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.
Fēath'er-grāss, n. p. 502(Bot.) A species of grass of the genus Stipa, distinguished by its feathered beard. Loudon.Fĕath'er-ing, n. p. 502(Arch.) The ornamental cusps or projecting points formed by the junction of small arcs, frequently forming an inner edge of lace-like ornament within the spandrils of an arch.Fēath'er-ing-flōat, n. p. 502(Naut.) The float or paddle of a feathering-wheel.Fēath'er-ing-screw, n. p. 502(Naut.) A screw-propeller, of which the blades may be made to have a variable pitch, or to stand parallel with the shaft, so as to drag easily when the ship is moving under sail alone.Fēath'er-ing-wheel, n. p. 502(Naut.) A paddle-wheel of which the floats are automatically turned so as to dip about perpendicularly to the surface of the water, instead of standing radially.Fĕath'er-less, a. p. 502Destitute of feathers; unfledged. Howell.Fēath'er-ly, a. p. 502Resembling feathers. [Obs.] Brown.Feath'er-veined, a. p. 502(Bot.) Having the veins of a leaf branching off, as in feathers, from the two sides of a midrib. Gray.Feath'er-weight, n. p. 502(Sporting.) Very exact weight, as if weight which a feather might turn; the lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in whatever match he may be engaged. White.Feath'er-y, a. p. 502Pertaining to, resembling, or covered with feathers. Milton.Feat'ly, adv. p. 502Neatly; dexterously; adroitly. “Foot it featly here and there.” Shak.Fēat'ness, n. p. 502Dexterity; adroitness; skillfulness. [Rare.]Fēat'oŭs, a. p. 502Same as FEATEOUS, q. v. [Obs.]Fēat'oŭs-ly, adv. p. 502Very dexterously; feateously. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Fēat′ūre, n. p. 502The make, form, or appearance of a person; personal condition or structure; especially, good appearance. What needeth it his feature to describe. Chaucer. Cheated of feature by dissembling nature.…Feat'ured, a. p. 502Having features, or good features; resembling in features. How noble, young, how rarely featured! Shak. The well-stained canvas or the featured stone. Young.Feat'ūre-less, a. p. 502Having no distinct features.Feat'ure-ly, a. p. 502Having features; showing marked peculiarities. Featurely warriors of Christian chivalry. Coleridge.Feaze, v. t. p. 502To untwist, as the end of a rope. 2. To whip with rods; to beat; to worry; to tease; to feeze. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Fēaze, n. p. 502A state of anxious or fretful excitement; a worry; a tease.Fe-brĭc'i-tāte, v. i. p. 502To be affected with a fever; to have a fever. [Obs.] Bailey.Fe-bri'cū-lā, n. p. 502(Med.) A slight fever.Fē-brī'ū-lōse', a. p. 502Affected with slight fever; somewhat feverish. [Obs.] Johnson.Fe-brĭc′ū-lōs′ĭ-ty, n. p. 502Feverishness. [Obs.]Fēb'ri-fā'cient, a. p. 502Causing fever; febrifıc. Beddoes.Fēb'ri-fā'cient, n. p. 502That which produces fever. Beddoes.Fe-brĭf'ic, a. p. 502Producing fever; febrifacient.Fēb'ri-fū'gal or Fe-brif'ū-gal, a. p. 502Having the quality of mitigating or curing fever; antifebrile.Fĕb'ri-fūge, n. p. 502(Med.) A medicine serving to mitigate or remove fever.Fēb'ri-fāge, a. p. 502(Med.) Having the quality of mitigating or subduing fever; antifebrile. Arbuthnot.Fē’brile or Fĕb’rile, a. p. 502Pertaining to fever; indicating fever, or derived from it; as, febrile symptoms; febrile action.Fēb'ru-a-ry, n. p. 502The second month in the year, introduced into the Roman calendar by Numa. In common years this month contains 28 days; in the bissextile, or leap-year, 29 days.Fēb'ru-ā'tion, n. p. 502Purification; a sacrifice. [Obs.] Spencer.Fē'cal, a. p. 502Pertaining to, or containing, dregs or feces; fæcal.Fē'cēs, n. pl. p. 502Dregs; fæces.Fē’cial, a. p. 502Pertaining to heralds and the denunciation of war to an enemy; as, fecial law. Kent.Fē'ci-fōrk, n. p. 502(Entom.) The anal fork on which the larvæ of certain insects carry their fæces.Fèck'less, a. p. 502Spiritless; feeble; weak; worthless. [Scot.] Let others take their silly, feckless heaven in this life. S. Rutherford.Fĕc'ŭ-lā, n. p. 502Any pulverulent matter obtained from plants by simply breaking down the texture, washing with water, and subsidence; especially, (a.) The nutritious part of wheat; starch or farina; — called also…Fĕc'ŭ-lence or Fĕc'ŭ-len-cy, n. p. 502The state or quality of being feculent; muddiness; foulness. 2. That which is feculent; sediment; lees; dregs.Fē'cū-lent, a. p. 502Foul with extraneous or impure substances; abounding with sediment or excrementitious matter; muddy; thick; turbid. “Both his hands most filthy feculent.” Spenser.Fĕ'cund, a. p. 502Fruitful in children; prolific. [Rare.] Grant.Fē'cŭn-dāte, v. t. p. 502To make fruitful or prolific. 2. To impregnate; as, the pollen of flowers fecundates the stigma.Fē'cun-dā'tion, n. p. 502The act of fecundating or making fruitful; impregnation.Fe-cŭn'di-fy, v. t. p. 502To make fruitful or prolific; to fecundate. [Obs.] Johnson.Fe-cŭn'di-ty, n. p. 502The quality or power of producing fruit; fruitfulness; especially, the quality or power in female animals of producing young in great numbers. 2. The power of germinating, as in seeds. 3. The power…Fēd, imp. & p. p. p. 502of feed.Fēd'a-ry, n. p. 502A feodary. See FEODARY. [Obs.] Shak.Fēd'er-al, a. p. 502Pertaining to a league, contract, or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations; constituted by a compact between parties, usually governments or their…Fēd'er-al or Fēd'er-al-ist, n. p. 502An advocate of confederation; specifically (Amer. Hist.), a friend of the Constitution of the United States at its formation and adoption; a member of the political party which favored the…Fēd'er-al-ism, n. p. 502The principles of Federalists.Fēd'er-al-ize, v. t. p. 502To unite in compact, as different states; to confederate for political purposes; to unite by or under the Federal Constitution. Barlow.Fēd’er-a-ry, n. p. 502A partner; a confederate; an accomplice. [Obs.] Shak.Fēd'er-ate, a. p. 502United by compact, as sovereignties, states, or nations; joined in confederacy; leagued; confederate; as, federate nations or powers.Fēd'er-ā'tion, n. p. 502The act of uniting in a league; confederation. 2. A league; a confederacy; a federal or confederated government. Burke.Fēd'er-a-tive, a. p. 502Uniting; joining in a league; forming a confederacy; federal.Fe-dif'ra-goûs, a. p. 502False to treaties. [Obs.] Vèars.Fĕd′i·ty, n. p. 502Turpitude; vileness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Fee, n. p. 502Property; possession; control. “Laden with rich fee.” Spenser. Once did she hold the gorgeous East in fee. Wordsworth. 2. Reward for services rendered or to be rendered; especially, payment for…Fee, v. t. p. 503To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire; to bribe. “Fee me an officer.” Shak.