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.
Fĕt'i-chĭsm or Fĕt'i-cĭsm, n. p. 507One of the lowest and grossest forms of superstition, consisting in the worship of some material object, as a stone, a tree, or an animal, often casually selected;—practiced among tribes of lowest…Fē'ti-cide, n. p. 507(Med.) The act or process of killing the fetus in the womb. Dunglison. 2. (Law.) The act by which criminal abortion is produced.Fĕt'id, a. p. 507Having an offensive smell; stinking. Most putrefactions smell either fetid or moldy. Bacon.Fēt'id-ness, n. p. 507The quality of smelling offensively; a fetid quality; fetor.Fe-tif'er-oûs, a. p. 507Producing young, as animals.Fē'tish, n. p. 507The same as FETICH.Fĕt'lŏck, n. p. 507The part of the leg where the tuft of hair grows behind the pastern joint in horses. Their wounded steeds Fret fetlock deep in gore. Shak.Fē'tôr, n. p. 507A strong, offensive smell; stench; fetidness. Arbuthnot.Fēt'ter, n. p. 507A chain for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle. The Philistines . . . bound him with fetters of…Fĕt'ter, v. t. p. 507To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine with a chain the feet of; to bind; to enchain. My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton. 2. To restrain from motion; to impose restraints on; to…Fĕt'tered, p. a. p. 507(Zoöl.) Seeming as if fettered, as the feet of animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking.Fĕt'ter-less, a. p. 507Free from fetters. Marston.Fĕt'tle, v. t. p. 507To repair; to put in order. [Prov. Eng.]Fĕt'tle, v. i. p. 507To make preparations; to do trifling business. [Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall.Fĕt'tle, n. p. 507The act of fettling, or putting in order; preparation. [Prov. Eng.]Fĕt'ū-oûs, a. p. 507Neat; feat. [Obs.] Herrick.Fē'tus, n. p. 507The young of viviparous animals in the womb, and of oviparous animals in the egg, after it is perfectly formed, before which time it is called embryo.Fet'vā, n. p. 508A written decision of the Turkish mufti on some point of law, or as to its execution. Hegse.Feū, n. p. 508(Scots Law.) A free and gratuitous right to lands, made to one for service to be performed by him; a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money.…Feu'ar, n. p. 508(Scots Law.) One who holds real estate on condition of paying a certain rent or duty to his superior. W. Scott.Feūd, n. p. 508A combination of kindred to revenge injuries or affronts, done or offered to any of their blood, on the offender and all his race. 2. A contention or quarrel; especially, an inveterate strife between…Feūd, n. p. 508(Law.) A stipendiary estate in land, held of a superior, by service; the right which a vassal or tenant had to the lands or other immovable thing of his lord, to use the same and take the profits…Feūd'al, a. p. 508Pertaining to feuds, fiefs, or fees; as, feudal rights or services; feudal tenures. 2. Consisting of, or founded upon, feuds or fiefs; embracing tenures by military services; as, the feudal system.Feūd'al-ism, n. p. 508The feudal system; the principles and constitution of feuds, or lands held by military services. Whitaker.Feūd'al-ist, n. p. 508An upholder of feudalism.Feūd-äl'i-ty, n. p. 508The state or quality of being feudal; feudal form or constitution. Burke.Feūd'al-i-zā'tion, n. p. 508The act of reducing to feudal tenure.Feū'dal-ize, v. t. p. 508To reduce to a feudal tenure; to conform to feudalism.Feūd'al-ly, adv. p. 508In a feudal manner.Feūd'a-ry, a. p. 508Held by, or pertaining to, feudal tenure. Milton.Feūd'a-ry, n. p. 508A tenant who holds his lands by feudal service. Clarke. 2. A feodary. See FEODARY.Feūd'a-ta-ry, a. & n. p. 508Same as FEUDATORY.Feūd'a-to-ry, n. p. 508A tenant or vassal who held his lands of a superior on condition of feudal service; the tenant of a feud or fief. [Obs.] Blackstone.Feūd'a-to-ry, a. p. 508Held from another on some conditional tenure; as, a feudatory title.Feu-de-joie, n. p. 508A fire kindled in a public place in token of joy; a bonfire; a firing of guns in token of joy.Feūd'ist, n. p. 508A writer on feuds; a person versed in feudal law. Spelman.Feuillage, n. p. 508A bunch or row of leaves; foliage. Jervas.Feü'ille-mört, a. p. 508The color of a faded leaf. Locke.Feuilleton, n. p. 508A part of a French newspaper (usually the bottom of the page), devoted to light literature, criticism, taste, &c.Feū'ter, v. t. p. 508To set close; to fix in rest, as a spear. [Obs.] Spenser.Feŭ'ter-er, n. p. 508A dog-keeper. [Obs.] Massinger.Fē'ver, n. p. 508(Med.) A diseased state of the system, marked by increased heat, acceleration of the pulse, and a general derangement of the functions. Many diseases, of which fever is the most prominent symptom…Fē'ver, v. t. p. 508To put into a fever; to affect with fever; as, a fevered lip. Henceforth the white hand of a lady fever thee. Shak.Fē'ver-et, n. p. 508A slight fever. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Fē'ver-few, n. p. 508(Bot.) A plant allied to chamomile;—so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities; Pyrethrum Parthenium.Fē'ver-ish, a. p. 508Affected by, pertaining to, indicating, or resembling, a fever. 2. Hot; sultry. “The feverish north.” Dryden. 3. Variable through excitement; uncertain; inconstant; fickle. Strive to keep up a frail…Fē'ver-ish-ly, adv. p. 508In a feverish manner.Fē'ver-ish-ness, n. p. 508The state of being feverish; a slight febrile affection; hence, heated or anxious excitement. “The feverishness of his apprehensions.” W. Scott.Fē'ver-ly, a. p. 508Like a fever. [Rare.]Fē'ver-ous, a. p. 508Affected with fever or ague; feverish. “His heart, love's feverous citadel.” Keats. 2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fever. “All feverous kinds.” Milton. 3. Having the tendency to produce…Fē'ver-oüs-ly, adv. p. 508In a feverous manner; feverishly. [Obs.] Donne.Fē'ver-rōot, n. p. 508(Bot.) A plant of the genus Triosteum (T. perfoliatum); fever-wort.Fē'ver-sōre, n. p. 508(Med.) A carious ulcer or necrosis. Miner.Fē'ver-weed, n. p. 508(Bot.) A plant of the genus Eryngium.Fē'ver-wort, n. p. 508See FEVER ROOT.Fē'ver-y, a. p. 508Affected with fever; feverish. [Obs.] “And all thy body fevery.” B. Jonson.Few (fū), a. p. 508Not many; small, limited, or confined in number; — indicating a small portion of units or individuals constituting a whole; — often, by ellipsis of a noun, a few people; small number of mankind.…Few'el, n. p. 508Combustible matter; fuel. [Obs.]Few'met, n. p. 508The dung of a deer; fumet.Few'ness, n. p. 508The state of being few; smallness of number; paucity; brevity. Shak.