Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Flaw'ter, v. t. p. 520To scrape or pare, as a skin. [Obs.]Flaw'y, a. p. 520Full of flaws or cracks; broken; defective; faulty. 2. Subject to sudden gusts of wind.Flăx, n. p. 520(Bot.) A plant of the genus Linum (L. usitatissimum), having a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth…Flāx'-cōmb, n. p. 520A comb or toothed instrument for separating flax from the tow and shives; a hatchel.Flăx'-drĕss'er, n. p. 520One who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it for the spinner.Flăx'-drĕss'ing, n. p. 520The process of breaking and swingling flax.Flax'en, a. p. 520Made of flax; as, flaxen thread. 2. Resembling flax; of the color of flax; as, flaxen hair.Flax'-plānt, n. p. 520(Bot.) A plant in New Zealand allied to the lilies and aloes; the Phormium tenax.Flāx'seed, n. p. 520The seed of the flax-plant; linseed.Flăx'-weed, n. p. 520(Bot.) A plant of the genus Linaria (L. vulgaris).Flăx'-wĕnch, n. p. 520A female who spins. 2. A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.Flāx'y, a. p. 520Like flax; of a light color; fair. Sandys.Flāy, v. t. p. 520To skin; to strip off the skin of; as, to flay an ox. With her nails She'll flay thy wolfish visage. Shak.Fla'y'er, n. p. 520One who strips off the skin.Flea, v. t. p. 520To flay. [Obs.] He will be fleaed first And horse-collars made of 's skin. Fletcher.Flea, n. p. 520(Entom.) An insect of the genus Pulex, remarkable for its agility and troublesome bite. The common flea is the Pulex irritans; the chigoe, or chique, of the West Indies and South America is the Pulex…Flēa'-bāne, n. p. 520(Bot.) One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving away fleas. They belong to the genera Conyza, Erigeron, and Pulicaria. London.Flea'-bīte or Flea'-bīt'ing, n. p. 520The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite. 2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea. Harvey.Flēa'-bĭt'ten, a. p. 520Bitten or stung by a flea. 2. Mean; worthless; of low birth or station. Cleaveland.Flēak, n. p. 520Same as FLAKE, q. v.Flēak'ing, n. p. 520A gauze-like covering of reeds, over which the main covering is laid, in thatching houses.Flēam, n. p. 520(Surg. & Far.) A sharp instrument used for opening veins for letting blood; a lancet.Fleam'y, a. p. 520Bloody; clotted. [Obs. or Prov.] “Foamy bubbling of a fleamy brain.” Marston.Flēar, v. t. & i. p. 520See FLEER.Flēa'-wort, n. p. 520(Bot.) An herb used in medicine (Plantago psyllium), named from the shape of its seeds. London.Fleche, n. p. 520(Fort.) A field-work usually at the foot of a glacis, consisting of two faces forming a salient angle pointing outward from the position taken.Fleck, n. p. 520A spot; a streak; a speckle; a dapple. “Flecks of sin.” Tennyson.Fleck, v. t. p. 520To spot; to streak or stripe; to variegate; to dapple. Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian strain. Dryden. A bird, a cloud, flecking the sunny air. Trench.Flĕck'er, v. t. p. 520Same as FLECK.Fleck'less, a. p. 520Without spot or blame. [Rare.] My conscience will not count me fleckless. Tennyson.Flĕc'tion, n. p. 520The act of bending, or state of being bent; inflection.Flēc'tor, n. p. 520A flexor. See FLEXOR.Flēd, imp. & p. p. p. 520of flee.Flĕdge, a. p. 520Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly. [Obs.] His locks behind, Illustrious on his shoulders, fledge with wings, Lay waving round. Milton.Flĕdge, v. t. p. 520To furnish with feathers; to supply with the feathers necessary for flight. The birds were not yet fledged enough to shift for themselves. L’Estrange. 2. To furnish with any soft covering. Your…Flĕdge, v. i. p. 520To become fledged. [Obs.]Flĕd'ge'ling, n. p. 520A young bird just fledged.Flee, v. i. p. 520To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; — usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive. “Flee fornication.” 1 Cor.…Fleece, n. p. 520The coat of wool that covers a sheep, or that is shorn from a sheep at one time. Who shore me Like a tame wether all my precious fleece. Milton. 2. Any soft wooly covering resembling a fleece. 3.…Fleece, v. t. p. 520To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool. 2. To strip of money or property; to deprive of property cruelly under cover of law; to deprive of property by exorbitant or pressing demands; to…Fleeced, a. p. 520Furnished with a fleece or with fleeces; as, a sheep is well fleeced.Fleece'less, a. p. 520Having no fleece.Flee'cer, n. p. 520One who fleeces, strips, or takes by unreasonable or heartless exactions.Fleece'-wool, n. p. 520Wool shorn from the sheep.Flee'cy, a. p. 520Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. “Fleecy flocks.” Prior.Flē'er, n. p. 520One who flees. Ld. Berners.Fleer, v. i. p. 520To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout. To fleer and scorn at our solemnity. Shak. 2. To grin with an air of civility; to…Fleer, v. t. p. 520To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl.Fleer, n. p. 520Derision or mockery, expressed by words or looks. And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns. Shak. 2. A grin of civility; a leer. [Obs.] A treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers. South.Fleer'er, n. p. 520One who fleers; a mocker; a fawner.Fleer'ing-ly, adv. p. 520In a fleering manner.Fleet, n. p. 520A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river;—sometimes used in compound names of places; as, Fleet-street, North-fleet, Fleet-prison. [Obs.] Together wove we nets to entrap the fish In…Fleet, n. p. 520A navy or squadron of ships; a number of ships in company; especially, a number of ships of war.Fleet, a. p. 520Swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going from place to place; nimble. In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong. Milton. 2. Light; superficially fruitful, or thin; not…Fleet, v. i. p. 520To fly swiftly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance. All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, Dissolved on earth, fleet hither. Milton. 2. To sail; to float. [Obs.] And in frail wood on…Fleet, v. t. p. 520To pass over rapidly; to skim the surface of; as, a ship that fleets the gulf. Spenser. 2. To hasten over; to cause to pass lightly, or in mirth and joy. Young gentlemen flock to him, and fleet the…Fleet'en, n. p. 520Skimmed milk. [Obs.]Fleet'en-fāçe, n. p. 520A pale face, of the color of fleeten, or skimmed milk; a coward. You know where you are, you fleeten-face. Beau. & Fl.Fleet'-fōot, a. p. 520Swift of foot; running, or able to run, with rapidity. Shak.Fleet'ing, p. a. p. 520Not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments. Syn.—See TRANSIENT.