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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. 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.
  2. En-cōre', v. t.p. 445To call for a repetition of; as, to encore a particular part of an entertainment.
  3. 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…
  4. 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…
  5. 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…
  6. En-count'er-er, n.p. 445One who encounters; an opponent; an antagonist. Atterbury.
  7. 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…
  8. 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…
  9. 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.
  10. En-coŭr'a-ging, a.p. 445Furnishing ground to hope for success; favoring.
  11. En-coŭr'a-gĭng-ly, adv.p. 445In a manner to give courage or hope of success.
  12. En-crā'dle, v. t.p. 445To lay in a cradle. Spenser.
  13. En'cra-tite, n.p. 445(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in the second century who abstained from marriage, wine, and animal food. Buck.
  14. En-crease', v. t. & i.p. 445See INCREASE.
  15. En-crim'son, v. t.p. 445To cover with a crimson color. Shak.
  16. En-crĭ'nal or En-crĭn'ite or En-crĭn'i-tal, a.p. 445Relating to encrinites; containing encrinites, as certain kinds of limestone.
  17. En'cri-nite, n.p. 445(Paleon.) An animal belonging to the order of echinoderms and tribe of crinoids. The joints of the stems are small calcareous disks, and are very common fossils in many limestones, being sometimes…
  18. En'cri-nit'ic or En'cri-nit'ic-al, a.p. 445The same as ENCRINAL.
  19. En'crē-nĭ-tēs, n.p. 445The same as ENCRINITE.
  20. En-crĭsped', a.p. 445Formed in curls; curled. [Obs.] Skelton.
  21. En-crōach', n.p. 445Encroachment. [Obs.] South.
  22. En-crōach', v. i.p. 445To enter by gradual steps into the rights and possessions of another; to intrude; to take possession of what belongs to another; to trespass; as, to encroach on a neighbor; to encroach on the…
  23. En-crōach'er, n.p. 445One who by gradual steps enters on, and takes possession of, what is not his own.
  24. En-crōach'ing-ly, adv.p. 445By way of encroachment.
  25. En-crōach'ment, n.p. 445The act of entering gradually on the rights or possessions of another; unlawful intrusion. An unconstitutional encroachment of military power on the civil establishment. Bancroft. 2. That which is…
  26. En-crūst', v. t.p. 445To incrust. See Incrust.
  27. En-crūst'ment, n.p. 445That which is formed as a crust; incrustation; hence, foreign matter added. [Rare.] The work of disengaging truth from its encrustment of error. L. Taylor.
  28. En-cūm'ber, v. t.p. 445To impede the motion or action of, as with a burden; to weigh down; to obstruct, embarrass, or perplex. “Encumbered in his vest.” Dryden. 2. To load with debts, mortgages, or other legal claims; as…
  29. En-cūm'ber-ment, n.p. 445Encumbrance; molestation.
  30. En-cūm'brance, n.p. 445That which impedes action, or renders it difficult and laborious; clog; impediment. See INCUMBRANCE. Strip from the branching Alps their piny load, The huge encumbrance of horrific wood. Thomson. 2.…
  31. En-cūm'bran-çer, n.p. 445One who has an encumbrance or a legal claim on an estate. Kent.
  32. En-cy'cli-cal, a.p. 445Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a whole order of men; circular; as, the encyclical letter of the pope.
  33. En-cÿ'clo-pē'di-ä or En-cÿ'clo-pæ'di-ä, n.p. 445The circle of sciences; a general survey of human knowledge; especially, a work in which the various branches of science or art are discussed separately, and usually in alphabetical order; a…
  34. En-cÿ'clo-pe-dī'ac-al, a.p. 445The same as ENCYCLOPEDICAL.
  35. En-cÿ'clo-pē'di-an, a.p. 445Embracing the whole circle of learning; having great range in respect to subjects.
  36. En-cÿ'clo-pēd'ic or En-cÿ'clo-pēd'ic-al, a.p. 445Pertaining to an encyclopædia; also, universal in knowledge and information.
  37. En-cy'clo-pē'dism, n.p. 446The art of writing or constructing encyclopedias; also, the possession of the whole range of knowledge; encyclopedic learning.
  38. En-cy'clo-pē'dist, n.p. 446The compiler of an encyclopedia, or one who assists in such compilation; also, one whose knowledge embraces the whole range of the sciences.
  39. En-cyst'ed, a.p. 446Inclosed in a bag, bladder, or vesicle; as, an encysted tumor. The encysted venom, or poison-bag, beneath the adder's fang. Coleridge.
  40. End, n.p. 446The extreme or last portion; the concluding part; the termination; close; extremity; finality; limit; as, the end of a line, of a road, or of a hall; the end of a year, a period, a discourse, and the…
  41. End, v. t.p. 446To bring to an end or conclusion; to finish; to close; to terminate; as, to end a controversy; to end a war. On the seventh day God ended his work. Gen. ii. 2. 2. Hence, to destroy; to put to death.…
  42. Ĕnd, v. i.p. 446To come to the ultimate point; to be finished; to come to a close; to cease; to terminate; as, a voyage ends; life ends; winter ends.
  43. Ĕnd'a-ble, a.p. 446Capable of being terminated or brought to an end; terminable.
  44. Ĕnd'-all, n.p. 446Final close. [Obs.] Shak.
  45. En-dăm'age, v. t.p. 446To bring loss or damage to; to harm; to injure; to prejudice. [Rare.] The trial hath endamaged thee no way. Milton.
  46. En-dăm'a-ge-a-ble, a.p. 446Capable of being damaged, or injured. [Obs.]
  47. En-dàm'age-ment, n.p. 446Act of endamaging, or state of being endamaged; loss; injury. [Obs.] Shak.
  48. En-dān'ger, v. t.p. 446To put to hazard; to bring into danger or peril; to expose to loss or injury; as, to endanger life or peace. All the other difficulties of his reign only exercised without endangering him. Burke. 2.…
  49. En-dān'ger-ment, n.p. 446Act of endangering, or state of being endangered; hazard. [Obs.] Spenser.
  50. En-dàrk', v. t.p. 446To make dark; to darken. [Obs.]
  51. En-dēar′, v. t.p. 446To make dear; to make more beloved. “To be endeared to a king.” Shak. K. James. 2. To raise the price or cost of; to make costly or expensive. [Rare.]
  52. En-dēar'ed-ly, adv.p. 446With affection or endearment; dearly.
  53. En-dēar'ed-ness, n.p. 446State of being endeared.
  54. En-dēar'ment, n.p. 446The act of endearing; the state of being endeared; also, that which excites or increases affection. The great endearments of prudent and temperate speech. Bp. Taylor. Her first endearments twining…
  55. En-dĕav'or, n.p. 446An exertion of the physical or intellectual strength toward the attainment of an object; an effort; an attempt or trial; as, an earnest endeavor; a successful endeavor. I am resolved to employ all my…
  56. En-dĕav'or, v. i.p. 446To exert physical strength or intellectual power for the accomplishment of an object; to try; to essay; to attempt; as, in a race, each man endeavors to outstrip his antagonist. He had . . .…
  57. En-dĕav'or, v. t.p. 446To attempt to gain; to use efforts to effect; to strive to achieve or reach. It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects. (Chatham.)
  58. En-dĕav'or-er, n.p. 446One who makes an effort or attempt. [Written also endeavourer.]
  59. En-dĕav'or-ment, n.p. 446Endeavor. [Obs.] Spenser.
  60. En-dĕc'a-gŏn, n.p. 446(Geom.) A plane figure of eleven sides and angles.