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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.

  1. Fif'ti-eth, a.p. 510Next in order after the forty-ninth. 2. Being one of fifty equal parts into which a whole is divided.
  2. Fĭf'ti-eth, n.p. 510One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by fifty.
  3. Fĭf'ty, a.p. 510Five times ten; as, fifty men.
  4. Fĭf'ty, n.p. 510Five tens; the sum of forty-nine units and one more. 2. A symbol representing fifty units, as 50, or L.
  5. Fig, n.p. 510(Bot.) A fruit-tree of the genus Ficus, growing in warm climates, of which the Ficus carica is the principal species. 2. The fruit of the fig tree, which is of a round or oblong shape, and of various…
  6. Fig, v. t.p. 510To insult with ficos, or contemptuous motions of the fingers. See Fico. [Obs.] And fig me Like the bragging Spaniard. Shak. 2. To put into the head of, as something useless or worthless. [Obs.]…
  7. Fig'-ăp'ple, n.p. 510A species of apple. Johnson.
  8. Fig'a-ry, n.p. 510A frolic; a vagary; a whim. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
  9. Fig'ent, a.p. 510Unsteady; fidgety; restless. [Obs.] He was somewhat figent with me. Beau. & Fl.
  10. Fig'-gnăt, n.p. 510An insect of the fly kind.
  11. Fig'gum, n.p. 510A juggler's trick; conjuring. [Obs.] O. no, he plays at figgum; The devil is the author of wicked figgum. B. Jonson.
  12. Fight, v. i.p. 510To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; — followed by with or against. You…
  13. Fīght, v. t.p. 510To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause. He had to fight his way through the world. Macaulay. I have fought a good…
  14. Fīght, n.p. 510A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a struggle for victory, either between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies. A duel is called a single fight, or combat. Who now defies thee…
  15. Fīght'er, n.p. 510One who fights; a combatant; a warrior.
  16. Fight'ing, p. a.p. 510Qualified for war; fit for battle. “An host of fighting men.” 2 Chron. xxvi. 11. 2. Occupied in war; being the scene of war; as, a fighting field. Pope.
  17. Fight'ing-ly, adv.p. 510Pugnaciously.
  18. Fight'wite, n.p. 510(O. Eng. Law.) A mulet or fine imposed on a person for making a fight or quarrel to the disturbance of the peace.
  19. Fig'-leaf, n.p. 510The leaf of a fig-tree; hence, a thin covering, in allusion to the first covering of Adam and Eve.
  20. Fig-mär'i-gōld, n.p. 510(Bot.) A plant of several species, of the genus Mesembryanthemum, some of which are prized for the brilliancy and beauty of their flowers.
  21. Fig'ment, n.p. 510An invention; a fiction; something feigned or imagined. “Social figments, feints, and formalisms.” E. B. Browning. Especially when the figments presented to them involve the fearful and the terrible.…
  22. Fig'-pēck'er, n.p. 510(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Sylvia (S. hortensis); the fig-eater, or beccafico.
  23. Fig'-shĕll, n.p. 510(Conch.) A univalve shell having a form somewhat like that of a fig.
  24. Fig'-tree, n.p. 510(Bot.) A tree of several species of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, which produces the fig of commerce.
  25. Fig′ū-late or Fig′ū-lā′ted, a.p. 510Made of potter’s clay; molded; shaped. [Rare.]
  26. Fig'ū-ra-bil'i-ty, n.p. 510The quality of being figurable.
  27. Fig'ū-ra-ble, a.p. 510Capable of being brought to, or of retaining, a certain fixed form or shape; as, lead is figurable, but water is not.
  28. Fĭg'ū-ral, a.p. 510Represented by figure or delineation; consisting of figures; as, figural resemblances; figural ornaments. Browne. 2. (Mus.) Figurate. See FIGURATE. Figural numbers. See FIGURATE NUMBERS.
  29. Fĭg'ū-ränt' or Fĭg'ū-ränte', n. m.p. 510Fĭg'ū-ränte', n. f. [Fr., properly p. pr. of figurer, to figure, to represent, to make a figure, to appear, to dance in figures.] One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or figures; an…
  30. Fĭg'ū-rate, a.p. 510Of a certain determinate form or figure. Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. Bacon. 2. Figurative. [Obs.] 3. (Mus.) Relating to discords; discordant; figurative.…
  31. Fĭg'ū-rā'ted, a.p. 510Having a determinate form. Potter.
  32. Fĭg'ū-rate-ly, adv.p. 510In a figurate manner.
  33. Fĭg'ū-rā'tion, n.p. 510The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a certain form. Bacon. 2. (Mus.) Mixture of concords and discords.
  34. Fig'ū-ra-tive, a.p. 510Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more…
  35. Fig'ū-ra-tive-ly, adv.p. 510In a figurative manner; by a figure; in a metaphorical sense.
  36. Fig'ū-ra-tive-ness, n.p. 510State of being figurative.
  37. Fig'ūre, n.p. 510The form of any thing; shape; fashion; outline; structure; appearance; hence, an imaginary phantom. Enjoy the heavy honey-dew of slumber; Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies. Shak. 2. The…
  38. Fig'ū're, v. t.p. 510To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, by drawing or modeling. 2. To embellish with designs; to mark upon. “My figured goblet.” Shak. The vaulty top of heaven Figured…
  39. Fig'ûre, v. i.p. 511To make a figure; to be distinguished; as, the envoy figured at the court of St. Cloud.
  40. Fig'ûre-cāst'er, n.p. 511A pretender to astrology. [Obs.]
  41. Fig'ûred, p. a.p. 511Adorned with figures; marked with figures. 2. (Mus.) (a.) Free and florid; as, a figured descant. (b.) Indicated or noted by figures. Figured bass (Mus.), an accompaniment indicated by figures over…
  42. Fig'ûre-fling'er, n.p. 511An astrologer; a figure-caster. [Obs.] Rowlands.
  43. Fig'ûre-fling'ing, n.p. 511The practice of the tricks of astrology. [Obs.] I shall spoil your figure-flinging. Beau. & Fl.
  44. Fig’ure-hĕad, n.p. 511(Naut.) The figure, statue, or bust, on the projecting part of the head of a ship. Brande.
  45. Fig'ūre-stōne, n.p. 511(Min.) The agalmatolite, or bildstein. See AGALMATOLITE.
  46. Fi-gū'ri-al, a.p. 511Represented by figure or delineation.
  47. Fig'ū-rīst, n.p. 511One who uses or interprets figures. Waterland.
  48. Fig'wort, n.p. 511(Bot.) A plant of several species of the genus Scrophularia, especially S. nodosa.
  49. Fike, n.p. 511See FYKE.
  50. Fi-lā'ceoûs, a.p. 511Composed or consisting of threads. Bacon.
  51. Fĭl'a-cer, n.p. 511(Eng. Law.) An officer in the English Court of Common Pleas, or of the Queen’s Bench;—so called from filing the writs on which he made out process. The office is now abolished. Burrill.
  52. Fī-lū'go, n.p. 511(Bot.) A genus of plants, the parts of which are covered with delicate threads or filaments; cotton-rose.
  53. Fil'a-ment, n.p. 511A thread, or thread-like object or appendage; a fiber; especially (Bot.), the thread-like part of the stamens supporting the anther.
  54. Fĭl'a-mĕnt'oid, a.p. 511Filament-like.
  55. Fĭl'a-mĕnt'ous, a.p. 511Like a thread; consisting of fine filaments.
  56. Fil'an-der, n.p. 511(Zoöl.) An animal of the genus Macropus (M. Brunii), a kind of kangaroo found in Australia and the other East Indian islands. 2. (pl.) [Fr. filandres, from Lat. filum, thread.] A disease in hawks…
  57. Fī'lar, a.p. 511Of, or pertaining to a thread or line; constructed with a thread or threads; as, a filar micrometer.
  58. Fil'a-to-ry, n.p. 511A machine which forms or spins threads. [Obs.] This manufactory has three filatories. Tooke.
  59. Fil'a-tûre, n.p. 511A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons. 2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons, or an establishment for reeling.
  60. Fil'bert, n.p. 511(Bot.) The fruit of the cultivated Corylus or hazel; an oval nut, containing a kernel that has a mild, farinaceous, oily taste, agreeable to the palate.