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.
Ēar'-rĕnt, n. p. 424Rent paid by loss of the ears. [Obs.] A hole to thrust your heads in, For which you should pay ear-rent. B. Jonson.Ear'-ring, n. p. 424An ornament, sometimes set with diamonds, pearls, or other jewels, suspended from the ear, by means of a ring passing through the lobe.Earsh, n. p. 424A plowed field. [Obs.] May. 2. Grass that grows after mowing or reaping. See EDDISH.Ear'-shēll, n. p. 424(Conch.) A flattened univalve, a species of Haliotis, having a pearly, iridescent inner coating, which is used for inlaid work.Ear'-shōt, n. p. 424Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.Ẽarst, adv. p. 424See ERST. Spenser.Ẽarth, n. p. 424The globe which we inhabit; that one of the planets on which man dwells; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. O thou in heaven and earth the only peace. Milton. 2. The solid…Ẽarth, v. t. p. 424To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to bury. “The fox is earthed.” Dryden. 2. To cover with earth or mold;—sometimes with up. The miser earths his treasure, and the thief, Watching the mole…Ēarth, v. i. p. 424To retire under ground; to burrow. “Here foxes earthed.” Tickell.Earth'-āp'ple, n. p. 424A cucumber. Ogilvie. 2. A potato. Ogilvie.Earth'-bāg, n. p. 424(Mil.) A bag filled with earth, used for defense in war.Earth'-bānk, n. p. 424A bank or mound of earth.Earth'-bōard, n. p. 424(Agric.) The board of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the mold-board.Ēarth’bŏrn, a. p. 424Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth. “Some earth-born giant.” Milton. 2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects. All earth-born cares are wrong. Goldsmith.Ēarth'-bound, a. p. 424Fastened by the pressure of the earth. Shak.Earth'-brēd, a. p. 424Low; abject; groveling.Earth'-ere-āt/ed, a. p. 424Formed of earth. Young.Earth'-din, n. p. 424An earthquake. [Obs.]Earth'-drāke, n. p. 424A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. He sacrifices his own life in destroying a frightful earth-drake or dragon. W. Spalding.Earth'en, a. p. 424Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel; earthen ware.Earth'en-ware, n. p. 424Ware made of earth; crockery.Earth'-fēd, a. p. 424Fed upon earthly things; low; abject. B. Jonson.Earth'-flāx, n. p. 424(Min.) The same as ASBESTOS.Ẽarth'-fôrk, n. p. 424A pronged fork for turning up the earth.Ẽarth'i-ness, n. p. 424The quality of being earthy, or of containing earth; grossness.Ẽarth'li-ness, n. p. 424The quality of being earthly; grossness. 2. Excessive and debasing attachment to earthly objects; worldliness. 3. Perishableness; want of durability; frailty. [Obs.] Fuller.Ẽarth'ling, n. p. 424An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal. Earthlings oft her deemed a deity. Drummond.Earth'ly, a. p. 424Pertaining to earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal. This earthly load Of death called life. Milton. Whose glory is in their shame, who…**Earth'ly-minded**, a. p. 424Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded.Earth'ly-mindedness, n. p. 424Extreme devotedness to earthly objects; grossness; sensuality.Earth'-mād, n. p. 424A kind of worm or grub. [Obs.] The earth-mads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes. Holland.Ĕarth'-nŭt, n. p. 424(Bot.) (a.) The root of Bunium bulbocastanum, an umbelliferous plant, which is farinaceous, sweet, and considered to be nourishing. Loudon. (b.) The seed-vessel and seed of the Arachis hypogæa, a…Earth'-pea, n. p. 424(Bot.) A species of pea; the Lathyrus amphicarpos, a climbing leguminous plant.Earth'quake, n. p. 424A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The vibration, originating in some concussion, is transmitted by the material of…Earth'-shāk'ing, a. p. 424Shaking the earth; having power to shake the earth. “Earth-shaking Neptune's mace.” Milton.Earth'-shine, n. p. 424A pale, delicate light, rendering the unenlightened portion of the moon's disk visible. It is occasioned by the sun's light reflected to the moon's disk, and from thence reflected back again to the…Earth'-tā'ble, n. p. 424(Goth. Arch.) The lowest course of stones visible in a building.Earth'-tŏngue, n. p. 424(Bot.) A plant of the genus Geoglossum. Ogilvie.Earth'ward, adv. p. 424Toward the earth.Earth'-work, n. p. 424(Engin.) The removal of large masses of earth, in constructing canals, railways, and the like; a fortification of earth.Earth'-worm, n. p. 424(Zool.) The common worm found in the soil, without legs or appendages. The species belong to the genus Lumbricus. 2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.Earth'y, a. p. 424Consisting of, or belonging or relating to earth; terrene; terrestrial. “An earthy pit.” Shak. “To tend their earthy charge.” Milton. “Earthy spirits black and envious are.” Dryden. 2. Gross…Ear'-trūmp'et, n. p. 424An instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to make them…Ēar'-wăx, n. p. 424The cerumen; a thick, viscous substance, secreted by the glands of the ear into the outer passage.Ear'wig, n. p. 424(Ent.) An insect with very short wing-cases, which eats fruit and flower leaves, and is so called because it has been erroneously supposed to creep into the human brain through the ear. The common…Ear'wig, v. t. p. 424To gain the ear by stealth, and - whisper insinuations. [Colloq. Eng.]Ear'-wit'ness, n. p. 424One who has the testimony of hearing as to any matter; a hearer. “An ear-witness of all the passages betwixt them.” Fuller.Ear'-wort, n. p. 424(Bot.) A plant (Hedyotis auricularis), supposed to be valuable for relieving or curing deafness.Ease, n. p. 424Freedom from pain, disturbance, trouble, toil, and the like. (a.) Absence of distress, exertion, annoyance, &c.; relief from labor; rest; quiet; leisurely indolence or inactivity;—said of the body…Ēase, v. t. p. 425To free from any thing that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquillity to;—often with of; as, to ease of pain; to ease the body or mind. “My…Ēase'ful, a. p. 425Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; peaceful. [Rare.] “His easeful western bed.” Shak.Ēase'ful-ly, adv. p. 425With ease or quiet. Sherwood.Ēase'ful-ness, n. p. 425State of being easeful.Ēa'sel, n. p. 425A wooden frame furnished with movable pegs, or a sliding rack, on which pictures are placed while being painted. Easel-pieces, or pictures (Paint.), the smaller pieces, either portraits or…Ease'less, a. p. 425Wanting ease. Donne.Ease'ment, n. p. 425That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation. I certainly stand in need of every kind of relief and easement. Burke. 2. (Law.) A liberty, privilege, or advantage without…Eas'i-ly, adv. p. 425With ease; without difficulty or great labor; without great exertion or sacrifice; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen. 2. Without pain, anxiety, or…Ēas'i-ness, n. p. 425The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; the act of imparting or procuring ease or rest. 2. Freedom from difficulty; ease. Easiness and difficulty are relative terms. Tillotson.…East, n. p. 425The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right…Ēast, a. p. 425Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.