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.
Gird, n. p. 570The stroke of a rod; hence, a severe spasm, twitch, or pang. 2. A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer. I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. Shak.Gird, v. t. p. 570To encircle with any flexible band; hence, to make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, a twig, a bandage, or the like; as, to gird on a garment, or a sword. 2. To surround; to encircle; to…Gird, v. i. p. 570To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me. Shak.Gird'er, n. p. 570One who girds; a satirist. Lilly. 2. (Arch.) The principal piece of timber in a floor, girding or binding the others together. 3. (Engin.) Any simple or compound beam supported at both ends.Gird'ing, n. p. 570A covering. [Rare.] “A girding of sackcloth.” Isa. iii. 24.Gird'le, n. p. 570That which girds or encircles; especially, a band which encircles the body, and binds together the clothing; an inclosure. Within the girdle of these walls. Shak. 2. The zodiac. [Obs.] Bacon. 3. A…Gird'le, v. t. p. 570To bind with a belt or sash; to gird. Shak. 2. To inclose; to environ; to shut in. Those sleeping stones Which, like a waist, do girdle thee about. Shak. 3. To make a circular incision through, as…Gird'le-belt, n. p. 570A belt that encircles the waist.Gird'ler, n. p. 570One who girdles. 2. A maker of girdles.Gird'le-stēad, n. p. 570That part of the body where the girdle is worn. [Obs.] In his belly's rim was sheathed, below his girdle-stead. Chapman.Gīre, n. p. 570A circle, or circular motion; — a gyre. See GYRE.Gĭr'kin, n. p. 570See GHERKIN.Girl, n. p. 570A female child, or young woman. 2. (Sporting.) A roebuck of two years old.Girl'hood, n. p. 570The state or time of being a girl.Gĭrl'ish, a. p. 570Like a young woman or child; befitting a girl. 2. Pertaining to the youth of a female. Carew.Girl'ish-ly, adv. p. 570In the manner of a girl.Girl'ish-ness, n. p. 570The quality of being girlish; the character or manners of a girl.Gĭr'land, n. p. 570A garland; a prize. [Obs.] Chapman.Gĭrn, v. i. p. 570To grin. [Obs.]Gi-rŏnd'ist, n. p. 570One of the moderate party in the first French revolution, formed by the deputies to the convention from the department of La Gironde.Gir'önd'ist, a. p. 570Pertaining to the Girondists.Gir'ou-ette, n. p. 570A political time-server or trimmer.Gir'rock, n. p. 570(Ichth.) A species of gar-fish.Girt, imp. & p. p. p. 570of gird.Gĭrt, v. t. p. 570To gird; to surround. We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, And girt thee with the sword. Shak.Gĭrt, n. p. 570Girth p. 570A band or strap which encircles the body; especially, one by which a saddle is fastened upon the back of a horse. 2. The measure round the body, as at the waist or belly; the circumference of any…Girth, v. t. p. 570To bind or fasten with a girth; to girt; to gird. [Rare.] Johnson.Gis-ärm', n. p. 570(Anc. Armor.) A scythe-shaped weapon, with a pike projecting from one side, borne by foot-soldiers on the end of a long staff. It was used as late as the battle of Flodden. Fairholt.Gise, v. t. p. 570To feed or pasture. See AGIST.Gis'le, n. p. 570A pledge. [Obs.] Gibson.Gĭst, n. p. 570A resting place. [Obs.] These quails have their set gists; to wit, ordinary resting and baiting places. Holland. 2. (In this sense sometimes pronounced jĭt.) The main point of a question; the point…Git, n. p. 570See GEAT.Gith, n. p. 571Guinea pepper; a species of Nigella.Gĭt'tern, n. p. 571A guitar.Gĭt'tern, v. i. p. 571To play on a gittern. Milton.Gĭt'tith, n. p. 571A musical instrument, by some supposed to have been used by the people of Gath, and thence to have been introduced by David into Palestine;—a heading or title of Psalms viii., lxxxi., and lxxxiv. Dr.…Giust, n. p. 571Same as JOUST, q. v. Spencer.Giusto p. 571(Mus.) In correct, equal, or steady time.Give, v. t. p. 571To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow. For generous lords had rather give than…Gĭve, v. i. p. 571To yield to force or pressure; as, the earth gives under the feet. Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives. Herbert. 2. To move; to recede. Now back he gives, then rushes on…Gĭv'er, n. p. 571One who gives; a donor; a bestower; a grantor; one who imparts or distributes. It is the giver, and not the gift, that engrosses the heart of the Christian. Kollock.Ġīves, n. pl. p. 571Fetters. See GYVES.Gĭv'ing, n. p. 571The act of one who, or that which, gives. 2. An alleging of what is not real. Shak.Gĭz'zard, n. p. 571(Physiol.) An enlarged part of the alimentary canal in birds, having strong muscular walls. It is situated between the glandular part and commencement of the intestine, and performs the function of…Glā'brate, a. p. 571(Bot.) Becoming smooth or glabrous from age. Gray.Glā'bre-āte or Glā'bri-āte, v. t. p. 571To make smooth, plain, or bare. [Obs.]Glăb'ri-ty, n. p. 571Smoothness. [Obs.]Glā'brous, a. p. 571Smooth; having a surface without hairs or any unevenness.Glā'cial, a. p. 571Pertaining to ice or its action; icy; especially, pertaining to glaciers; as, glacial phenomena. Lyell. 2. (Chem.) Having a glassy appearance, as crystals; as, water acidulated by twenty drops of…Glā'cial-ist, n. p. 571One who attributes the phenomena of the drift in geology to glaciers.Glā'ci-āte, v. i. p. 571To turn to ice. [Obs.] Johnson.Glā'ci-ā'tion, n. p. 571The act of freezing. 2. That which is formed by freezing; ice. 3. The process of becoming covered with glaciers.Glā'çier, n. p. 571A field or immense mass of ice, or snow and ice, formed in the region of perpetual snow, and moving slowly down mountain slopes or valleys. It usually bears along bowlders and fragments of rock…Glā'cious, a. p. 571Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, ice; icy. [Obs.] Browne.Glā'çis or Gla-çis', n. p. 571An easy, insensible slope; especially (Fort.), that mass of earth which serves as a parapet to the covered way, having an easy slope or declivity toward the exterior ground. [See Illust. of Ravelin.]Glăd, a. p. 571Well contented; joyous; pleased; cheerful; gratified; — said of persons, and often followed by of, at, sometimes by with. A wise son maketh a glad father. Prov. x. 1. He that is glad at calamities…Glăd, v. t. p. 571To make glad; to affect with pleasure; to cheer; to gladden; to exhilarate. But that which gladded all the warrior train, Though most were sorely wounded, none were slain. Dryden. Each drinks the…Glăd, v. i. p. 571To be glad; to rejoice. [Obs.] Massinger.Glăd'den, v. t. p. 571To make glad; to cheer; to please; to exhilarate. A secret pleasure gladdened all that saw him. Addison.