Dictionary
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.
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.En-coŭr'a-gĭng-ly, adv. p. 445In a manner to give courage or hope of success.En-crā'dle, v. t. p. 445To lay in a cradle. Spenser.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.En-crease', v. t. & i. p. 445See INCREASE.En-crim'son, v. t. p. 445To cover with a crimson color. Shak.En-crĭ'nal or En-crĭn'ite or En-crĭn'i-tal, a. p. 445Relating to encrinites; containing encrinites, as certain kinds of limestone.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…En'cri-nit'ic or En'cri-nit'ic-al, a. p. 445The same as ENCRINAL.En'crē-nĭ-tēs, n. p. 445The same as ENCRINITE.En-crĭsped', a. p. 445Formed in curls; curled. [Obs.] Skelton.En-crōach', n. p. 445Encroachment. [Obs.] South.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…En-crōach'er, n. p. 445One who by gradual steps enters on, and takes possession of, what is not his own.En-crōach'ing-ly, adv. p. 445By way of encroachment.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…En-crūst', v. t. p. 445To incrust. See Incrust.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.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…En-cūm'ber-ment, n. p. 445Encumbrance; molestation.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.…En-cūm'bran-çer, n. p. 445One who has an encumbrance or a legal claim on an estate. Kent.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.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…En-cÿ'clo-pe-dī'ac-al, a. p. 445The same as ENCYCLOPEDICAL.En-cÿ'clo-pē'di-an, a. p. 445Embracing the whole circle of learning; having great range in respect to subjects.En-cÿ'clo-pēd'ic or En-cÿ'clo-pēd'ic-al, a. p. 445Pertaining to an encyclopædia; also, universal in knowledge and information.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.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.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.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…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.…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.Ĕnd'a-ble, a. p. 446Capable of being terminated or brought to an end; terminable.Ĕnd'-all, n. p. 446Final close. [Obs.] Shak.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.En-dăm'a-ge-a-ble, a. p. 446Capable of being damaged, or injured. [Obs.]En-dàm'age-ment, n. p. 446Act of endamaging, or state of being endamaged; loss; injury. [Obs.] Shak.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.…En-dān'ger-ment, n. p. 446Act of endangering, or state of being endangered; hazard. [Obs.] Spenser.En-dàrk', v. t. p. 446To make dark; to darken. [Obs.]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.]En-dēar'ed-ly, adv. p. 446With affection or endearment; dearly.En-dēar'ed-ness, n. p. 446State of being endeared.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…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…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 . . .…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.)En-dĕav'or-er, n. p. 446One who makes an effort or attempt. [Written also endeavourer.]En-dĕav'or-ment, n. p. 446Endeavor. [Obs.] Spenser.En-dĕc'a-gŏn, n. p. 446(Geom.) A plane figure of eleven sides and angles.Ĕn'de-căg'y-noŭs, a. p. 446(Bot.) Having eleven pistils; as, an endecagynous flower.Ĕn'de-căph'yl-loŭs or En-dĕc'a-phȳl'loŭs, a. p. 446(Bot.) Composed of eleven leaflets;—said of a leaf.