away from one, or along before one; to push forward; to compel to move on; as, to drive cattle; to drive a nail; the wind drives a ship along; smoke…
  53. Drīve, v. i.p. 414To rush and press with violence; to move furiously. Fierce Boreas drove against his flying sails. Dryden. Under cover of the night and a driving tempest. Prescott. 2. To be forced along; to be…
  54. Drīve, n.p. 414An excursion in a carriage, for exercise or pleasure; — distinguished from a ride, which is taken on horseback. 2. A place suitable or agreeable for driving; a road prepared for driving. Syn. — See…
  55. Drĭv'el, v. i.p. 414To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from the mouth, like a child, idiot, or dotard. 2. To be weak or foolish; to dote; as, a driveling hero; driveling love. Shak. Dryden.
  56. Driv'el, n.p. 414Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth. Dryden. 2. A driveler; a fool; an idiot. [Obs.] Sidney. 3. Inarticulate or unmeaning utterance; foolish talk; nonsense. 4. A servant; a drudge. [Obs.] Huloet.
  57. Drīv'el-er, n.p. 414A slaverer; a slabberer; an idiot; a fool. [Written also driveller.]
  58. Driv'en, n.p. 414(Mach.) The wheel or other part that is moved by a driver;—called also follower. Rankine.
  59. Driv'er, n.p. 414One who drives; the person or thing that urges or compels any thing else to move. 2. The person who drives beasts or a carriage; a coachman; a charioteer, &c.; hence, also, one who runs or regulates…
  60. Driv'er-ănt, n.p. 414A species of African ant; the Anomma arcens; — so called because they range about in vast armies, and drive every thing before them. Ogilvie.