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.
Knăp'pish, a. p. 741Snappish; peevish. [Obs.] See SNAP. Burret.Knāp'ple, v. i. p. 741To break off with an abrupt, sharp noise. [Obs.]Knăp'py, a. p. 741Having knaps; full of protuberances or humps; knobby. [Obs.] Huloet.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.Knāp′-weed, n. p. 741(Bot.) A plant of the genus Centaurea;—so called probably from knap, a button. See HORSE-KNOP.Knār or Knārī, n. p. 741A knot in wood.Knārled, a. p. 741Knotted. See GNARLED.Knār'ry, a. p. 741Knotty. Chaucer.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…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.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.Knāv'ish-ly, adv. p. 741In a knavish manner; dishonestly; fraudulently. 2. Waggishly; mischievously. [Rare.]Knāv'ish-ness, n. p. 741The quality or habit of knavery; dishonesty.Knaw, v. t. p. 741The same as GNAW, q. v. [Obs.]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.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…Knēad'er, n. p. 741One who kneads; hence, a baker.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.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.Knĕck, n. p. 741(Naut.) The twisting of a rope or cable. Crabb.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…Knee, v. t. p. 741To supplicate by kneeling. [Obs.] Fall down, and knee / The way into his mercy. Shak.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…Knee'-crook'ing, a. p. 741Obsequious; fawning; cringing. Shak.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.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.Knee'-high, a. p. 741Rising or reaching upward to the knees; as, water knee-high.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.Knee'-hōlm, n. p. 741Knee-holly.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.Knee'-joint'ed, a. p. 741(Bot.) Having a joint resembling that of the knee; geniculate; kneed.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…Kneel'er, n. p. 741One who kneels or worships by kneeling.Kneel'ing-ly, adv. p. 741In a kneeling position.Knee'-pān, n. p. 741(Anat.) The patella, a flattened round bone on the front part of the knee-joint.Knee'-tim'ber, n. p. 741Timber with knees or angles in it.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.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.…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.Knëlt, imp. & p. p. p. 742from kneel. See KNEEL.Knew, imp. p. 742of know.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.Knĭck'knăck, n. p. 742A trifle or toy; a bauble; a gewgaw. [Colloq.]Knick'knack-er-y, n. p. 742Knickknacks; toys. [Rare.]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…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…Knife'-rést, n. p. 742An article of glass or metal used to rest the blade of a knife upon at table. Simmonds.Knife'-trāy, n. p. 742A wicker-basket or other receptacle for knives.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…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…Knight'age, n. p. 742The body of knights taken collectively.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.]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…Knight-bār'o-net, n. p. 742A baronet. See BARONET.Knight-ěr'rant, n. p. 742A wandering knight; a knight who traveled in search of adventures, for the purpose of exhibiting military skill, prowess, and generosity.Knight-ēr'rant-ry, n. p. 742The practice of wandering in quest of adventures; the manners of wandering knights; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme. The rigid guardian [i. e., conscience] of a blameless heart Is weak…Knight'-er-răt'ic, a. p. 742Pertaining to knight-errantry. [Rare.]Knight'-head, n. p. 742(Naut.) One of two pieces of timber rising just within the stem, one on each side of the bowsprit to secure its inner end;—called also bollard-timber. Totten.Knight'hood, n. p. 742The character, dignity, or condition of a knight. If you needs must write, write Cæsar's praise; You'll gain, at least, a knighthood, or the bays. Pope. 2. The whole body of knights at a particular…Knight'less, a. p. 742Unbecoming a knight. [Obs.] Spenser.