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.
Fā'bi-an, a. p. 489Delaying; dilatory; avoiding battle, in imitation of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, a Roman general who conducted military operations against Hannibal, by declining to risk a battle in the open…Fā'ble, n. p. 489A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant, and as…Fā'ble, v. i. p. 489To feign; to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true. Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior.Fā'ble, v. t. p. 489To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. “The hell thou fablest.” Milton.Fā'bler, n. p. 489A writer of fables or fictions; a dealer in feigned stories; a fabulist. Johnson.Fāb'ric, n. p. 489The structure of any thing; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united by art and labor; workmanship; texture; make; as, cloth of a beautiful fabric. 2. That which is fabricated; as, (a.)…Fāb’ric, v. t. p. 489To frame; to build; to construct. [Obs.] “Fabric their mansions.” Philips.Fāb'ri-cant, n. p. 489A manufacturer; a working tradesman. Simmonds.Fāb'ri-cāte, v. t. p. 489To form into a whole by uniting its parts; to frame; to construct; to build; as, to fabricate a bridge or ship. 2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to fabricate woolens. 3.…Fāb'ri-cā'tion, n. p. 489The act of fabricating, framing, or constructing; construction; manufacture; as, the fabrication of a bridge, a church, or a government. Burke. 2. That which is fabricated; a falsehood; as, the story…Fāb'ri-cā'tor, n. p. 489One who constructs or makes.Fāb'ri-cā'tress, n. p. 489A female who fabricates.Fāb'rile, a. p. 489Pertaining to a workman, or to work in stone, metal, wood, and the like; as, fabrile skill. [Obs.]Fāb'ū-list, n. p. 489One who invents or writes fables. “Borrowing a device from the Arabian fabulists.” Hare.Fāb'ū-līze, v. t. p. 489To invent, compose, or relate fables. Faber.Făb'ū-lōs'i-ty, n. p. 489The quality of being fabulous; fullness of fables; fabulousness. [Obs.] Abbott. 2. A fabulous or fictitious story; a fable. Browne.Fāb'ū-lōŭs, a. p. 489Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero. “The fabulous birth of Minerva.” Chesterfield. Fabulous age, that…Fāb'ū-loŭs-ly, adv. p. 489In a fabulous manner; in fable or fiction.Fāb'ū-loŭs-ness, n. p. 489The state or quality of being fabulous or feigned, or of inventing fables.Fāb'ur-den, n. p. 489A species of counterpoint with a double bass. 2. That which is high-sounding or lofty.Façade, n. p. 489Front; front view or elevation of an edifice. Warton.Fāçe, n. p. 489The exterior form or appearance of any thing; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator.…Fāçe, v. t. p. 489To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of…Fāçe, v. i. p. 489To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. “To lie, to face, to forge.” Hubbard. 2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.Fāçe'-ā'güe, n. p. 489(Med.) A form of neuralgia, characterized by acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding…Fāçe'-clōth, n. p. 489A cloth laid over the face of a corpse. Brande.Fāçe'-guārd, n. p. 489A kind of mask to defend the face and eyes, as in various chemical and mechanical processes.Fāçe'less, a. p. 489Without a face.Fāçe'-pāint'er, n. p. 489A painter of portraits; one who draws the likeness of the face.Fāçe'-piēçe, n. p. 489(Naut.) A piece of wood wrought on the fore-part of the knee of the head. Totten.Fāçe'-plāte, n. p. 489(Mach.) The disk attached to the revolving spindle of a lathe, upon which the work is often fastened.Fā'cer, n. p. 489One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person. There be no greater talkers, nor boasters, nor facers. Latimer.Fāç'et, n. p. 489A little face; a small surface; as, the facets of a diamond. [Written also facette.]Fā-çēte', a. p. 489Facetious. [Rare.] “A facete discourse.” Bp. Taylor. Good manners must have induced them, now and then, “here to interpose” with a small, smart remark, sentiment facete, or unctuous anecdote. Prof.…Fāç'et-ed, a. p. 489Having facets; formed into facets.Fa-çēte'ly, adv. p. 489With good humor; sportively. [Rare.] Burton.Fa-çēte'ness, n. p. 489Wit; pleasant representation. [Obs.] Hales.Fa-cē'ti-æ, n. pl. p. 489Witty or humorous writings or sayings; witticisms.Fa-çē'tioŭs, a. p. 489Given to wit and good humor; merry; sportive; jocular; as, a facetious companion. 2. Characterized by wit and pleasantry; exciting laughter; as, a facetious story or reply.Fa-çē'tioŭs-ly, adv. p. 489In a facetious manner; merrily; gayly; wittily; with pleasantry.Fa-çē'tioŭs-ness, n. p. 489The state of being facetious; the manifestation of a facetious spirit; sportive humor; pleasantry.Fa-çĕtte', n. p. 489A small plane surface; a facet. See FACET.Fā'cial or Facial angle, a. p. 489Pertaining to the face; as, the facial artery, vein, or nerve. Facial angle (Anat.), the angle formed, in a profile view of the face, by two straight lines, one of which is drawn from the middle of…Fā'cial-ly, adv. p. 490In a facial manner.Fā'cient, n. p. 490One who does any thing, good or bad; a doer; an agent. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.Fā'ci-ēs, n. p. 490(Nat. Hist.) The general aspect or habit of a species, or its habit for a particular region.Făc'ile, a. p. 490Easy to be done or performed; not difficult; performable or attainable with little labor. Order . . . will render the work facile and delightful. Evelyn. 2. Easy to be surmounted or removed; easily…Fā'cile-ly, adv. p. 490In a facile or easy manner; easily. “So facilely he bore his royal person.” Chapman.Făc'ile-ness, n. p. 490The state of being facile; easiness to be persuaded or overcome.Fa-cĭl'i-tāte, v. t. p. 490To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty or impediment; to lessen the labor of; as, to facilitate the execution of a task. To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which the…Fa-cil'i-tā'tion, n. p. 490The act of facilitating or making easy.Fa-cĭl'i-ty, n. p. 490The quality of being easily performed; freedom from difficulty; ease; as, the facility of a work or operation. Though facility and hope of success might invite some other choice. Bacon. 2. Ease in…Fā'çing, n. p. 490A covering in front for ornament or other purposes; as, the facing of a garment; the facing of an earthen slope to increase its steepness. 2. (Mil.) The movement of soldiers by turning on their heels…Fā'çing-ly, adv. p. 490In a facing manner or position.Fā'çing-sănd, n. p. 490(Founding.) A compound, usually of molding-sand and pulverized bituminous coal, to make the surfaces of molds.Fa-çĭn'o-roŭs, a. p. 490Atrociously wicked. [Obs.] Shak.Fa-cĭn'o-rōus-ness, n. p. 490Extreme or atrocious wickedness. [Obs.]Făc-sim′i-le, n. p. 490An exact copy or likeness, as of handwriting.Făc-sim′i-le, v. t. p. 490To make an exact counterpart or copy of. [Rare.]Făct, n. p. 490A doing, making, or preparing; hence, an effect produced or achieved; any thing done or that comes to pass; an act; an event. A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for…