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.
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.Ēast, v. i. p. 425To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.East'er, n. p. 425[A-S. éaster, éastran, paschalEast'er-dāy or Easter-day p. 425feast, Easter, on eastron, at Easter, D. ooster, O. H. Ger. ōstra, ōstarā, N. H. Ger. ostern, from A-S. Eastre, O. H. Ger. Ōstara, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was…East'er-egg, n. p. 425A painted or colored egg used for — a present at Easter.East'er-gī'ant, n. p. 425(Bot.) A plant; Polygonum bistortum; bistort; snake's-weed. [Prov. Eng.]Eas'ter-gift, n. p. 425A gift presented at Easter.East'er-ling, n. p. 425A native of some country eastward of another; — especially used, by the English, of traders or other persons from the coasts of the Baltic. Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called Easterlings…East'er-ling, a. p. 425Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See STERLING.East'er-ly, a. p. 425Coming from the eastward; as, an easterly wind. 2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly side of a lake or country; an easterly course or voyage.East’er-ly, adv. p. 425On the east; in the direction of east.East'ern, a. p. 425Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate; Eastern countries. Eastern churches first did Christ embrace. Stirling. 2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an…East'ing, n. p. 425(Navigation & Surv.) The perpendicular distance between two meridians drawn through the extremities of a course; distance eastward from a given meridian.East/-in’su·lar, a. p. 425Relating to the Eastern Islands; East-Indian. [Rare.] Ogilvie.Ēast'ward, adv. p. 425Toward the east; in the direction of east from some point or place; as, New Haven lies eastward from New York.Ēas'y, a. p. 425At ease; free from pain, disgust, or constraint; as, (a.) Free from pain, distress, toil, exertion, and the like; quiet; as, the patient is easy. (b.) Free from care, sorrow, responsibility…Ēas'y-châir, n. p. 425An arm-chair for ease or repose.Ēat, v. t. p. 425To partake of as food; to swallow as nourishment;—said especially of food not liquid; as, to eat bread. They shall make thee to eat grass as oxen. Dan. iv. 25. With stories told of many a feat, How…Ēat, v. i. p. 425To take food; to feed; especially, to take solid, in distinction from liquid, food; to board. He did eat continually at the king’s table. 2 Sam. ix. 13. 2. To taste or relish; as, it eats like the…Eat'a-ble, a. p. 425Capable of being eaten; fit to be eaten; proper for food; esculent; edible.Eat'a-ble, n. p. 425Any thing that may be eaten; that which is fit for food; that which is used as food.Eat'age, n. p. 425Food for horses and cattle from aftermath. See AFTER-EATAGE and EDDISH.Eat'er, n. p. 425One who, or that which, eats or corrodes; — a corrosive.Eath, a. p. 425Easy. [Obs.] “Eath to move with plaints.” Fairfax.Eat'ing-house, n. p. 425A house where provisions are sold ready cooked, and usually eaten on the premises; a restaurant.Eau-de-Cologne, n. p. 425A perfumed spirit, originally prepared at Cologne;—commonly called Cologne-water.Eau-de-Luce, n. p. 425A strong solution of ammonia, scented, and rendered milky by mastic and oil of amber. It is used in India as an antidote for the venom of poisonous serpents.Eau-de-vie, n. p. 425Literally, water of life;—the French name for brandy. Bescherelle.Eaves, n. pl. p. 425(Arch.) The edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof.Eaves'-board, n. p. 425(Arch.) An arris fillet, or a thick board with a feather-edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of a building, to raise the lower course of slates a little, or to receive the lowest course of…Eaves'-catch, n. p. 425See EAVES-BOARD.Eaves'dröp, v. i. p. 425To stand under the eaves or near the windows of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to watch for opportunities of hearing the private conversation of others. “To eavesdrop…Eaves'drŏp, n. p. 425The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house. Ogilvie.Eaves'dröp-per, n. p. 425One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, one who watches for an opportunity of hearing the private conversation of others.Eaves'-lath, n. p. 425See EAVES-BOARD.Ebb, n. p. 425The reflux of the tide; the return of tide-water toward the sea;—opposed to flood. 2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; decline; decay. “Our ebb of life.”…Ĕbb, v. i. p. 425To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean;—opposed to flow. 2. To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay. “The hours of life ebb fast.”…