Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ĭn'spi-rā'tion-ĭst, n. p. 699One who holds to inspiration.In-spī'ra-to-ry or Ĭn'spi-ra-to-ry, a. p. 699Pertaining to or aiding inspiration, or inhaling air into the lungs.In-spīre', v. i. p. 699To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; — opposed to expire. 2. To breathe; to blow gently. “When the winds among them did inspire.” Spencer.In-spīre', v. t. p. 699To breathe into; to fill with the breath. Ye Nine, descend and sing, The breathing instruments inspire. Pope. 2. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing. He knew not his Maker, and him that…In-spired', p. a. p. 700Breathed in; inhaled. 2. Communicated or given by divine inspiration; having divine authority; hence, sacred, holy;—opposed to uninspired or profane; as, the inspired writings, that is, the…In-spīr'er, n. p. 700One who inspires.In-spīr'it, v. t. p. 700To infuse or excite spirit in; to enliven; to animate; to give new life to; to encourage; to invigorate. The courage of Agamemnon is inspired by the love of empire and ambition. Pope. Syn.—To…In-spĭs'sāte, v. t. p. 700To thicken, as fluids; to bring to greater consistence, as by evaporation.In-spis'sate, a. p. 700Thick; inspissated. Greenhill.Ĭn'spis-sā'tion, n. p. 700The act of inspissating, or rendering a fluid substance thicker by evaporation, &c.Ĭn'sta-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 700The quality or condition of being unstable; want of stability; want of firmness in purpose; inconstancy; fickleness; mutability; as, the instability of laws, plans, or measures. “Instability of…In-stā'ble, a. p. 700Not stable; prone to change or recede from a purpose; mutable; inconstant; unstable.In-stā'ble-ness, n. p. 700Unstableness; mutability; instability.In-stall', v. t. p. 700To set in a seat; to give a place to. She installed her guest hospitably by the fireside. W. Scott. 2. To instate in an office, rank, or order; to invest with any charge by the usual ceremonies; as…In'stal-lā'tion, n. p. 700The act of installing or giving possession of an office, rank, or order, with the customary ceremonies. On the election, the bishop gives a mandate for his installation. Ayliffe. 2. The act or…In-stall'ment, n. p. 700The act of installing, or giving possession of an office, with the usual ceremonies or solemnities. Put conditions and take oaths from all kings and magistrates at their first installment, to do…In-stāmp', v. t. p. 700See ENSTAMP.In'stance, n. p. 700The quality or act of being instant or pressing; the act of urging on; urgency; solicitation; application. “Matters of instance.” Reynolds. “And as readily undertook at her instance to restore them.”…In'stance, v. t. p. 700To mention as an example or case. I shall not instance an abstruse author. Milton.In’stancē, v. i. p. 700To give an example or case; to seek or find illustration. [Obs. or rare.] This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. Bp. Taylor. Instance in, to give as an instance. [Obs.]…Ĭn’stan-cy, n. p. 700Instance; urgency. “Those heavenly precepts which our Lord and Savior with so great instance gave.” Hooker.In'stant, a. p. 700Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer. Rom. xii. 12. 2. Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred…In'stant, n. p. 700A point in duration; a moment; a part of duration in which we perceive no succession, or a part that occupies the time of a single thought. There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and…In-stăn/ta-nē'i-ty, n. p. 700The quality of being instantaneous; instantaneousness. Shenstone.Ĭn'stan-tā'ne-oūs, a. p. 700Done in an instant; occurring or acting without any perceptible succession; as, the passage of electricity through any given space appears to be instantaneous.Ĭn'stan-tā'ne-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 700In an instant; in a moment; in an indivisible point of duration.Ĭn′stan-tā′ne-oŭs-ness, n. p. 700The quality of being instantaneous.In-stānt'er, adv. p. 700Immediately; at the present time; without delay; instantly; as, the party was compelled to plead instanter.In'stant-ly, adv. p. 700In an instant manner; without the least delay or interval; immediately. 2. With urgency or importunity; earnestly; pressingly. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that…In-stär', v. t. p. 700To set or adorn with stars, or with brilliants. “A golden throne instarred with gems.” J. Barlow.In-stāte′, v. t. p. 700To set or place; to establish, as in a rank or condition; to install; as, to instate a person in greatness or in favor. 2. To invest. [Obs.] Shak.In-stau'rāte, v. t. p. 700To renew or renovate. [Rare.]In'stau-rā'tion, n. p. 700The restoration of a thing to its former state, after decay, lapse, or dilapidation; renewal; repair; renovation. “Some great catastrophe or . . . instauration.” Burnet.Ĭn'stau-rā'tor, n. p. 700One who renews or restores to a former condition. [Rare.] More.In-staure', v. t. p. 700To renew or renovate; to instaurate. [Obs.] All things that show or breathe Are now instaured. Marston.In-stĕad′, adv. p. 700In the place or room; — followed by of. Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job xxxi. 40. Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii. 25. 2. Equivalent to; equal to. This…In-steep’, v. t. p. 700To steep or soak; to drench; to macerate in moisture. “In gore he lay insteeped.” Shak.In'step, n. p. 700The projection on the upper side of the human foot, near its junction with the leg; the tarsus. 2. That part of the hind leg of a horse which reaches from the ham to the pastern-joint.Ĭn’sti-gāte, v. t. p. 700To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to urge;—used chiefly with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to evil; to instigate to a crime. He hath only instigated his blackest…In'sti-gā'ting-ly, adv. p. 700Incitingly; temptingly.In′sti-gā′tion, n. p. 700The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement, as to evil or wickedness; impulse to evil. The baseness and villainy that both the corruption of nature and the instigation of…Ĭn’sti-gā’tor, n. p. 700One who instigates or incites another to an evil act; a tempter.In-still', v. t. p. 700To drop in; to pour in by drops. The starlight dews All silently their tears of love instill. Byron. 2. To infuse slowly, or by degrees. How hast thou instilled Thy malice into thousands. Shak.Ĭn'stil-lā'tion, n. p. 700The act of instilling, or infusing by drops or by small quantities. 2. The act of infusing slowly into the mind. 3. That which is instilled or infused.Ĭn'stil-lā'tor, n. p. 700One who instills; one who infuses; an instiller.In-still'er, n. p. 700One who instills; an instillator.In-still'ment, n. p. 700The act of instilling, or that which is instilled or infused.In-stim'ū-lāte, v. t. p. 700To stimulate; to excite. [Obs.] 2. Not to stimulate; not to excite the vital powers of. [Obs.] Cheyne.In-stim′ū-lā′tion, n. p. 700The act of stimulating, inciting, or urging forward.In-stīnct', a. p. 700Urged or stimulated from within; moved; animated; excited. The chariot of paternal deity . . . Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed By four cherubic shapes. Milton.Ĭn’stĭnct, n. p. 700Inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to action; a disposition to any mode of action, whether bodily or spiritual, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object…In-stĭnct′, v. t. p. 700To impress an animating power upon; to awaken instinct in; to cause to act by instinct. [Obs.] Bentley.In-stīn'ction, n. p. 700Instinct. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.In-stīn'ctive, a. p. 700Prompted by instinct; determined by natural impulse or propensity; acting without reasoning, deliberation, instruction, or experience; original to the mind; not dependent on experience or reasoning…In-stīnct/ive-ly, adv. p. 701By force of instinct; without reasoning, instruction, or experience; by natural impulse.Ĭn’stĭn·c-tĭv’ĭ-ty, n. p. 701The quality of being instinctive, or prompted by instinct. There is growth only in plants; but there is irritability, or—a better word—instinctivity, in insects. Coleridge.In-stip'ū-late, a. p. 701(Bot.) Without stipules.In’sti-tūte, v. t. p. 701To set up; to establish; to erect; to appoint; to ordain; as, to institute laws, rules, &c. We institute your Grace To be our regent in these parts of France. Shak. 2. To originate and establish; to…Ĭn’sti-tūte, n. p. 701Any thing instituted or formally established; established law; settled order. Thou art pale in mighty studies grown To make the Stoics’ institutes thy own. Dryden. 2. That which is established as…Ĭn’/sti-tū’/tion, n. p. 701The act of instituting; as, (a.) Establishment; foundation; enactment. “The institution of God’s laws . . . by solemn injunction.” Hooker. (b.) Instruction; education. “His learning was not the…