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.
Es-pĕ'cial, a. p. 464Distinguished among others of the same class or kind; principal; chief; particular; as, in an especial manner or degree. Syn.—Peculiar; special; particular. See PECULIAR.Es-pē'cial-ly, adv. p. 464In an especial manner; principally; chiefly; particularly; peculiarly; in an uncommon degree.Es-pĕ'cial-ness, n. p. 464The state of being especial.És'pe-rance, n. p. 464Hope. [Obs.] Shak.Es-pī'al, n. p. 464The act of espying; notice; observation; discovery. Screened from espial by the jutting cape. Byron. 2. One who espies; a spy; a scout. [Obs.] “Their espials brought word.” Holland.Es-pī'er, n. p. 464One who espies, or watches like a spy. Harmar.Ĕs'pi-nel, n. p. 464A kind of ruby. See SPINEL.Ĕs'pi-on-age, n. p. 464The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, and attempting to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries.Espiotte, n. p. 464A kind of rye. Simmonds.És'pla-nāde', n. p. 464(Fort.) (a.) The glacis of the counterscarp, or the sloping of the parapet of the covered way toward the country. (b.) A clear space between a citadel and the first houses of the town. Campbell. 2.…Es-pleeś', n. pl. p. 464(Law.) (a.) The full profits or products which ground or land yields, as the hay of the meadows, the feed of the pasture, the corn and grain of the arable fields. (b.) Rents, services, and the like.…Es-pous'age, n. p. 464Espousal. [Obs.] Latimer.Es-pou'sal, n. p. 464[O. Fr. esponsailles, N. Fr. éponsailles, Pr. esposalthas, O. Sp. esponsalias, esposajas, Pg. esponsaes, Lat. sponsalia, from sponsalis, belonging to betrothal or espousal. See SPONSAL and infra. 1.…Es-pouse', v. t. p. 465To give as spouse; to bestow in marriage; to affiance; to unite by a promise of marriage or by marriage ceremony. If her sire approves. Let him espouse her to the peer she loves. Pope. 2. To take as…Es-pouse'ment, n. p. 465The act of espousing.Es-pous'er, n. p. 465One who espouses; one who embraces or makes his own the cause of another.Es'pres-sï'vo, n. p. 465(Mus.) With expression.Es-prĭn'gal, n. p. 465(Mil. Antiq.) An engine of war used for throwing large stones and other missiles.Es-pȳ', v. t. p. 465To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to discern unexpectedly; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd. As one…Es-py', v. i. p. 465To look narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take notice; to observe. Stand by the way and espy. Jer. xlviii. 19.Es-py', n. p. 465A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.Ēs'qui-mau, n. p. 465(Geog.) An Indian of any of the tribes inhabiting arctic America and Greenland. It is . . . an error to suppose that where an Esquimau can live, a civilized man can live also. Captain McClintock. ☞…Es-quire', n. p. 465A shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; hence, in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below a knight. ☞ In England, this title is given to the younger sons of noblemen…Es-quire', v. t. p. 465To wait on an esquire; to attend.Esquisse, n. p. 465(Fine Arts.) The first sketch of a picture or model of a statue.Es-sāy’, v. t. p. 465To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to try; to attempt. What marvel if I thus essay to sing? Byron. 2. To make experiment or trial of; especially, to try the value…Ĕs'say, n. p. 465An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of any thing; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend; a successful essay. 2. (Lit.) A composition treating of any…Es-sāy'er, n. p. 465One who writes essays. Addison.Ĕs'sāy-ĭst or Es-sāy'ist, n. p. 465A writer of an essay, or of essays. Butler.Ĕs'sençe, n. p. 465The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; the formal or formative nature; — sometimes called the nominal essence. 2. The constituent…Ĕs'sence, v. t. p. 465To perfume; to scent. Addison.Es-sēne', n. p. 465(Jewish Hist.) One of a sect remarkable for their strictness and abstinence.Es'se-nĭsm, n. p. 465The doctrine or the practices of the Essenes. De Quincey.Es-sĕn′tiəl, a. p. 465Belonging to the essence, or that which constitutes an object, or class of objects, what they are; really existing. Is it true, then, that thou art but a name, And no essential thing? J. Webster. 2.…Es-sĕn’tial, n. p. 465Existence; being. [Obs.] Milton. 2. That which is essential; first or constituent principle; as, the essentials of religion.Es-sĕn′ti-ăl′i-ty or Es-sĕn′ti-al-ness, n. p. 465The quality of being essential; that which is essential; essential part. Bp. Taylor.Es-sĕn′tial-ly, adv. p. 465In an essential manner or degree; by essence; in an important degree; in effect; as, essentially different.Es-sĕn′ti-āte, v. i. p. 465To become assimilated or converted into the parts of a being or body. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Es-sĕn′ti-āte, v. t. p. 465To form or constitute the essence or being of. [Obs.] Boyle.Es'se-rā, n. p. 465(Med.) The nettle-rash; — a cutaneous eruption, showing itself in broad, smooth spots.Es-soin', n. p. 465(Eng. Law.) An excuse for not appearing in court at the return of process; the presentation or allegation of such excuse to the court. 2. Excuse; exemption. [Obs.] For every work he challenged…Es-soin', v. t. p. 465(Eng. Law.) To allege or offer an excuse for the non-appearance of in court; to excuse for absence. Cowell.Es-soin'er, n. p. 465(Eng. Law.) An attorney who sufficiently excuses the absence of another.Es'so-nīte, n. p. 465(Min.) Cinnamon-stone.Ĕs'so-rant, a. p. 465(Her.) Standing on the ground with the wings spread out, as if about to fly;—said of the figure of a bird borne as a charge in an escutcheon.Es-tăb'lish, v. t. p. 465To make stable or firm; to fix or set unalterably; to settle; to confirm. The best established tempers can scarcely forbear being borne down. Burke. The confidence which must precede union could be…Es-tăb'lish-er, n. p. 465One who establishes, ordains, or confirms.Es-tăb'lish-ment, n. p. 465The act of establishing, founding, ratifying, or ordaining; settlement; confirmation. 2. The state of being established, founded, and the like. 3. That which is established; as, (a.) A form of…Ĕs'ta-cāde, n. p. 465(Mil.) A dike constructed of piles in the sea, a river, or a morass, to check the approach of an enemy.Es'ta-fet' or Es'ta-fette, n. p. 465A courier who conveys messages to another courier; one of a series of couriers in relay.Es-tāte′, n. p. 465The fixed condition of any thing or person; the subjective state; hence, the circumstances under which a thing or person stands; fixedness; condition; rank; state; position; welfare. “Discovering my…Es-tāte', v. t. p. 466To settle as a fortune. Shak. 2. To establish; to fix.Es-teem', v. t. p. 466To set a value on; to appreciate the worth of; to estimate; to value; to reckon. One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Rom. xiv. 5. Then he forsook God, which…Es-teem’, v. i. p. 466To form an estimate; to have regard to the value; to consider. We ourselves esteem not of that obedience, or love, or gift, which is of force. Milton.Es-teem’, n. p. 466Opinion or judgment of value; estimate; valuation; price. [Obs.] “The full esteem in gold.” J. Webster. I will deliver you, in ready coin, The full dear’st esteem of what you crave. J. Webster. 2.…Es-teem'a-ble, a. p. 466Worthy of esteem; estimable. [Rare.] “Esteemable qualities.” Pope.Es-teem'er, n. p. 466One who esteems; one who sets a high value on any thing. “The proudest esteemer of his own parts.” Locke.Es-thē/si-ôm'e-ter, n. p. 466An instrument used to measure the tactile sensibility of the surface of the human body, in health and disease, by finding the shortest distance by which two points can be separated when brought in…Es-thēt'ic, a. p. 466Pertaining to the science of taste or of beauty.Es-thĕt'ics, n. sing. p. 466The science which treats of the beautiful, or of the theory of taste. See ÆS-THETICS. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]