Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Fĕr'tile, a. p. 506Producing fruit in abundance; fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; productive; rich; inventive; produced in abundance; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination. Shall tend…Fēr'tīle-ly, adv. p. 506In a fertile or fruitful manner.Fēr'tile-ness, n. p. 506Fertility.Fer-tĭl'i-tāte, v. t. p. 506To make productive; to impregnate; to fertilize. [Obs.] Browne.Fer-tĭl'i-ty, n. p. 506The state of being fertile or fruitful; fruitfulness; the quality of producing fruit in abundance; richness; abundance of resources; fertile invention; as, the fertility of soil, or of imagination.…Fēr'ti-līze, v. t. p. 506To make fertile or enrich; to supply with nourishment for plants; to make fruitful or productive; as, to fertilize land, soil, ground, and meadows. And fertilize the field that each pretends to gain.…Fēr'ti-li-zā'tion, n. p. 506The act or process of rendering fertile. 2. (Bot.) The process by which the pollen renders the ovule fertile. Henslow. 3. (Physiol.) The act or process of fecundating the ovum. Carpenter.Fēr'ti-līz'er, n. p. 506One who, or that which, renders fertile; as, to employ guano as a fertilizer.Fēr'ū-lă, n. p. 506(Bot.) A genus of plants; giant fennel. The inspissated juice of the roots of some species, especially F. Persica, is the asafetida of commerce. 2. A ferule. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. 3. The emperor’s…Fēr'ū-lar, n. p. 506A ferule. [Obs.] Milton.Fēr'ū-lā'ceous, a. p. 506Pertaining to reeds and canes; having a stalk like a reed; or resembling the ferula: as, ferulaceous plants.Fēr'ule, n. p. 506A flat piece of wood, used for striking children in punishment.Fēr'ule, v. t. p. 506To punish with a ferule.Fēr'vençe, n. p. 506Heat; fervency. [Obs.] Chapman.Fēr'ven-cy, n. p. 506The state of being fervent or warm; heat of mind; ardor; eagerness; warmth of devotion. Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up. Shak.Fēr'vent, a. p. 506Hot; ardent; glowing; boiling; as, a fervent summer; fervent heat; fervent blood. 2. Warm in feeling; ardent in temperament; earnest; excited; vehement; animated; glowing with religious feelings. “So…Fêr'vent-ly, adv. p. 507In a fervent manner; with devotional ardor; with religious zeal. Epaphras... laboring fervently for you in prayers. Col. iv. 12.Fĕr'vent-ness, n. p. 507The quality or condition of being fervent; fervency.Fer-vés'cent, a. p. 507Growing hot.Fêr'vid, a. p. 507Very hot; burning; boiling. The mounted sun Shot down direct his fervid rays. Milton. 2. Ardent; vehement; zealous. “The fervid wishes, holy fires.” Parnell.Fĕr'vid-ly, adv. p. 507In a fervid manner; with glowing warmth.Fēr'vid-ness, n. p. 507The quality or condition of being fervid; glowing heat; ardor; zeal. Bentley.Fĕr'vor, n. p. 507Heat; excessive warmth. “The fervor of ensuing day.” Waller. 2. Intensity of feeling; glowing ardor; warm or animated zeal and earnestness in religious feeling or worship. “Winged with the fervor of…Fĕs'cen-nīne, a. p. 507Pertaining to, or resembling, the Fescennines; licentious. Kennett.Fēs'cen-nīne, n. p. 507A song of a rude or licentious kind prevalent in ancient Italy.Fès'cue, n. p. 507A straw, wire, stick, or the like, used chiefly to point out letters to children when learning to read. “Pedantic fescue.” Sterne. Escaped the ferula to come under the fescue of an imprimatur.…Fēs'cue, v. t. p. 507To assist in reading by a fescue. Milton.Fĕs'cue-grāss, n. p. 507(Bot.) The Festuca, a genus of grasses containing several species of importance in agriculture. Lee.Fē'sels, n. p. 507A kind of base grain. May.Fĕsse or Fĕss, n. p. 507(Her.) A band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon, and containing in breadth the third part of it; one of the nine honorable ordinaries.Fèsse'-point, n. p. 507(Her.) The exact center of the escutcheon. See ESCUTCHEON.Fĕs'si-tūde, n. p. 507Weariness. [Obs.] Bailey.Fĕs'tal, a. p. 507Pertaining to a holiday, joyful anniversary, or feast; joyous; gay; mirthful. You bless with choicer wine the festal day. Francis.Fĕs'tal-ly, adv. p. 507Joyously; mirthfully.Fés'ten-nîne, n. p. 507A marriage song or serenade; a fescennine. Cartwright.