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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. Ef-fēct'ū-āte, v. t.p. 430To bring to pass; to achieve; to accomplish; to fulfill. “A fit instrument to effectuate his desire.” Sidney.
  2. Ef-fĕct′ū-ā′tion, n.p. 430Act of effectuating.
  3. Ef-fēct'u-ōse' or Ef-fēct'u-oûs, a.p. 430Effective. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  4. Ef-fēm'i-na-cy, n.p. 430The possession by men of those qualities of softness, delicacy, and weakness, which are characteristic of the female sex; unmanly delicacy; womanish softness or weakness. “Foul effeminacy.” Milton.
  5. Ef-fēm'i-nate, a.p. 430Having the qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; unmanly in tastes or desires; tender; womanish. The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate…
  6. Ef-fēm'i-nāte, v. t.p. 430To make womanish; to unman; to weaken. “When one is sure it will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.” Locke.
  7. Ef-fĕm'i-nāte, v. i.p. 430To grow womanish or weak. In a slothful peace courage will effeminate. Pope.
  8. Ef-fĕm’i-nate-ly, adv.p. 430In a womanish manner; weakly; softly; delicately. “Proud and effeminately gay.” Fawkes. 2. By means of a woman; by the power or art of a woman. “Effeminately vanquished.” Milton.
  9. Ef-fēm'i-nate-ness, n.p. 430The state of being effeminate; unmanly softness.
  10. Ef-fēm'i-nā'tion, n.p. 430The state of one grown womanish; the state of being weak or unmanly. [Obs.] Bacon.
  11. Ef-fēn'dē, n.p. 430Master; sir; — a title of a Turkish state official and man of learning, especially, one learned in the law. [Turkey.]
  12. Ef'fer-ent, a.p. 430Conveying outward, or discharging; as, the efferent ducts of the body. Dunglison.
  13. Ĕf'fer-oûs, a.p. 430Like a wild beast; fierce; savage. [Obs.]
  14. Ef'fer-vèsçe', v. i.p. 430To be in a state of natural ebullition; to bubble and hiss, as fermenting liquors, or any fluid, when some part escapes in a gaseous form. 2. To exhibit feelings that can not be repressed or…
  15. Ef'fer-vēs'çence or Ef'fer-vēs'çen-çy, n.p. 430A kind of natural ebullition; that commotion of a fluid which takes place when some part of the mass flies off in a gaseous form, producing innumerable small bubbles; as, the effervescence of wine…
  16. Ef'fer-vēs'çent, a.p. 430Gently boiling or bubbling, by means of the disengagement of gas.
  17. Ef'fer-vĕs'çi-ble, a.p. 430Having the quality of effervescing; capable of producing effervescence. “A small quantity of effervescible matter.” Kirwan.
  18. Ef-fēte', a.p. 430No longer capable of producing young, as an animal, or fruit, as the earth; hence, of worn-out, exhausted energy; having become incapable of efficient action; no longer productive; barren. “Effete…
  19. Ef/fi-cā'cious, a.p. 430Productive of effects; producing the effect intended; having power adequate to the purpose intended or promised; effectual; powerful; as, an efficacious remedy for disease.
  20. Ef/fi-cā'ciōus-ly, adv.p. 430In such a manner as to produce the effect desired; effectually.
  21. Ef-fi-cā'ciōus-ness, n.p. 430The quality of being efficacious; efficacy.
  22. Ef'fi-ca-cy, n.p. 430Power to produce effects; production of the effect intended; as, the efficacy of medicine in counteracting disease; the efficacy of prayer. “Of noxious efficacy.” Milton. Syn.—Virtue; force; energy.
  23. Ef-fi'cien-ce or Ef-fi'cien-cy, n.p. 430The quality of being efficient or producing effects; a causing to be or exist; effectual agency. The manner of this divine efficiency being far above us. Hooker. 2. Power of producing the effect…
  24. Ef-fi'cient, a.p. 430Causing effects; producing results; actively operative; not inactive, slack, or incapable; characterized by energetic and useful activity. “The efficient cause is the working cause.” Wilson.…
  25. Ef-fi'cient, n.p. 430The agent or cause which produces, or causes to exist; a prime mover. God . . . moveth mere natural agents as an efficient only. Hooker.
  26. Ef-fi'cient-ly, adv.p. 430With effect; effectively.
  27. Ef-fierce', v. t.p. 430To make fierce or furious. [Obs.] Spencer.
  28. Ef-fig'i-al, a.p. 430Forming a resemblance; displaying in effigy. [Rare.]
  29. Ef-fĭg'ĭ-āte, v. t.p. 430To form a like figure to; to make a true resemblance of; to image; hence, to adopt the appearance of; to adapt. Effigiate and conform himself to those circumstances. Bp. Taylor.
  30. Ef-fĭg'ĭ-ā'tion, n.p. 430The act of forming in resemblance. Bailey.
  31. Ef-fĭg'i-ēs, n.p. 430The same as EFFIGY. Dryden.
  32. Ĕf'fi-gy, n.p. 430The image, likeness, or representation of any person or thing, whether a full figure, or a picture of the whole or a part; a likeness in sculpture, painting, bass-relief, or drawing; an imitative…
  33. Ef-flāg’ĭ-tāte, v. t.p. 430To demand earnestly. [Obs.] Cockeram.
  34. Ef-flāte’, v. t.p. 430To fill with breath or air; to puff up. [Obs.] Wood.
  35. Ef-flā’tion, n.p. 430The act of filling with wind, or puffing out; the act of belching; also, a puff as of wind. “A soft efflation of celestial fire.” Parnell.
  36. Ef'flo-rēsce', v. i.p. 430(Chem.) To change over the surface, or throughout, to a whitish, mealy, or crystalline powder, from a gradual decomposition, on simple exposure to the air; as, Glauber's salts, and many others…
  37. Ĕf'flo-rĕs'çençe or Ĕf'flo-rĕs'çen-çy, n.p. 430(Bot.) The time of flowering; the season when a plant shows its first blossoms. 2. (Med.) A redness of the skin; eruption, as in rash, measles, small-pox, scarlatina, &c. 3. (Chem.) (a.) The…
  38. Ĕf'flo-rĕs'çent, a.p. 430Liable to effloresce on exposure; as, an efflorescent salt. 2. Covered with an efflorescence.
  39. Ef'flu-ence, n.p. 430
  40. Ef'flu-en-cyp. 430A flowing out, or emanation. 2. That which flows or issues from any body or substance; effluvium; issue; efflux. Bright effluence of bright essence increase. Milton.
  41. Ef'flu-ent, a.p. 430Flowing out. “Effluent beams.” Parnell.
  42. Ef'flu-ent, n.p. 430(Geog.) A stream that flows out of another stream or lake. Ogilvie.
  43. Ef-flū'vi-a-ble, a.p. 430Capable of being given off as an effluvium. [Rare.] “Effluviable matter.” Boyle.
  44. Ef-flū'vi-al, a.p. 430Belonging to effluvia.
  45. Ef-flūʹvi-āte, v. i.p. 430To give forth effluvium. [Rare.] “An effluviating power.” Boyle.
  46. Ef-flū’vi-ăm, n.p. 430Subtile or invisible emanation; exhalation perceived by the sense of smell; especially, noisome or noxious exhalation; as, the effluvium from diseased or putrefying bodies.
  47. Ef'flux, n.p. 430The act or state of flowing out, or issuing forth; effusion; flow; as, the efflux of matter from an ulcer. It is then that the devout affections . . . are incessantly in efflux. I. Taylor. 2. That…
  48. Ef-flŭx′, v. i.p. 430To run, flow forth, or issue as an efflux; to pass away. [Obs.] Boyle.
  49. Ef-flūx'ion, n.p. 430The act of flowing out; effusion. 2. That which flows out; effluvium; emanation. “Some light effluxions from spirit to spirit.” Bacon.
  50. Ef-fō'di-ent, a.p. 430Accustomed to dig.
  51. Ef-förçe′, v. t.p. 430To force; to strain; to struggle against; to exert with effort. [Obs.] “An efforced voice.” Spenser.
  52. Ef-fôrm', v. t.p. 430To fashion; to shape; to form. [Obs.] “Efforming their words within their lips.” Bp. Taylor.
  53. Ĕf'for-mā'tion, n.p. 430The act of giving shape or form. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
  54. Ef'fŏrt, n.p. 430An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental; strenuous endeavor; laborious attempt; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; exertion; as, an effort to scale a wall; an…
  55. Ĕf'fort-less, a.p. 430Making no effort.
  56. Ef-fös'sion, n.p. 430The act of digging out of the earth. “The effossion of coins.” Arbuthnot.
  57. Ef-frān'chīze, v. t.p. 430To invest with franchises or privileges.
  58. Ef-frāy', v. t.p. 430To frighten. [Obs.] Spenser.
  59. Ef-frāy'a-ble, a.p. 430Frightful. [Obs.] Harvey.
  60. Ef'fre-nā'tion, n.p. 430Unbridled rashness or license; unruliness. [Obs.] Cockram.