Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Fī’bril, n. p. 508A small fiber; the branch of a fiber; a very slender thread. Cheyne.Fī-bril'la-ted, a. p. 508Furnished with fibrils; fringed. Carpenter.Fī'bril-lā'tion, n. p. 508The state of being reduced to fibers. Carpenter.Fī-brĭl'lōse or Fīb'ril-lōse', a. p. 508Covered with hair-like appendages, as the under surface of some lichens.Fi-brĭl'loŭs or Fīb'ril-loŭs, a. p. 508Pertaining to fibers; formed of small fibers, as the cap of a mushroom.Fī'brīne, n. p. 508(Chem.) A peculiar organic compound found in animals and vegetables, and also contained in the clot of coagulated blood. Pure fibrine is of a whitish color, inodorous, and insoluble in cold water…Fīb'ri-noŭs, a. p. 508Having, or partaking of, fibrine.Fī'bro-cār'ti-lāge, n. p. 508(Anat.) A kind of cartilage, of which the intercellular substance consists of fibrous tissue, as in the cartilage of the ear.Fī'bro-cār'ti-lāḡ'i-noŭs, a. p. 508(Anat.) Of, or pertaining to, fibro-cartilage.Fī'broŭs, a. p. 508Containing, or consisting of, fibers; as, the fibrous coat of the cocoa-nut; the fibrous root of the onion.Fī'broŭs-ness, n. p. 508The quality of being fibrous.Fīb'ster, n. p. 508One who tells fibs. [Rare.] Thackeray.Fĭb'ū-lā or Fĭb'ū-LÆ, n. p. 508A clasp or buckle. “Mere fibulæ, without a robe to clasp.” Wordsworth. 2. (Anat.) The outer and smaller bone of the leg. 3. (Surg.) A needle for sewing up wounds.Fi-çel'li-er, n. p. 508A reel or roller on which string is wound.Fīch'ed, a. p. 508See FITCHER.Fīch'tel-ite, n. p. 508(Min.) A mineral resin, white and crystallizable, found in the Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria.Fick'le (fĭk'l), a. p. 508Not fixed or firm; liable to change or vicissitude; inconstant; unstable; of a changeable mind; not firm in opinion or purpose. “Fortune’s furious, fickle wheel.” Shak. They know how fickle common…Fĭck'le-ness, n. p. 508The state of being fickle; instability; inconstancy; as, the fickleness of lovers. “To exclaim at fortune's fickleness.” Shak.Fĭck'ly, adv. p. 508Without firmness or steadiness. Away goes Alice ... after having given her mistress warning fickly. Pepys.Fī'co, n. p. 508A fig; an act of contempt, by placing the thumb between two of the fingers, expressing, A fig for you. Steal! foh, a fico for the phrase. Shak.Fiet, a. p. 508Fictitious. [Obs. and rare.] Harvey.Fĭc'tile, a. p. 508Molded into form by art; manufactured by the potter; suitable for the potter. Fictile earth is more fragile than crude earth. Bacon.Fĭc'tion, n. p. 508The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by the mere fiction of the mind. Stillingfleet. 2. That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially, a feigned story, whether oral or…Fĭc'tion-ĭst, n. p. 509A writer of fiction. West. Rev.Fic'tious, a. p. 509Fictitious. [Obs. and rare.] Daniel.Fic-tĭt'ious, a. p. 509Feigned; imaginary; not real; counterfeit; false; not genuine; as, fictitious fame. Dryden. The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones. Pope.Fic-ti'tiōus-ly, adv. p. 509In a fictitious manner; by fiction; falsely; counterfeitly.Fic-ti'tious-ness, n. p. 509State of being fictitious; feigned representation. Browne.Fĭc'tive, a. p. 509Feigned. “The fount of fictive tears.” Tennyson.Fĭc'tôr, n. p. 509An artist who models or forms statues and reliefs in clay or other plastic material. Elmes.Fī'cus, n. p. 509(Bot.) A genus of trees or shrubs, one species of which (F. carica) produces the figs of commerce; the fig-tree.Fĭd, n. p. 509(Naut.) A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole at its heel, and resting on the trestle-trees. Totten. 2. A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support…Fī-dāl'go, n. p. 509A nobleman, or one royally descended. [Portugal.] Vieyra.Fĭd'dle, n. p. 509(Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a violin; a kit. 2. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a species of dock; Rumex pulcher. London. To play second fiddle, to take a subordinate part, like one who plays…Fid'dle, v. i. p. 509To play on a fiddle or violin. Themistocles said he could not fiddle, but he could make a small town a great city. Bacon. 2. To shift the hands often and do nothing, like a fellow that plays on a…Fĭd'dle, v. t. p. 509To play on a fiddle.Fíd'dle-blöck, n. p. 509(Naut.) A block with two sheaves, a larger over a smaller. Simmonds.Fíd'dle-dee-dee', interj. p. 509An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to Nonsense!Fĭd'dle-făd'dle, n. p. 509A trifle; trifling talk; nonsense. [Colloq. and low.] Spectator.Fíd'dle-fäd'dle, v. i. p. 509To talk fiddle-faddle. Ford.Fĭd'dle-hĕad, n. p. 509(Naut.) An ornament on a ship’s bow, curved like the head of a fiddle. Marryatt.Fĭd'dle-shāped, a. p. 509(Bot.) Inversely ovate, with a deep hollow on each side. Gray.Fíd'dler, n. p. 509One who plays on a fiddle or violin. 2. A kind of small crab, having one claw much smaller than the other. [U. S.]Fĭd'dle-stĭck, n. p. 509The bow and string with which a fiddler plays on a violin.Fĭd'dle-string, n. p. 509The string of a fiddle, fastened at the ends, and elevated in the middle by a bridge.Fīd'dle-wood, n. p. 509The wood of a tree growing in the West Indies (Citharexylum melanocordium), on account of its durability called fidèle, or faithful, by the French, whence, by corruption, its English name; also, a…Fī’de-jūs’sion, n. p. 509(Law.) The act of being bound as surety for another; suretiship.Fī'de-jŭs'sor, n. p. 509(Law.) A surety; one bound for another; a guarantor. Blackstone.Fĭ-dĕl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 509Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations; especially, (a.) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty. “Whose courageous…Fĭ'dēs, n. p. 509(Myth.) A goddess honored by the ancients. She was commonly represented with her hands closely joined.Fidge, n. & v. i. p. 509Same as FIDGET, q. v. [Obs.]Fid'get, v. i. p. 509To move uneasily one way and the other; to move irregularly, or in fits and starts. Swift.Fid'get, n. p. 509Irregular motion; uneasiness; restlessness. 2. (pl.) A general nervous restlessness, with a desire of changing the position. Dunglison.Fid'get-i-ness, n. p. 509State or quality of being fidgety.Fid'get-y, a. p. 509Restless; uneasy.Fī-dū'cial, a. p. 509Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm; as, a fiducial reliance on the promises of the gospel. 2. Having the nature of a trust; fiduciary; as, fiducial power. Spelman.Fī-dū'cial-ly, adv. p. 509With confidence. South.Fī-dū'ci-a-ry (-dū'shī-), a. p. 509Confident; steady; undoubting; unwavering; firm. “Fiduciary obedience.” Howell. 2. Holding or held, or founded, in trust. Spelman.Fī-dū'ci-a-ry, n. p. 509One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee. Instrumental to the conveying God's blessing upon those whose fiduciaries they are. Bp. Taylor. 2. (Theol.) One who depends for salvation on…Fie, interj. p. 509An exclamation denoting contempt or dislike. See Fy. “Fie . . . lying monk.” Fuller.