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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
En-cĕph'a-lŏn or En-cĕph'a-lŏs, n. p. 444That which is within the head; hence, the brain. In man the encephalos reaches its full size about seven years of age. Sir W. Hamilton.En-cĕph'a-lŏt'o-my, n. p. 444(Anat.) The act or art of dissecting the brain.En-chāfe', v. t. p. 444To chafe. See CHAFE. Shak.En-chāin', v. t. p. 444To chain; to fasten with a chain. See CHAIN. 2. To hold fast; to restrain; to confine; as, to enchain the attention. 3. To link together; to connect. Howell.En-chāin'ment, n. p. 444The act of enchaining, or state of being enchained. Warburton.En-chānt', v. t. p. 444To charm by sorcery; to get the control of by magic; to fascinate; to hold as by a spell. And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in. Shak. 2. To…En-chānt'ed, a. p. 444Under the power of enchantment; possessed by enchanters; as, an enchanted castle.En-chānt'er, n. p. 444One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; one who deals in spells or sorcery; hence, one who delights as by an enchantment. Enchanters' nightshade (Bot.), a plant of the genus Circæa, an herb found…En-chānt'ing-ly, adv. p. 444With the power of enchantment; in a manner to delight or charm; as, the lady sings enchantingly.}En-chānt'ment, n. p. 444The act of producing certain wonderful effects by the invocation or aid of demons, or the agency of certain supposed spirits; the use of magic arts, spells, or charms; incantation. After the last…En-chānt'ress, n. p. 444A woman who enchants, as by magic spells, beauty, and the like; a sorceress. From this enchantress all these ills are come. Dryden.En-chārge′, v. t. p. 444To give in charge or trust. [Rare.] His countenance would express the spirit and the passion of the part he was encharged with. Jeffrey.En-chārge', n. p. 444A charge; an injunction. [Rare.] Nares.En-chāse', v. t. p. 445To incase or inclose in a border or rim; to surround with an ornamental casing, as a gem with gold; to encircle; to inclose; to adorn. Enchased with a wanton ivy twine. Spencer. And precious stones…En-chās'ten, v. t. p. 445To chasten; to chastise. [Obs.]En-chēa'son, n. p. 445Cause; occasion. [Obs.] Spenser.En-chĕst', v. t. p. 445To inclose in a chest. Vicars.Ĕn·chē·rĭd'i·ŏn, n. p. 445A manual; a book to be carried in the hand. [Obs.] Evelyn.En-chiʹs'el, v. t. p. 445To cut with a chisel.En'che-o-dus, n. p. 445(Paleon.) A genus of fossil fishes of the mackerel family, found in the chalk formation; — so called from their spear-shaped teeth. Agassiz.En-chōn'dro-mā, n. p. 445(Med.) A tumor, composed of cartilage.En-chō'ri-al or En-chōr'ic, a. p. 445Belonging to, or used in, a country; native; domestic; popular; common;—said especially of the written characters employed by the common people of Egypt, in distinction from the hieroglyphics. See…En-cĭn'cture, n. p. 445A cincture. [Obs.] “The vast encincture of that gloomy sea.” Wordsworth.En-cin'dered, a. p. 445Burnt to cinders. [Obs.] Cockeram.En-cir'cle, v. t. p. 445To form a circle about; to inclose within a ring; hence, to embrace; as, to encircle one in the arms. Her brows encircled with his serpent rod. Parnell. 2. To pass around as in a circle; to go or…En-cir'clet, n. p. 445A small circle; a ring. [Obs.] Sidney.En-elăsp', v. t. p. 445To clasp. See INCLASP.En-clit'ic or En-clit'ic-al, a. p. 445(Gram.) Affixed; subjoined; — said of a word or particle which is so closely united to the preceding word as to seem to be a part of it, and to lose its own independent accents, sometimes varying…En-clit'ic, n. p. 445(Gram.) A word which is joined to another so closely as to lose its proper accent.En-clit'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 445In an enclitic manner; by throwing the accent back. Walker.En-elit'ies, n. sing. p. 445(Gram.) The art of declining and conjugating words. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]En-clois’ter, v. t. p. 445To shut up or confine in a cloister; to immure; to cloister.En-clōse′, v. t. p. 445To inclose. See INCLOSE.En-clōs'ūre, n. p. 445See INCLOSURE.En-clō'the', v. t. p. 445To clothe.En-cloud’, v. t. p. 445To cover with clouds; to shade. [Rare.] Spenser.En-cōach', v. t. p. 445To carry in a coach. [Obs.] Davies.En-cŏf'fin, v. t. p. 445To put in a coffin. [Obs.] Spenser.En-cōld'en, v. t. p. 445To render cold. [Obs.] Feltham.En-cōl'lar, v. t. p. 445To furnish or surround with a collar. [Obs.]En-cōm'ber, v. t. p. 445The same as ENCUMBER. [Obs.]En-cōm'ber-ment, n. p. 445Molestation. [Obs.] Spenser.En-cō′/mi-ăst, n. p. 445One addicted to praise; a panegyrist; one who utters or writes commendations; a eulogist.En-cō´mi-ăst´ic or En-cō´mi-ăst´ic-al, a. p. 445Bestowing praise; praising; eulogistic; laudatory; as, an encomiastic address or discourse.En-cō-mi-āst'ie, n. p. 445A panegyric. [Obs.] B. Jonson.En-cō′mi-ăs′tic-al-ly, adv. p. 445In an encomiastic manner.En-ēō'mi-on, n. p. 445Panegyric. [Obs.] Fotherby.En-cō′/mi-ūm, n. p. 445Formal praise; panegyric; commendation. His encomiums awakened all my ardor. W. Irving. Syn.—Eulogy; panegyric; applause; praise. See EULOGY.En-cŏm'pass, v. t. p. 445To describe a circle about; to go round; to encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the finger; an army encompasses a city; a ship’s voyage encompasses the world. Shak. Syn.—To…En-cōm'pass-ment, n. p. 445The act of surrounding, or the state of being surrounded. 2. Circumlocution in speaking; periphrasis. [Obs.] “Encompassment and drift of question.” Shak.En-cōre', adv. p. 445Once more; again;—used by the auditors and spectators of plays and other sports to call for a repetition of a particular part.En-cōre', v. t. p. 445To call for a repetition of; as, to encore a particular part of an entertainment.En-coun'ter, n. p. 445A meeting face to face; a running against; opposition; an interview. To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd. Pope. 2. A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody…En-count'er, v. t. p. 445To come against face to face; to confront, either suddenly or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to struggle with; as, to…En-count'er, v. i. p. 445To meet face to face; to have a meeting; especially, to meet as enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered at Waterloo. “Fierce encountering angels.” Milton. Perception and…En-count'er-er, n. p. 445One who encounters; an opponent; an antagonist. Atterbury.En-cou'r'age, v. t. p. 445To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to animate; to incite; to help forward; to countenance. But charge Joshua and encourage him. Deut. iii. 28. Syn.—To embolden; inspirit…En-cou'r'age-ment, n. p. 445The act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive; as, the encouragement of youth in generous deeds. Somewhile with merry purpose fit to please, And…En-coŭr'a-ger, n. p. 445One who encourages, incites, or helps forward. The pope is a master of polite learning and a great encourager of arts. Addison.En-coŭr'a-ging, a. p. 445Furnishing ground to hope for success; favoring.