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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. For-gĕt'ting-ly, adv.p. 535By forgetting or forgetfulness.
  2. Fōr'ging, n.p. 535The act of beating into shape; the act of counterfeiting. 2. (Mach.) A piece of forged work in metal;—a general name for a piece of hammered iron or steel. There are very few yards in the world at…
  3. For-gĭv'a-ble, a.p. 535Capable of being forgiven; pardonable. Sherwood.
  4. For-gīve', v. t.p. 535To give away; to make over; to resign. [Obs. and rare.] To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And to great ones such folly do forgive. Spenser. 2. To give up resentment or claim to…
  5. For-gīve'ness, n.p. 535The act of forgiving; the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty; the pardon or remission of an offense, crime, debt, or penalty; as, the forgiveness of sin or of…
  6. For-gĭv'er, n.p. 535One who pardons or remits.
  7. For-giv'ing, p. a.p. 535Disposed to forgive; inclined to overlook offenses; mild; merciful; compassionate; as, a forgiving temper.
  8. Fōr-gō', v. t.p. 535To forego. [Obs.] Spencer.
  9. For-gŏt’ or For-gŏt’ten, p. p.p. 535from forget.
  10. For-häil', v. t.p. 535To harass; to torment; to distress. [Obs.] Spencer.
  11. For-hĕnd', v. t.p. 535To forehend. [Obs.] Spenser.
  12. Fo-rin'se-cal, a.p. 535Foreign; alien. [Obs.] Burnet.
  13. Fō'/ris-fa-mĭl'/i-āte, v. t.p. 535(Law.) To put out of a family; hence, to portion off so as to exclude further claim of inheritance; to emancipate or free from paternal authority. ☞ A son was said to be forisfamiliated if his father…
  14. Fō'ris-fa-mīl'i-āte, v. i.p. 535(Law.) To renounce a legal title to a further share of paternal inheritance.
  15. Fō'ris-fa-mil'i-ā'tion, n.p. 535(Law.) The act of forisfamiliating.
  16. Fōrk, n.p. 535An instrument, consisting of a handle, with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; used for piercing and holding or taking up…
  17. Fôrk, v. i.p. 535To shoot into blades, as corn. Mortimer. 2. To divide into two branches; as, a road forks. 3. To draw out water.
  18. Fôrk, v. t.p. 535To raise or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig and break with a fork, as ground. He kept forking the sheaves on the high-laden cart. Prof. Wilson.
  19. Fôrk'-chŭck, n.p. 535A piece of steel entering the mandrel of a lathe, and terminated in a central point with two or more lateral teeth, for holding wood-work in turning.
  20. Fōrk'ed, a.p. 535Formed into a fork-like shape; provided with prongs at the extremity; bifurcated. A serpent seen, with forked tongue. Shak.
  21. Forked counselp. 535advice pointing more than one way; ambiguous or equivocal advice. [Obs.] B. Jonson.—To fork over, to hand or pay over, as money. [Vulgar, U. S.]
  22. Fôrk'ed-ly, adv.p. 535In a forked form.
  23. Fôrk'ed-ness, n.p. 535The quality of being forked.
  24. Fôrk'-hèad, n.p. 535The barbed head of an arrow.
  25. Fôrk'i-ness, n.p. 535The quality or state of opening in a fork-like manner.
  26. Fôrk'less, a.p. 535Having no fork.
  27. Fōrk'tāil, n.p. 535A salmon in his fourth year's growth. [Prov. Eng.] Todd.
  28. Fôrk'y, a.p. 535Opening into two or more parts, shoots, or points; forked; furcated. “Fork'y tongues.” Pope.
  29. For-lāy', v. t.p. 535To lie in wait for; to ambush; as, an ambushed thief forlays a traveler. Dryden.
  30. For-lēnd', v. t.p. 535To forelend. [Obs.] Spencer.
  31. For-lēt', v. t.p. 535To forelet. [Obs.]
  32. For-lie', v. i.p. 535To lie before or in front of. [Obs.] Spencer.
  33. For-lōre', a.p. 535Forlorn. [Obs.] Spencer.
  34. For-lōre', v. t.p. 535To desert; to forsake; to abandon. The beasts their caves, the birds their nests forlore. Fairfax. 2. To deprive; to take away. When as night hath us of light forlorn. Spenser.
  35. For-lôrn’, a.p. 535Deserted; abandoned; lost. Of fortune and of hope at once forlorn. Hubberd. Some say that ravens foster forlorn children. Shak. 2. Destitute; helpless; in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable…
  36. For-lōrn', n.p. 535A lost, forsaken, or solitary person. Shak. 2. A forlorn-hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]
  37. For-lōrn'-hōpe, n.p. 535Literally, a desperate case or enterprise. 2. (Mil.) A detachment of men appointed to lead in an assault, to storm a scarp, enter a breach, or perform other service attended with uncommon peril.
  38. For-lōrn'ly, adv.p. 535In a forlorn manner. Pollok.
  39. For-lōrn'ness, n.p. 535The condition of being forlorn; misery. Boyle.
  40. For-līe', v. i.p. 535The same as FORLIE. [Obs.]
  41. Fōrm, n.p. 535The shape and structure of any thing, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration…
  42. Fōrm, v. t.p. 535To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make; to fashion; to produce; to constitute. God formed man of the dust of the ground. Gen. ii. 7. The thought that labors in my forming brain.…
  43. Fōrm, v. i.p. 535To take a form. 2. To run for a form, as a hare. B. Jonson.
  44. Fōrm'al, a.p. 535Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing. 2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; constitutive…
  45. Fōrm'al-ism, n.p. 536The quality of being formal, especially in matters of religion; the religion of a formalist or of formalists; outside and ceremonial religion.
  46. Fōrm'al-īst, n.p. 536One who is over-attentive to forms, or too much confined to them; one who relies on external ceremonies; especially, one who rests in external religious forms, or observes the forms of worship…
  47. For-mā'l'i-ty, n.p. 536The condition or quality of being formal, express, regular, strictly ceremonious, precise, &c. 2. Form without substance. Such [books] as are mere pieces of formality, so that if you look on them…
  48. Fōrm'al-ize, v. t.p. 536To give form, or a certain form, to; to model. [Obs.] Hooker.
  49. Fōrm'al-ize, v. i.p. 536To affect formality. [Obs.] Hales.
  50. Fōrm'al-ly, adv.p. 536In a formal manner; essentially; characteristically; expressly; regularly; ceremoniously; precisely. That which formally makes this [charity] a Christian grace, is the spring from which it flows.…
  51. Fōr'mate, n.p. 536(Chem.) A salt composed of formic acid combined with any base; a formiate.
  52. For-mā'tion, n.p. 536The act of giving form or shape to; the act of giving being to. 2. The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction. 3. (Geol.) The series of rocks belonging to an age, period, or…
  53. Fōrm'a-tive, a.p. 536Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic; as, the formative arts. The meanest plant can not be raised without seeds, by any formative power residing in the soil. Bentley. 2. (Gram.)…
  54. Fōrm'a-tīve, n.p. 536(Gram.) (a.) That which serves merely to give form, and is no part of the radical. (b.) A word formed in accordance with some rule or usage, as from a root.
  55. Fōrmed, a.p. 536Arranged in a constellation; as, formed stars.
  56. Fōr'me-don, n.p. 536(O. Eng. Law.) A writ of right for a tenant in tail in case of a discontinuance of the estate-tail. This writ has been abolished.
  57. Fōrm'er, n.p. 536One who forms; a maker; an author. 2. (Mach.) A pattern in or upon which any thing is shaped by pressure. 3. A piece of wood used for shaping cartridges and wads. R. H. Dana.
  58. Fōr'mer, a. compar.p. 536Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past. “For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age.” Job viii. 8. “The latter and the former rain.” Hosea vi. 3.…
  59. Fôr'mer-ly, adv.p. 536In time past, either in time immediately preceding, or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.
  60. Fōrm'ful, a.p. 536Full of, or productive of, forms; creative; imaginative. Thomson.