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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. Ĕm'phy-sē'mā, n.p. 442(Med.) A swelling produced by air diffused in the cellular tissue. Hoblyn.
  2. Em’phy-sēm’a-tōŭs, a.p. 442(Med.) Pertaining to emphysema; swelled; bloated.
  3. Ĕm'phy-tēū'sis, n.p. 442(Civ. Law.) A contract by which houses or lands are given to be possessed forever, or, at least, for a long time, upon condition that the land shall be improved, and that a small yearly rent or…
  4. Em'phy-teu'tic,, a.p. 442Taken on hire; held on condition of payment of rent; as, emphyteutic lands.
  5. Em'phy-teū'ti-ca-ry, n.p. 442(Civ. Law.) One who holds lands by emphyteusis.
  6. Em-pièrce′, v. t.p. 442To pierce; to penetrate. [Obs.] Spenser.
  7. Em-pight', a.p. 442Fixed; fastened; placed. [Obs.]
  8. Em'pīre, n.p. 442Supreme power or authority in governing; sovereignty; sway; dominion; imperial power; as, the empire of the ocean. Over hell extend His empire, and with iron scepter rule. Milton. 2. The dominion of…
  9. Em-pĭr'ie or Ĕm'pir-ie, n.p. 442One who follows an empirical method; one who relies upon experiment and observation. 2. One who confines himself to applying the results of his own observation; wanting science; especially, in…
  10. Em-pir'ic or Em-pir'ic-al, a.p. 442Pertaining to, or founded upon, experiment or experience; depending upon the observation of phenomena. In philosophical language, the term empirical means simply what belongs to or is the product of…
  11. Em-pir'ic-al-ly, adv.p. 442By experiment or experience; without science; in the manner of quacks.
  12. Em-pĭr'i-cĭsm, n.p. 442The method or practice of an empiric; pursuit of knowledge by observation and experiment. 2. A practice of medicine founded on experience, and neglecting the aid of science; ignorant and unscientific…
  13. Em-pir'i-cist, n.p. 442An empiric. [Obs.]
  14. Em-place'ment, n.p. 442Place; ground. [Obs. and rare.]
  15. Em-plas'ter, n.p. 442See PLASTER, which is now used.
  16. Em-plās’ter, v. t.p. 442To cover with a plaster, or as with a plaster. [Obs.] “Fair as ye his name emplaster.” Chaucer.
  17. Em-plās'tic, a.p. 442Fit to be applied as a plaster; glutinous; adhesive; as, emplastic applications.
  18. Em-plās'tic, n.p. 442(Med.) A medicine causing constipation.
  19. Ĕm’/plas-trā’tion, n.p. 442The act or process of grafting by inoculation; budding. [Obs.] Holland. 2. (Med.) The application of a plaster or salve.
  20. Em-plēad′, v. t.p. 442To accuse. See IMPLEAD.
  21. Em-plec'tion or Em-plec'ton, n.p. 442(Arch.) A method of constructing walls with wrought stones in front, and with rough stones in the interior. Gwilt.
  22. Em-ploy', v. t.p. 443To inclose; to infold. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. To involve in action of body or mind; to keep in service; to apply or devote to an object; to use or spend in occupation; to occupy; to use; as, to employ a…
  23. Em-ploy', n.p. 443That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. [Poet.] The whole employ of body and of mind. Pope.
  24. Em-ploy'a-ble, a.p. 443Capable of being employed; capable of being used; fit or proper for use. Boyle.
  25. Employé, n.p. 443One who is employed. ☞ The English form of this word, viz., employee, though perfectly conformable to analogy, and therefore perfectly legitimate, is not sanctioned by the usage of good writers.
  26. Em-ploy'er, n.p. 443One who employs; one who uses, engages, or keeps in service.
  27. Em-ploy'ment, n.p. 443The act of employing or using; also, the state of being employed. 2. That which engages or occupies; that which consumes time or attention; occupation; office or position involving business; service…
  28. Em-plūn'ge', v. t.p. 443To plunge. See PLUNGE.
  29. Em-poi'son, v. t.p. 443To poison. See Poison. Shak.
  30. Em-poi'son, n.p. 443Poison. [Obs.]
  31. Em-poi'son-er, n.p. 443One who poisons.
  32. Em·poi'son·ment, n.p. 443The act of administering poison, or causing it to be taken. [Obs.] Bacon.
  33. Ĕm'po-rĕt'ie or Ĕm'po-rĕt'ie-al, a.p. 443Pertaining to an emporium; relating to merchandise. [Obs.] Johnson.
  34. Em-pō'ri-ŭm, n.p. 443A place in which merchandise is collected, exchanged, or traded in; especially, a place of extensive commerce; the center of an extensive trade; a market-place; a mart. It is pride ... which fills…
  35. Em-pŏv'er-ĭsh, v. t.p. 443See IMPOVERISH.
  36. Em-pow'er, v. t.p. 443To give legal or moral power or authority to; to authorize, either by law, commission, letter of attorney, natural right, or by verbal license; as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide…
  37. Ĕm'press, n.p. 443The consort or spouse of an emperor. 2. A female who governs an empire; a female invested with imperial power or sovereignty.
  38. Em-print', v. t.p. 443See IMPRINT.
  39. Em-prĭse', n.p. 443An undertaking; an enterprise. [Poet.] “Give me leave to follow mine emprise.” Spenser. I love thy courage yet and bold emprise; But here thy sword can do thee little stead. Milton.
  40. Em-pris'on, v. t.p. 443See IMPRISON.
  41. Em'pros-thōt'o-nōs, n.p. 443(Med.) A drawing of the body forward, in consequence of the spasmodic action of some of the muscles.
  42. Emp'ti-er, n.p. 443One who, or that which, empties or exhausts.
  43. Emp'ti-ness, n.p. 443The state of being empty; absence of-matter; void space, or vacuum; exhaustion; destitution; as, the emptiness of a vessel; emptiness of the stomach. 2. Want of solidity or substance…
  44. Emp'tion, n.p. 443The act of buying. [Rare.] Arbuthnot.
  45. Emp'tion-al, a.p. 443Capable of being purchased.
  46. Emp'ty, a.p. 443Containing nothing; not holding or having any thing within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled;—said of an inclosure, as a box, room, house, &c.; as, an empty chest; an empty room…
  47. Ĕmp'ty, v. t.p. 443To exhaust; to make void or destitute; to deprive of the contents; to pour out; as, to empty a vessel; to empty a well or a cistern. The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3.
  48. Ĕmp'ty, v. i.p. 443To pour or flow out; to discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean. 2. To become empty.
  49. Ĕmp'ty-hānd'ed, a.p. 443Having nothing in the hands; destitute.
  50. Emp'ty-hēad'ed, a.p. 443Having few ideas.
  51. Ĕmp'ty-heärt'ed, a.p. 443Destitute of feeling. Shak.
  52. Emp'ty-ing, n.p. 443The act of making empty. Shak. 2. (pl.) The lees of beer, cider, &c.; yeast. [U. S.]
  53. Ĕm'p'ty-sĭs, n.p. 443(Med.) The expectoration of blood produced by hemorrhage of the lungs.
  54. Em-pūgn', v. t.p. 443See IMPUGN.
  55. Em-pūr'ple, v. t.p. 443To tinge or dye of a purple color; to discolor or stain with purple. “The deep empurpled ran.” Philips.
  56. Em-pūse', n.p. 443A phantom or specter. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.
  57. Em-pŭz'zle, v. t.p. 443To puzzle. [Obs.] Browne.
  58. Ĕm'py-ē'mă, n.p. 443(Med.) A collection of blood, pus, or other fluid, in some cavity of the body, especially that of the pleura. Dunglison.
  59. Em'py-ē'sis, n.p. 443(Med.) An eruption of pustules.
  60. Em-pyr'e-al, a.p. 443Formed of pure fire or light; refined beyond aërial substance; pertaining to the highest and purest region of heaven. Or, soar with Plato to the empyreal sphere. Pope.