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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.

  1. Knāg'g̓ŷ, a.p. 741Knotty; full of knots; rough with knots; hence, rough in temper.
  2. Knăp, n.p. 741A protuberance; a swelling; a knob or button. See KNOB. Bacon. 2. Rising ground; a summit. “The highest part and knap of the same island.” Holland. 3. A blow or slap; a snap.
  3. Knāp, v. t.p. 741To bite; to bite off; to break short. [Obs.] He will knap the spears a-pieces with his teeth. More. 2. To strike with a loud noise; to snap. “As lying a gossip as ever knapped ginger.” Shak. Knap a…
  4. Knāp, v. i.p. 741To make a short, sharp sound; to snap. The people standing by heard it knap in, and the patient declared it by the ease she felt. Wiseman.
  5. Knăp’bŏt-tle, n.p. 741(Bot.) A plant; a variety of poppy.
  6. Knăppe, n.p. 741A sleep of short duration; a nap. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  7. Knăp'pish, a.p. 741Snappish; peevish. [Obs.] See SNAP. Burret.
  8. Knāp'ple, v. i.p. 741To break off with an abrupt, sharp noise. [Obs.]
  9. Knăp'py, a.p. 741Having knaps; full of protuberances or humps; knobby. [Obs.] Huloet.
  10. Knäp'säck, n.p. 741A frame of leather, or a sack for containing necessaries of food and clothing, borne on the back by soldiers, travelers, &c.
  11. Knāp′-weed, n.p. 741(Bot.) A plant of the genus Centaurea;—so called probably from knap, a button. See HORSE-KNOP.
  12. Knār or Knārī, n.p. 741A knot in wood.
  13. Knārled, a.p. 741Knotted. See GNARLED.
  14. Knār'ry, a.p. 741Knotty. Chaucer.
  15. Knāve, n.p. 741A boy; a man-child. [Obs.] Wycliffe. O murderous slumber, Lay’st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good-night. Shak. 2. A servant. [Obs.] He’s but Fortune’s knave…
  16. Knāv'er-y, n.p. 741The quality or practice of a knave; dishonesty; petty villainy; fraud; trickery. This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Shak. 2. Mischievous tricks or practices.
  17. Knāv'ish, a.p. 741Like a knave; fraudulent; villainous; as, a knavish fellow, or a knavish trick or transaction. 2. Waggish; mischievous; roguish. [Rare.] Cupid is a knavish lad. Thus to make poor females mad. Shak.
  18. Knāv'ish-ly, adv.p. 741In a knavish manner; dishonestly; fraudulently. 2. Waggishly; mischievously. [Rare.]
  19. Knāv'ish-ness, n.p. 741The quality or habit of knavery; dishonesty.
  20. Knaw, v. t.p. 741The same as GNAW, q. v. [Obs.]
  21. Knaw'el, n.p. 741(Bot.) A plant of the genus Scleranthus, having two species, which grow on sandy soils, and sometimes on barren, heathy wastes. London.
  22. Knēad, v. t.p. 741To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; especially, to work into a well-mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, or paste; as, to knead dough. The cake she kneaded was the savory…
  23. Knēad'er, n.p. 741One who kneads; hence, a baker.
  24. Knēad'ing-trough, n.p. 741A large, shallow vessel, usually of wood, in which the materials for bread or pastry are mixed and the dough is kneaded; a trough or tray for kneading dough in. Ex. viii. 3.
  25. Knē'bel-ite, n.p. 741(Min.) A mineral of a gray, red, brown, or green color, and glistening luster, consisting chiefly of silica, protoxide of iron, and protoxide of manganese; — so named after Major von Knebel. Dana.
  26. Knĕck, n.p. 741(Naut.) The twisting of a rope or cable. Crabb.
  27. Knee, n.p. 741(Anat.) The joint connecting the two principal parts of the leg; the articulation of the thigh and leg bones. 2. (Mech.) A piece of timber or metal with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human…
  28. Knee, v. t.p. 741To supplicate by kneeling. [Obs.] Fall down, and knee / The way into his mercy. Shak.
  29. Knee'-brŭsh, n.p. 741(Zoöl.) A tuft or brush of hair on the knees of some species of antelope;—chiefly used in the plural. 2. (Entom.) A thick mass or collection of hairs on the legs of bees, by aid of which they carry…
  30. Knee'-crook'ing, a.p. 741Obsequious; fawning; cringing. Shak.
  31. Kneed, a.p. 741Having knees; — used chiefly in composition; as, in-kneed, out-kneed. 2. (Bot.) Geniculated; forming an obtuse angle at the joints, like the knee when a little bent; as, kneed grass.
  32. Knee'-deep, a.p. 741Rising to the knees; as, water or snow knee-deep. 2. Sunk to the knees; as, wading in water or mire knee-deep.
  33. Knee'-high, a.p. 741Rising or reaching upward to the knees; as, water knee-high.
  34. Knee'-hōl'ly, n.p. 741(Bot.) A plant of the genus Ruscus; — called also butcher's-broom. genus Ruscus; — called also butcher's-broom.
  35. Knee'-hōlm, n.p. 741Knee-holly.
  36. Knee'-joint, n.p. 741(Mach.) A joint consisting of two pieces butting on each other like the knee bent, so as to thrust with increasing power when pressed into a straight line;—also called a toggle-joint.
  37. Knee'-joint'ed, a.p. 741(Bot.) Having a joint resembling that of the knee; geniculate; kneed.
  38. Kneel, v. i.p. 741To bend the knee; to fall on the knees;— sometimes with down. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts vii. 60. Our knees shall kneel till to the…
  39. Kneel'er, n.p. 741One who kneels or worships by kneeling.
  40. Kneel'ing-ly, adv.p. 741In a kneeling position.
  41. Knee'-pān, n.p. 741(Anat.) The patella, a flattened round bone on the front part of the knee-joint.
  42. Knee'-tim'ber, n.p. 741Timber with knees or angles in it.
  43. Knee'-trib/ute or Knee'-wor/ship, n.p. 741Tribute paid by kneeling; worship or obeisance by genuflection. Receive from us Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile. Milton.
  44. Knēll, n.p. 741The stroke of a bell rung at a funeral, or at the death of a person; a passing bell; hence, a death-signal. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. Gray. It is the knell of my departed hours.…
  45. Knëll, v. i.p. 742To sound as a knell; especially, to ring at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning or evil omen. Hawks are whistling; horns are knelling. F. Scott.
  46. Knëlt, imp. & p. p.p. 742from kneel. See KNEEL.
  47. Knew, imp.p. 742of know.
  48. Knick'er, n.p. 742A small ball of earth or clay, baked hard and oiled, used as a marble by boys in playing. [Prov. Eng. and U. S.] Halliwell. Bartlett.
  49. Knĭck'knăck, n.p. 742A trifle or toy; a bauble; a gewgaw. [Colloq.]
  50. Knick'knack-er-y, n.p. 742Knickknacks; toys. [Rare.]
  51. Knife, n.p. 742An instrument usually consisting of a thin blade of steel, having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle, but of many different forms and names for different uses in household economy and the…
  52. Knife'-edge, n.p. 742(Mech.) A piece of steel sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on an horizontal surface, serving as the axis of suspension of a pendulum, scale-beam, or other piece required to oscillate…
  53. Knife'-rést, n.p. 742An article of glass or metal used to rest the blade of a knife upon at table. Simmonds.
  54. Knife'-trāy, n.p. 742A wicker-basket or other receptacle for knives.
  55. Knight, n.p. 742A young servant or follower; a military attendant; a follower. 2. A young man when admitted to the privilege of bearing arms; hence, one of a certain chivalric or feudal rank; a champion. Did I for…
  56. Knight, v. t.p. 742To dub or create a knight, which is done by the king, who gives the person kneeling a blow with a sword, and says, Rise, Sir —. A soldier, by the honor-giving hand Of Cœur-de-Lion knighted in the…
  57. Knight'age, n.p. 742The body of knights taken collectively.
  58. Knight'-bäch'e-lor, n.p. 742One of the lowest order of knights, who were expected to remain unmarried until they had gained some renown by their achievements. [Obs.]
  59. Knight'-băn'ner-et, n.p. 742A knight who carried a banner, who possessed fiefs to a greater amount than the knight-bachelor, and who was obliged to serve in war with a greater number of attendants. He was created by the…
  60. Knight-bār'o-net, n.p. 742A baronet. See BARONET.