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.
Hānd'le, v. t. p. 605To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand. The bodies we daily handle . . . hinder the approach of the part of our hands that press them. Locke. 2. To manage in appropriate use…Hănd'le, v. i. p. 605To use the hands; to labor or act by means of the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv. 7.Hănd'le, n. p. 605That part of a vessel or instrument which is held in the hand when used, as the haft of a sword, the bail of a kettle, &c. 2. That of which use is made; the instrument of effecting a purpose; a tool.…Hănd'le-a-ble, a. p. 605Capable of being handled. Sherwood.Händ'-lēad, n. p. 605A small lead for sounding.Hănd'less, a. p. 605Without a hand. Shak.Hănd'ling, n. p. 605A touching or use by the hand; a treating in discussion; action. The heavens and your fair handling Have made you master of the field this day. Spencer. 2. (Paint.) The mode of using the pencil; mode…Hānd'-māde, a. p. 605Manufactured by hand; as, hand-made paper.Hānd'-māid or Hānd'-māid-en, n. p. 605A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.Händ'-māk'ing, n. p. 605The act of pilfering; theft. [Obs.] Latimer.Händ'-ôr'gan, n. p. 605A kind of musical instrument; a portable organ played by means of a cylinder or barrel set with pins and staples, and turned with a crank.Hănd'-plānt, n. p. 605(Bot.) A Mexican plant of the genus Cheirostemon (C. platanoides). See HAND-TREE.Hānd'-pŭmp, n. p. 605(Locomotives.) A pump situated at the side of the fire-box, and worked by means of a lever when the engine is standing with steam up.Hănd'-rāil, n. p. 605A rail, usually supported by balusters, as in staircases, to hold by. Gwilt.Hănd'-sāil, n. p. 605A sail managed by the hand. Sir W. Temple.Hănd'săw, n. p. 605A saw to be used with the hand. ☞ In the proverb, “not to know a hawk from a handsaw,” denoting great ignorance, handsaw is a corruption of heronshaw, that is, the heron.Hănd'-screw, n. p. 605An engine for raising heavy timbers or weights; a jack.Händ'sel, n. p. 605A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, or delivery, or a using which is the first of a series, and regarded as an omen for the rest; a first installment; an…Hǎnd'sel, v. t. p. 605To give a handsel to; to use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate. No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer.…Hănd'sel-Mōn'day, n. p. 605The Monday after New Year when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, &c.Hand’sōme, a. p. 605Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient;—applied to things as well as persons. [Obs.] For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spencer. That they [engines of…Hănd'sôme, v. t. p. 605To render handsome. [Obs.]Hănd'sôme-ly, adv. p. 605In a handsome manner.Hănd’sôme-ness, n. p. 605The quality or state of being handsome. He will not look with any handsomeness Upon a woman. Beau. & Fl. Handsomeness is the mere animal excellence, beauty the more imaginative. Hare.Hănd′spīke, n. p. 605A bar, usually of wood, used with the hand as a lever, for various purposes, as in raising weights, heaving about a windlass, &c.Hănd′-stăff, n. p. 605A javelin. Ez. xxxix. 9.Hănd'-tight, a. p. 605(Naut.) As tight as can be made by the hand. Totten.Hănd'-tree, n. p. 605(Bot.) A lofty tree found in Mexico (the Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand.Hānd'-vīse, n. p. 605A small vise used by hand, or for small work. Moxon.Hănd'-wheel, n. p. 605(Mach.) Any wheel worked by hand; usually the handle by which a valve or other part is adjusted.Hănd'-whīle, n. p. 605A little while. [Obs.] Heywood.Hănd'-wĭnged, a. p. 605Having wings resembling hands in their use; cheiropterous; — said of bats.Hănd'-wolf, n. p. 605A tamed wolf. Beau. & Fl.Hănd'-work, n. p. 605Handiwork.Hănd'wrīt-ing, n. p. 605The cast or form of writing peculiar to each hand or person; chirography. 2. That which is written by hand; manuscript.Hānd'y, a. p. 605Performed by the hand. [Obs.] “To draw up and come to handy strokes.” Milton. 2. Skillful in using the hand; dexterous; ready; adroit; skillful. “Each is handy in his way.” Dryden. 3. Ready to the…Hānd’y-dānd’y, n. p. 605A play among children in which something is shaken between two hands, and then a guess is made in which hand it is retained. Todd.Hănd’y-fight, n. p. 605A fight with the hands; boxing. Castor his horse, Pollux loves handy-fights. B. Jonson.Hănd'y-grīpe, n. p. 605Seizure by the hand. Hudibras.Händ’y-strōke, n. p. 605A blow inflicted by the hand.Hănd’y-work, n. p. 605Same as HANDIWORK, q. v.Hāng, v. t. p. 605To suspend; to affix to some elevated point without support from below; — often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner. 2. To fasten in a manner…Hăng, v. i. p. 606To be suspended or affixed to some elevated point without support from below; to dangle; to float; to rest; to remain; to stay. 2. To be fastened in such a manner as to allow of free motion on the…Hăng, n. p. 606A sharp or steep declivity. [Collog.] 2. The manner in which one part hangs upon another; connection; arrangement; plan; as, the hang of a scythe, or of a discourse. [Collog.] To get the hang of, to…Häng'-bird, n. p. 606(Ornith.) A bird, the Baltimore oriole (Icturus oriole);—so called from its nest, which is suspended from the limb of a tree.Häng'-bÿ, n. p. 606A dependent;—so called in contempt. Sirrah, I pray thee be acquainted with my two hang-byes here. B. Jonson.Häng'dŏg, n. p. 606A base and degraded man, fit only to be the hangman of dogs.Hăng'er, n. p. 606One who, or that which, hangs, or causes to be suspended. 2. That which hangs or is suspended; specifically, a short, broad sword, incurvated toward the point. 3. That by which a thing is suspended…Hăng'er-ōn, n. p. 606One who hangs on, or sticks to, a person, place, or plan; a dependent; one who adheres to others' society longer than he is wanted.Hăng'ing, p. a. p. 606Foreboding death by the halter. “What a hanging face!” Dryden. 2. Requiring or deserving punishment by the halter: as, a hanging matter. Johnson.Häng'ing, n. p. 606Death by suspension. 2. That which is hung as lining or drapery for a room, as tapestry, paper, &c., sometimes serving to close an entrance; — used chiefly in the plural. No purple hangings clothe…Hāng'ing-bŭt'tress, n. p. 606(Arch.) A buttress supported upon a corbel, and not standing solid on the foundation.Häng'ing-hōld'er, n. p. 606One whose business is to hold up a hanging; an usher. Beau. & Fl.Häng'ing-side, n. p. 606(Mining.) The overhanging side of an inclined or hading vein.Hăng'ing-sleeves, n. pl. p. 606Strips of the same stuff with the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders.Hăng'ing-vālve, n. p. 606(Mach.) A certain kind of valve;—so called from its position when open.Häng'man, n. p. 606One who hangs another; a public executioner; and, as such persons were often low characters, sometimes a term of reproach, without reference to office.Häng'man-ship, n. p. 606The office or character of a hangman. I abominate and detest hangmanship. Landor.Hăng'nāil, n. p. 606A small piece or sliver of skin which hangs from the root of a finger-nail. Holloway.Hăng'-nĕst, n. p. 606A nest that hangs like a bag or pocket. 2. A bird which builds such a nest: a hang-bird.