Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Em-pight', a. p. 442Fixed; fastened; placed. [Obs.]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…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…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…Em-pir'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 442By experiment or experience; without science; in the manner of quacks.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…Em-pir'i-cist, n. p. 442An empiric. [Obs.]Em-place'ment, n. p. 442Place; ground. [Obs. and rare.]Em-plas'ter, n. p. 442See PLASTER, which is now used.Em-plās’ter, v. t. p. 442To cover with a plaster, or as with a plaster. [Obs.] “Fair as ye his name emplaster.” Chaucer.Em-plās'tic, a. p. 442Fit to be applied as a plaster; glutinous; adhesive; as, emplastic applications.Em-plās'tic, n. p. 442(Med.) A medicine causing constipation.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.Em-plēad′, v. t. p. 442To accuse. See IMPLEAD.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.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…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.Em-ploy'a-ble, a. p. 443Capable of being employed; capable of being used; fit or proper for use. Boyle.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.Em-ploy'er, n. p. 443One who employs; one who uses, engages, or keeps in service.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…Em-plūn'ge', v. t. p. 443To plunge. See PLUNGE.Em-poi'son, v. t. p. 443To poison. See Poison. Shak.Em-poi'son, n. p. 443Poison. [Obs.]Em-poi'son-er, n. p. 443One who poisons.Em·poi'son·ment, n. p. 443The act of administering poison, or causing it to be taken. [Obs.] Bacon.Ĕm'po-rĕt'ie or Ĕm'po-rĕt'ie-al, a. p. 443Pertaining to an emporium; relating to merchandise. [Obs.] Johnson.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…Em-pŏv'er-ĭsh, v. t. p. 443See IMPOVERISH.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…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.Em-print', v. t. p. 443See IMPRINT.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.Em-pris'on, v. t. p. 443See IMPRISON.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.Emp'ti-er, n. p. 443One who, or that which, empties or exhausts.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…Emp'tion, n. p. 443The act of buying. [Rare.] Arbuthnot.Emp'tion-al, a. p. 443Capable of being purchased.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…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.Ĕmp'ty, v. i. p. 443To pour or flow out; to discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean. 2. To become empty.Ĕmp'ty-hānd'ed, a. p. 443Having nothing in the hands; destitute.Emp'ty-hēad'ed, a. p. 443Having few ideas.Ĕmp'ty-heärt'ed, a. p. 443Destitute of feeling. Shak.Emp'ty-ing, n. p. 443The act of making empty. Shak. 2. (pl.) The lees of beer, cider, &c.; yeast. [U. S.]Ĕm'p'ty-sĭs, n. p. 443(Med.) The expectoration of blood produced by hemorrhage of the lungs.Em-pūgn', v. t. p. 443See IMPUGN.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.Em-pūse', n. p. 443A phantom or specter. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.Em-pŭz'zle, v. t. p. 443To puzzle. [Obs.] Browne.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.Em'py-ē'sis, n. p. 443(Med.) An eruption of pustules.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.Em'py-rē'an, a. p. 443Empyreal. Akenside.Ĕm'py-rē'an, n. p. 443The highest heaven, where the pure element of fire was supposed by the ancients to subsist. The empyrean rung With hallelujahs. Milton.Ĕm'py-reu'mă, n. p. 443(Chem.) The peculiar smell and taste of animal or vegetable substances when burnt in close vessels, arising from an oil developed by the process of decomposition.Em'py-reu-māt'ie or Em'py-reu-māt'ie-al, a. p. 443Pertaining to, possessing, or resembling the taste or smell of burnt animal or vegetable substances.Em'py-reu'ma-tize, v. t. p. 443To render empyreumatic; to burn. [Rare.]Em-py'rie-al, a. p. 443Containing the combustible principle of coal. Kirwan.