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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. 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.
  2. Hănd′-stăff, n.p. 605A javelin. Ez. xxxix. 9.
  3. Hănd'-tight, a.p. 605(Naut.) As tight as can be made by the hand. Totten.
  4. 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.
  5. Hānd'-vīse, n.p. 605A small vise used by hand, or for small work. Moxon.
  6. Hănd'-wheel, n.p. 605(Mach.) Any wheel worked by hand; usually the handle by which a valve or other part is adjusted.
  7. Hănd'-whīle, n.p. 605A little while. [Obs.] Heywood.
  8. Hănd'-wĭnged, a.p. 605Having wings resembling hands in their use; cheiropterous; — said of bats.
  9. Hănd'-wolf, n.p. 605A tamed wolf. Beau. & Fl.
  10. Hănd'-work, n.p. 605Handiwork.
  11. 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.
  12. 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…
  13. 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.
  14. Hănd’y-fight, n.p. 605A fight with the hands; boxing. Castor his horse, Pollux loves handy-fights. B. Jonson.
  15. Hănd'y-grīpe, n.p. 605Seizure by the hand. Hudibras.
  16. Händ’y-strōke, n.p. 605A blow inflicted by the hand.
  17. Hănd’y-work, n.p. 605Same as HANDIWORK, q. v.
  18. 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…
  19. 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…
  20. 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…
  21. 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.
  22. Häng'-bÿ, n.p. 606A dependent;—so called in contempt. Sirrah, I pray thee be acquainted with my two hang-byes here. B. Jonson.
  23. Häng'dŏg, n.p. 606A base and degraded man, fit only to be the hangman of dogs.
  24. 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…
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. 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…
  28. Hāng'ing-bŭt'tress, n.p. 606(Arch.) A buttress supported upon a corbel, and not standing solid on the foundation.
  29. Häng'ing-hōld'er, n.p. 606One whose business is to hold up a hanging; an usher. Beau. & Fl.
  30. Häng'ing-side, n.p. 606(Mining.) The overhanging side of an inclined or hading vein.
  31. Hăng'ing-sleeves, n. pl.p. 606Strips of the same stuff with the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders.
  32. Hăng'ing-vālve, n.p. 606(Mach.) A certain kind of valve;—so called from its position when open.
  33. 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.
  34. Häng'man-ship, n.p. 606The office or character of a hangman. I abominate and detest hangmanship. Landor.
  35. Hăng'nāil, n.p. 606A small piece or sliver of skin which hangs from the root of a finger-nail. Holloway.
  36. Hăng'-nĕst, n.p. 606A nest that hangs like a bag or pocket. 2. A bird which builds such a nest: a hang-bird.
  37. Hānk, n.p. 606A parcel consisting of two or more skeins of yarn or thread tied together. Brande. 2. A rope or latch for fastening a gate; a hold. [Prov. Eng.] “When the devil hath got such a hank over him.”…
  38. Hănk, v. t.p. 606To form into hanks. 2. To fasten. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  39. Hănk'er, v. i.p. 606To long for with a keen appetite and uneasiness; to desire vehemently;—usually followed by for or after; as, to hanker after fruit; to hanker after the diversions of the town. Addison. 2. To form a…
  40. Hănk'er-ing-ly, adv.p. 606In a hankering manner.
  41. Hănk'le, v. t.p. 606To twist or entangle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  42. Hăn'o-vē'ri-an, a.p. 606(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Hanover.
  43. Hän'o-vē'ri-an, n.p. 606(Geog.) A native or naturalized inhabitant of Hanover.
  44. Hăn'sa, n.p. 606(Geog.) See HANSE.
  45. Hän'sard, n.p. 606A merchant, of one of the Hanse towns. McCulloch. 2. The reports of proceedings in the British Parliament;—so called from the name of the publisher. Simmonds.
  46. Hānse, n.p. 606An association; league. Hanse towns (Hist.), certain commercial cities in Germany which associated themselves for the protection of commerce as early as the twelfth century. The confederacy, called…
  47. Hän'se-ăt'ic, a.p. 606(Geog.) Pertaining to the Hanse towns, or to their confederacy. Hanseatic league. See HANSE.
  48. Hän'sel, n. & v.p. 606See HANDSEL.
  49. Hăn'som or Hăn'som-căb, n.p. 606A light, low, two-wheeled street carriage with the driver's seat elevated behind. [Eng.]
  50. Hän'tp. 606A vulgar contraction of have not, or has not; as, I han't, he han't, we han't.
  51. Hāp, n.p. 606That which happens or comes suddenly or unexpectedly; also, the manner of occurrence or taking place; chance; fortune; accident; casual event; fate; lot. “Whether art it was or heedless hap.”…
  52. Hāp, n.p. 606A cloak or plaid. [Scot.]
  53. Hăp, v. i.p. 606To happen; to befall; to come by chance. “Sends word of all that haps in Tyre.” Shak.
  54. Hăp, v. t.p. 606To clothe. [Prov. Eng.] Sir T. More.
  55. Hăp'-hăz'ard, n.p. 606Extra hazard; chance; accident. We take our principles at hap-hazard, on trust. Locke.
  56. Hāp'less, a.p. 606Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky; unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid. Dryden.
  57. Hăp'less-ly, adv.p. 606In a hapless manner.
  58. Hāp'ly, adv.p. 606By hap, chance, or accident; perhaps; it may be. Lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts v. 39.
  59. Häpped, a.p. 606Wrapped; covered; cloaked. [Scot.] All happed with flowers in the green wood were. Hogg.
  60. Hăp'pen, v. i.p. 606To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out. There shall no evil happen to the just. Prov. xii. 21. 2. To take place; to occur. They talked together of all these things which…