Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Gōv'ern, v. t. p. 582To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority; to keep within the limits prescribed by law or sovereign will. Not…Gōv'ern, v. i. p. 582To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control. Dryden.Gōv'ern-a-ble, a. p. 582Capable of being governed, or subjected to authority; controllable; manageable, obedient. Locke.Gōv'ern-a-ble-ness, n. p. 582The quality of being governable. [Rare.]Gŏv'ern-all, n. p. 582Government. [Obs.] Spenser.Gŏv'ern-ance, n. p. 582Exercise of authority; direction; control; government. [Obs.] Chaucer.Gōv'ern-ān-te', n. p. 582A lady who has the care and management of young women; a governess. Formally installed in all the duties of a governante. W. Scott.Gōv'ern-ess, n. p. 582A female governor; a woman invested with authority to control and direct; a tutoress; an instructress.Gōv'ern-ing, p. a. p. 582Holding the superiority; prevalent; controlling; as, a governing wind; a governing party in a state. Jay.Gŏv'ern-ment, n. p. 582The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; restraint; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government. 2. The mode of governing; the system…Gŏv'ern-mĕnt'al, a. p. 582Pertaining to government; made by government. Hamilton.Gōv'ern-or, n. p. 582One who governs; especially, (a.) One who is invested with supreme authority in the state; a chief ruler or magistrate; as, the governor of Pennsylvania. (b.) One who has the care or guardianship of…Gŏv'ern-or-ship, n. p. 582The office of a governor.Gow'an, n. p. 582(Bot.) The daisy, or mountain daisy. [Scot.] “And pulled the gowans fine.” Burns. 2. (Min.) Decomposed granite.Gowk, v. t. p. 582To stupefy. [Obs.] B. Jon.Gowk, n. p. 582Same as GAWK, q. v.Gowl, v. i. p. 582To howl. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Gown, n. p. 582A loose, flowing upper garment; especially, (a.) The ordinary outer dress of a woman; as, a calico or silk gown. (b.) The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, including university…Gowned, a. p. 582Dressed in a gown; clothed; clad. One arm aloft, Gowned in pure white that fitted to the shape. Tennyson.Gown'man or Gowns'man, n. p. 582One whose professional habit is a gown, as a divine or lawyer, and particularly a member of an English university; hence, a civilian, in distinction from a soldier. Pope.Gowt, n. p. 582Same as GO-OUT, q. v.Gōz'zard, n. p. 582One who attends geese. [Low.] Malone.Grăb, n. p. 582(Naut.) A vessel used on the Malabar coast, having two or three masts. 2. [See infra.] A sudden grasp or seizure.Grăb, v. t. & i. p. 582To gripe suddenly; to seize; to snatch; to clutch.Grāb'ber, n. p. 582One who seizes, or grabs.Grāb'ble, v. i. p. 582To grope; to feel with the hands. He puts his hands into his pockets, and keeps a grabbling and fumbling. Selden. 2. To lie prostrate on the belly; to sprawl on the ground; to grovel. Ainsworth.Grāçe, n. p. 582The exercise of love, kindness, or good-will; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred. Or each, or all, may win a lady’s grace. Dryden. To bow and sue for grace…Grāce, v. t. p. 583To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify. Great Jove and Phœbus graced his noble line. Pope. We are graced with wreaths of victory. Shak. 2. To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.…Grāce'-cūp, n. p. 583The cup or health drank after saying grace. Prior.Grā'ced, p. a. p. 583Beautiful; graceful. Sidney. 2. Virtuous; regular; chaste. [Obs.] Shak.Grāce'ful, a. p. 583Displaying grace or beauty in form or action; elegant; easy; agreeable in appearance; as, a graceful walk; a graceful deportment; a graceful speaker; a graceful air. High o'er the rest in arms the…Grāce'ful-ly, adv. p. 583In a graceful manner; elegantly; with a natural ease and propriety; as, to walk or speak gracefully.Grā'ce'ful-ness, n. p. 583The quality or state of being graceful; elegance of manner or deportment.Grāce'less, a. p. 583Wanting in grace or excellence; departed from, or deprived of, divine grace; hence, depraved; degenerate; corrupt. In a graceless age, things of highest praise, . . . to make them infamous and…Grāce'less-ly, adv. p. 583In a graceless manner.Grâ'ce'less-ness, n. p. 583The state of being graceless; destitution of grace; profligacy.Grăc'ile or Grăc'i-lent, a. p. 583Slender; thin. [Obs.] Bailey.Gra-çĭl'i-ty, n. p. 583The state of being gracilent; slenderness. [Obs. or rare.] As the niches became narrower, the saints rose to disproportionate stature, shrank to meager gracility. Milman.Grā'cious, a. p. 583Abounding in grace or mercy; kind to the ill-deserving, the poor, the lowly; expressing or manifesting love, or bestowing mercy; characterized by grace; merciful; condescending. Thou art a God ready…Grā'ciōus-ly, adv. p. 583In a gracious manner; kindly; favorably; mercifully. His testimony he graciously confirmed. Dryden.Grā'ciōus-ness, n. p. 583The quality or state of being gracious; kindness; condescension.Grăck'le or Grăk'le, n. p. 583(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Gracula, allied to the blackbird. G. religiosa is found in India. The rusty gräkle of the United States is the Quiscalus ferrugineus.Gra-dā'tion, n. p. 583The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks. 2. Any degree or relative position in an order or series. The several gradations of the…Gra-dā'tion-al, a. p. 583According to gradation. [Rare.]Gra-dā'tioned, a. p. 583Formed by gradation, or with gradations.Grād'a-to-ry, a. p. 583Proceeding step by step; gradual. Seward. 2. Adapted for progressive or forward motion.Grād'a-to-ry, n. p. 583A step from the cloisters into the church. Ainsworth.Grāde, n. p. 583A step or degree in any series, rank, or order; relative position or standing; as, grades of military rank; crimes of every grade. While questions, periods, and grades, and privileges are never once…Grāde, v. t. p. 583To reduce to a level, or to an evenly progressive ascent, as the line of a canal or road.Grāde'ly, a. p. 583Decent; orderly. [Prov. Eng.]. Halliwell.Grāde'ly, adv. p. 583Decently; orderly. [Prov. Eng.]Grā'di-ent, a. p. 583Moving by steps; walking; as, gradient automata. Wilkins. 2. Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination; as, the gradient line of a railroad.Grā'dī-ent, n. p. 583The rate of ascent or descent in a road, &c.; grade. 2. A part of a road which slopes upward or downward; a portion of a way not level; a grade.Grā′din or Grā-dīne′, n. p. 583A seat raised over another. “The gradines of the amphitheater.” Layard. 2. An indented chisel used by sculptors.Grād'ū-al, a. p. 583Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing, step by step, in ascent or descent; progressive; slow; as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline. Creatures animate with gradual life Of…Grād'ū-al, n. p. 583An order of steps. Dryden. 2. An ancient book of hymns and prayers; so called because some of the anthems were chanted on the steps (gradus) of the pulpit. Hook.Grād'ū-āl'i-ty, n. p. 583The state of being gradual; regular progression. [Obs.] Browne.Grād'ū-al-ly, adv. p. 583In a gradual manner; step by step; by degrees. 2. In degree. [Obs.] Human reason doth not only gradually, but specifically, differ from the fantastic reason of brutes. Grew.Grād'ū-āte, v. t. p. 583To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as a scale, a thermometer, and the like. 2. To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; especially, in a college or…Grăd'ū-āte, v. i. p. 583To pass to, or to receive, a degree in a college or university. 2. To pass by degrees; to change gradually; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz.…