Dictionary
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.
Forked counsel p. 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.]Fôrk'ed-ly, adv. p. 535In a forked form.Fôrk'ed-ness, n. p. 535The quality of being forked.Fôrk'-hèad, n. p. 535The barbed head of an arrow.Fôrk'i-ness, n. p. 535The quality or state of opening in a fork-like manner.Fôrk'less, a. p. 535Having no fork.Fōrk'tāil, n. p. 535A salmon in his fourth year's growth. [Prov. Eng.] Todd.Fôrk'y, a. p. 535Opening into two or more parts, shoots, or points; forked; furcated. “Fork'y tongues.” Pope.For-lāy', v. t. p. 535To lie in wait for; to ambush; as, an ambushed thief forlays a traveler. Dryden.For-lēnd', v. t. p. 535To forelend. [Obs.] Spencer.For-lēt', v. t. p. 535To forelet. [Obs.]For-lie', v. i. p. 535To lie before or in front of. [Obs.] Spencer.For-lōre', a. p. 535Forlorn. [Obs.] Spencer.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.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…For-lōrn', n. p. 535A lost, forsaken, or solitary person. Shak. 2. A forlorn-hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]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.For-lōrn'ly, adv. p. 535In a forlorn manner. Pollok.For-lōrn'ness, n. p. 535The condition of being forlorn; misery. Boyle.For-līe', v. i. p. 535The same as FORLIE. [Obs.]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…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.…Fōrm, v. i. p. 535To take a form. 2. To run for a form, as a hare. B. Jonson.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…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.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…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…Fōrm'al-ize, v. t. p. 536To give form, or a certain form, to; to model. [Obs.] Hooker.Fōrm'al-ize, v. i. p. 536To affect formality. [Obs.] Hales.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.…Fōr'mate, n. p. 536(Chem.) A salt composed of formic acid combined with any base; a formiate.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…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.)…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.Fōrmed, a. p. 536Arranged in a constellation; as, formed stars.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.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.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.…Fôr'mer-ly, adv. p. 536In time past, either in time immediately preceding, or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.Fōrm'ful, a. p. 536Full of, or productive of, forms; creative; imaginative. Thomson.Fôr'mi-ate, n. p. 536(Chem.) A salt composed of formic acid and a base. — Ure.Fôr'mic, a. p. 536(Chem.) Pertaining to ants; as, the formic acid, an acid obtained originally from red ants, but now formed by artificial distillation.Fôr'mi-că, n. p. 536(Entom.) A Linnæan genus of hymenopterous insects, including the ant.Fôr'mi-cate, a. p. 536Resembling an ant.Fôr'mi-eā'tion, n. p. 536(Med.) A sensation of the body resembling that made by the creeping of ants on the skin. Dunglison.Fôr'mi-da-bil'i-ty, n. p. 536The quality of being formidable; formidableness. H. Walpole.Fôr'mi-da-ble, a. p. 536Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming. They seemed to fear the formidable sight. Dryden. I swell my…Fôr'mi-da-ble-ness, n. p. 536The quality of being formidable, or adapted to excite dread.Fôr'mi-da-bly, adv. p. 536In a formidable manner.Fôr-mid’o-lōse, a. p. 536Fearing greatly; very much afraid. [Obs.] Bailey.Fôr'mill, v. t. p. 536To order. [Prov. Eng.]Fōrm'less, a. p. 536Shapeless; without a determinate form; wanting regularity of shape. The conception of a formless infinite, whether in time or space. Carlyle.Fôrm'less-ness, n. p. 536The state of having no form.Fōr'mu-lā, n. p. 536A prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or conventional method in which any thing is to be done, arranged, said, or the like. 2. (Eccl.) A written confession of faith; a formal…Fôr'mu-la-rĭst'ic, a. p. 536Pertaining to, or exhibiting, formularization. R. W. Emerson.Fôr'mu-lā-rĭ-zā'tion, n. p. 536The act of formularizing; a formularized or formulated statement or exhibition. C. Kingsley.Fôr'mu-lar-îze, v. t. p. 536To reduce to a formula; to formulate.Fôr'mu-la-ry, n. p. 536A book containing stated and prescribed forms, as of oaths, declarations, prayers, and the like; a book of precedents. 2. Prescribed form or model; formula.Fôr'mu-la-ry, a. p. 536Stated; prescribed; ritual.Fôr'mu-lāte, v. t. p. 536To reduce to a formula; to express in a formula; to put in a clear and definite form of statement or expression. G. P. Marsh. Lord Dufferin.