Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Fĕl'site, n. p. 504(Min.) A species of compact feldspar, of an azure-blue or green color, found amorphous, associated with quartz and mica.Fĕl'spār, n. p. 504See FELDSPAR.Fēl'spath, n. p. 504See FELDSPAR.Fel-späth'ic, a. p. 504See FELDSPATHIC.Fĕlt, imp. & p. p. or a. p. 504from feel.Fēlt, n. p. 504A cloth or stuff made of wool, or wool and fur, fulled or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure, with lees or size. It were a delicate stratagem to shoe A troop of horse with felt.…Fēlt, v. t. p. 504To make into felt, or a felt-like substance. Hale. 2. To cover with felt; as, to felt the cylinder of a steam-engine.Fĕlt'er, v. t. p. 504To clot or meet together like felt. His feltered locks that on his bosom fell. Fairfax.Fĕlt'-grāin, n. p. 504The grain of split timber which is transverse to the annular rings or plates. Gwilt.Félt'ing, n. p. 504The material of which felt is made; also, felt-cloth. 2. The act of splitting timber by the felt-grain. Gwilt.Fél'tre, n. p. 504An ancient kind of cuirass, made of wool. Wright.Fe-lūc'ca, n. p. 505(Naut.) A boat or vessel, with oars and lateen sails, used in the Mediterranean. It has this peculiarity, that the helm may be applied to the head or stern, as occasion requires.Fēl'wort, n. p. 505(Bot.) A plant (Swertia perennis), a species of gentian.Fē'māle, n. p. 505An individual of the sex among animals which conceives and brings forth young. The male and female of each living thing. Drayton. 2. (Bot.) A plant which bears the pistil, and is impregnated by the…Fē'māle, a. p. 505Belonging to the sex which conceives and gives birth to young; not male. As patient as the female dove. When that her golden couplets are disclosed. Shak. 2. Belonging to an individual of the female…Fē'mal·ist, n. p. 505One who courts women; a gallant. Courting her smoothly like a femalist. Marston.Fē'mal-ize, v. t. p. 505To make female or feminine. Shaftesbury.Feme-covert, n. p. 505Femme-covert p. 505(Law.) A married woman.Fēm'e-rell, n. p. 505A lantern or louver covering placed on a roof, for ventilation or escape of smoke.Feme-sole or Femme-sole, n. p. 505(Law.) A sole, single, or unmarried woman. Burrill. Femme-sole trader, a married woman who uses a trade alone, or without her husband.Fēm'i·nal, a. p. 505Pertaining to woman; female.Fēm'i-nāl'i-ty, n. p. 505The female nature. Browne.Fĕm'i-nate, a. p. 505Feminine. [Obs.]Fēm'i-nē'i-ty, n. p. 505The quality or nature of the female sex. Coleridge.Fēm'i-nīne, a. p. 505Pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of females; womanish; womanly. In the queen rested nothing but fraud and feminine malice. Hall. 2. Having the qualities of a female; either in a…Fēm’i-nīne, n. p. 505Female; woman. [Obs. or low.] They guide the feminines toward the palace. Hackluyt.Fēm'i-nīne-ly, adv. p. 505In a feminine manner.Fēm'i-nāine-ness, n. p. 505The quality of being feminine. Coleridge.Fēm'i-nīn'i-ty, n. p. 505Quality or nature of the female sex; femininity.Fe-min'i-ty, n. p. 505The quality of the female sex. [Obs.] “Trained up in true feminity.” Spenser.Fēm'i-nīze, v. t. p. 505To make womanish. [Obs.] Sir T. More.Fēm'o-ral, a. p. 505Belonging to the thigh; as, the femoral artery. “Femoral habiliments.” Scott.Fē'mur, n. p. 505(Anat.) The thigh-bone.Fen, n. p. 505Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with water, but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants; boggy land; moor; marsh; — used in composition; as, fen-cress; fen-fowl…Fēn'-bĕr'ry, n. p. 505A kind of blackberry. Skinner.Fĕnce, n. p. 505That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; cover; security; shield. Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable. Shak. A fence betwixt…Fēnce, v. t. p. 505Fĕnce, v. i. p. 505To make a fence; to guard any thing; to give protection or security; to keep out danger. Vice is . . . to be fenced against. Locke. 2. To defend one's self by the use of the sword; to practice at…Fēnce'ful, a. p. 505Affording defense. [Obs.] Congreve.Fēnce'less, a. p. 505Without a fence; open; unguarded.Fēnce'-month, n. p. 505(Law.) The month in which hunting in any forest is prohibited. Bullokar.Fĕn'cer, n. p. 505One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing with sword or foil. “As blunt as the fencer's foils.” Shak.Fēnce'-rōōf, n. p. 505A covering of defense. Holland.Fĕn'ci-ble, a. p. 505Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense. No fort so fencible, nor walls so strong. Spenser.Fēn'ci-ble, n. p. 505(Mil.) A soldier enlisted for the defense of the country, and not liable to be sent abroad.Fēn'cing, n. p. 505The art of using skilfully a sword or foil in attack or defense; the art or practice of self-defense with the sword. 2. The materials of fences for farms. [U. S.] 3. A system of fences; as, the…Fēn′-erĭck′et, n. p. 505(Entom.) A kind of insect that digs for itself a little hole in the ground; Gryllotalpa vulgaris. Johnson.Fēnd, v. t. p. 505To keep off; to prevent from entering; to ward off; to shut out;—often with off; as, to fend off a boat. With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold. Dryden.Fĕnd, v. i. p. 505To act in opposition; to resist; to parry; to shift off. Locke.Fend'er, n. p. 505One who, or that which, fends or wards off; especially, (a.) A metallic frame employed to hinder coals of fire from rolling forward to the floor. (b.) A piece of timber, old rope made up into a mass…Fēn'-dăck, n. p. 505(Ornith.) A species of wild duck inhabiting marshy ground.Fēn'er-āte, v. i. p. 505To put to use, as money; to lend on interest. [Obs.] Cockram.}Fēn’er-ā’tiōn, n. p. 505The act of fenerating; interest. [Obs.] Browne.Fēn'es-tēl'la, n. p. 505(Rom. Cath. Church.) The niche on the south side of an altar, containing the piscina and frequently the credence. Oxf. Gloss.Fe-nēs'tral, n. p. 505A casement or window-blind, closed with cloth or paper instead of glass. Weale.Fe-nĕs'tral, a. p. 505Pertaining to a window, or to windows. Nicholson.Fe-nĕs'trate, a. p. 505Perforated, or apparently perforated, with large holes; window-like;—said especially of transparent spots on the wings of some insects.Fe-nĕs'trā-ted, a. p. 505(Arch.) Having windows; characterized by windows.Fēn'es-trā'ition, n. p. 505(Arch.) The arrangement and proportion of windows. Weale.