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.
Fē'ri-al, a. p. 505Pertaining to holidays. Gregory.Fē'ri-ā'tion, n. p. 505The act of keeping holiday; cessation from work. [Obs.] Browne.Fē'rie, n. p. 506A holiday. [Obs.] Bullokar.Fē'ri-er, a., compar. p. 506of fere. “Rhenus ferier than the cataract.” Marston.Fē'rīne, a. p. 506Wild; untamed; savage; as, lions, tigers, wolves, and bears are ferine beasts. Hale.Fē'rīne, n. p. 506A wild beast; a beast of prey.Fē'rīne-ly, adv. p. 506In a wild or savage manner. [Obs.]Fē'rīne-ness, n. p. 506The state of being ferine or wild. [Obs.] Hale.Fĕr'i-ty, n. p. 506Wildness; savageness; cruelty. [Obs.] Woodward.Fĕrm, n. p. 506A farm or rent; a place of residence. [Obs.] Out of her fleshly ferm fled to the place of pain. Spenser.Fēr'ment, n. p. 506That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer. 2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. Rogers. The nation is in a ferment. H.…Fer-mĕnt', v. t. p. 506To cause ferment or fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite to internal emotion; to raise by intestine motion; to heat. While youth ferments the blood. Pope.Fer-mĕnt', v. i. p. 506To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce. 2. To be active or…Fer-mĕnt'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 506Capability of being fermented.Fer-mĕnt'a-ble, a. p. 506Capable of fermentation; thus, cider and other vegetable liquors are fermentable.Fer-mĕnt'al, a. p. 506Having power to cause fermentation; fermentative. [Obs.] Browne.Fēr′-men-tā′tion, n. p. 506That change of organic substances by which their starch, sugar, gluten, &c., under the influence of water, air, and warmth, are decomposed, usually with evolution of gas and heat, and their elements…Fer-mĕnt'a-tive, a. p. 506Causing, or consisting in, fermentation; as, fermentative heat or process.Fer-mĕnt'a-tive-ness, n. p. 506The state of being fermentative.Fēr'men-tēs'ci-ble, n. p. 506A body that enters into fermentation when in contact with a fermenting or putrescent body.Fĕr'mil-let, n. p. 506A buckle or clasp. [Obs.] Donne.Fērn, n. p. 506(Bot.) An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow parasitically on trees…Fērn'er-y, n. p. 506A place for rearing ferns.Fērn'-owl, n. p. 506(Ornith.) The European goatsucker, or nightjar, a bird of the genus Caprimulgus.Fērn'ti-ile, n. p. 506A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern. [Prov. Eng.]Fērn'y, a. p. 506Abounding in fern; overgrown with fern. Barret.Fe-rō'cioŭs, a. p. 506Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, a ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion. Syn.—FEROCIOUS, FIERCE, SAVAGE, BARBAROUS. When these words are applied to human…Fe-rō'ciōŭs-ly, adv. p. 506Fiercely; with savage cruelty.Fe-rō'ciŏus-ness, n. p. 506The state of being ferocious; savage fierceness; ferocity.Fe-rō'ci-ty, n. p. 506Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of countenance. “The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief.” Macaulay.Fē'rōŭs, a. p. 506Wild; savage. Wilson.Fer-rān'dine, n. p. 506A stuff made of silk and wool. “I did buy a colored silk ferrandine.” Pepys.Fer-rä'ra, n. p. 506A sword of excellent temper, made of steel from Ferrara, Italy. The kind most prized was manufactured by Andrea di Ferrara; hence such a sword was often called an Andrea Ferrara. W. Scott.Fēr'ra-rēse', a. p. 506(Geog.) Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy.Fĕr'ra-rēse', n., sing. & pl. p. 506(Geog.) A native, or naturalized inhabitant, of Ferrara; collectively, the inhabitants of Ferrara.Fē'r'ra-ry, n. p. 506The art of working in iron. [Obs.] Chapman.Fē'r're-ous, a. p. 506Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron. Browne.Fēr'ret, n. p. 506(Zoöl.) An animal of the weasel kind (Mustela or Putorius furo), about 14 inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in…Fĕr'ret, v. t. p. 506To drive or hunt out of a lurking-place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts;—often used with out. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, And ferret him. Shak.Fēr'ret-er, n. p. 506One who ferrets or hunts another in his private retreat.Fer-rēt'to, n. p. 506Copper calcined with brimstone or white vitriol, used to color glass. Hebert.Fēr'ri-age, n. p. 506The price or fare to be paid at a ferry; the compensation established or paid for conveyance over a river or lake in a boat.Fē'r'rie, a. p. 506Pertaining to, or extracted from, iron. Ferric acid (Chem.), an acid consisting of one atom of iron and three atoms of oxygen.Fēr'ri-er, n. p. 506A ferryman. Calthrop.Fer-rif'er-ōus, a. p. 506Producing or yielding iron. Phillips.Fĕr'ro-cy'a-nate, n. p. 506(Chem.) A compound of ferrocyanic acid with a base.Fēr'ro-cy-ān'ic, a. p. 506(Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, iron and cyanogen. Ferro-cyanic acid, proto-cyanide of iron.Fĕr'ro-cy'a-nīde, n. p. 506(Chem.) A compound of the proto-cyanide of iron with some other cyanide.Fer-rū'gi-nā'ted, a. p. 506Having the color or properties of the rust of iron.Fēr'ru-gīn'e-ōūs, a. p. 506Ferruginous.Fer-rū'gi-nous, a. p. 506Partaking of iron; containing particles of iron. 2. Resembling iron-rust in appearance or color; brownish-red, mixed with gray.Fer-rū'go, n. p. 506A disease of plants caused by fungi, commonly called the rust, from resembling iron-rust in color.Fĕr'rule, n. p. 506A ring of metal put round a cane, tool-handle, or other thing, to strengthen it, or prevent splitting. 2. (Steam-boilers.) A bushing for expanding the end of a flue.Fer-rū'mi-nāte, v. t. p. 506To solder or unite, as metals. [Rare.]Fer-ru'mi-nā'tion, n. p. 506The soldering or uniting of metals.Fĕr'ry, v. t. p. 506To carry or transport over a river, strait, or other water, in a boat.Fĕr'ry, v. i. p. 506To pass over water in a boat. They ferry o'er this Lethean sound Both to and fro. Milton.Fĕr'ry, n. p. 506A vessel in which passengers and goods are conveyed over narrow waters; a wherry. Spenser. 2. A place where persons or things are carried across a river or other water in ferry-boats. It can pass the…Fēr'ry-bōat, n. p. 506A boat for conveying passengers over streams and other narrow waters.Fēr'ry-man, n. p. 506One who keeps a ferry, and transports passengers over a river.