Dictionary
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.
Louse, n. p. 790(Entom.) A wingless, hemipterous insect having a sucking mouth, and not undergoing any metamorphosis. It is found parasitic upon mammals. The common louse is the Pediculus (humanus) capitis, found in…Louse, v. t. p. 790To clean from lice. Swift.Louse'wort, n. p. 790(Bot.) A plant of the genus Pedicularis (P. palustris);—so named because sheep were supposed to become lousy by feeding much on it. Yellow lousewort, a plant of the genus Rhinanthus. Loudon.Lous'i-ly, adv. p. 790In a mean, paltry manner; scurvily. [Vulgar.]Lous'i-ness, n. p. 790The state of abounding with lice.Lous'y, a. p. 790Swarming with lice; infested with lice. 2. Mean; low; contemptible; as, a lousy knave. [Vulgar.]Lout, v. i. p. 790To bend; to bow; to stoop. [Obs.] He fair the knight saluted, louting low. Spenser.Lout, v. t. p. 790To treat as a lout or fool; to neglect; to disappoint. [Obs.] I am louted by a traitor villain, And can not help the noble chevalier. Shak.Lout, n. p. 790A mean, awkward fellow; a bumpkin.Lout'ish, a. p. 790Clownish; rude; awkward.Lout'ish-ly, adv. p. 790Like a clown; in a rude, clumsy, awkward manner.Lout'ish-ness, n. p. 790Clownishness.Lou'ver or Lou'vre, n. p. 790An opening in the roof of ancient buildings for the escape of smoke or for ventilation, often in the form of a turret or small lantern. [Written also lover, loover, lorey, and luffer.] Oxf. Gloss.…Lōv'a-ble, a. p. 790Worthy of love; amiable.Lōv'age, n. p. 790(Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Ligusticum levisticum), sometimes used in medicine as an aromatic stimulant.Lōve, n. p. 790The act of loving. 2. An affection of the heart, excited by that which delights or commands admiration; pre-eminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; as, a mother's love. Let mutual joys…Lōve, v. t. p. 790To be pleased or delighted with; to be fond of; to like; to regard with affection on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations, or desire of gratification. Thou shalt love the Lord…Lôve, v. i. p. 790To delight; to take pleasure; to exercise the affection of love; to be in love.Lôve'-äp'ple, n. p. 790The tomato. See TOMATO.Lōve'-bĭrd, n. p. 790(Or-nith.) One of a group of birds belonging to the parrot tribe; — so called from the great attachment of these birds to each other.Lŏve'-brō'-ker, n. p. 790A third person, who acts as agent between lovers. [Obs.] Shak.Lôve'-dâʒ, n. p. 790A day formerly appointed for an amicable adjustment of differences. [Obs.]Lôve'-fâ'vor, n. p. 790Something given to be worn in token of love.Lōve'-fēast, n. p. 790A religious festival, held quarterly by some religious denominations, as the Moravians and Methodists, in imitation of the agape of the early Christians.Lôve'-fêat, n. p. 790The gallant act of a lover. Shak.Lōve'-grāss, n. p. 790(Bot.) A plant of the genus Eragrostis, having beautiful dancing spikelets.Lōve'-in-i'dle-ness, n. p. 790(Bot.) A kind of violet; the small pansy. A little western flower. Before milk-white, now purple with Love's wound; And maidens call it love-in-idleness. Shak.Lōve'-knŏt, n. p. 790An intricate kind of knot; — so called from being used as a token of love, or as representing mutual affection.Lôve'-lâss, n. p. 790A sweetheart.Lōve'less, a. p. 790Void of love; void of tenderness or kindness. 2. Not attracting love; unattractive. [Rare.] These are ill-favored to see to; and yet, as loveless as they be, they are not without some medicinable…Lōve'-lĕt'ter, n. p. 790A letter professing love; a letter of courtship.Lôve'-lîes-bleed'ing, n. p. 790(Bot.) A species of amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus).Lôve'li-ly, adv. p. 790In a manner to excite love; amiably. [Rare.] Otway.Lōve'li-ness, n. p. 790The state of being lovely; qualities of body or mind that may excite love; amiableness. If there is such a native loveliness in the sex as to make them victorious when in the wrong, how resistless…Lōve'-lŏck, n. p. 790A curl or lock of hair often plaited and tied with ribbon, and hanging at the ear; — worn by men of fashion in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. A long love-lock, and long hair he wore. W. Scott.Lôve'-lôrn, a. p. 790Forsaken by one's love. “The lovelorn nightingale.” Milton.Lŏve'ly, a. p. 790Fitted to excite, or worthy of, love; possessing qualities which may invite affection; amiable. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided. 2…Lōve'ly, adv. p. 790In a manner to please, or to excite love; lovelily. [Obs. and rare.] Haply it was red wine, the more lovely to represent it. Tyndale.Lôve'-mông'ger, n. p. 790One who deals in affairs of love. [Obs.] Shak.Lŏv'er, n. p. 790One who loves; a friend. Your brother and his lover have embraced. Shak. 2. Especially, one who is in love with a person of the opposite sex; — more commonly said of the man, but formerly of the…Lô'ver, n. p. 790See LOUVER.Lō'ver-y, n. p. 790The same as LOUVER, q. v. [Obs.] And ruined house, where holy things were said, . . . Whose shrill saint's bell hangs in his lovery. Hall.Lōve'-sĭck, a. p. 790Sick or languishing with love or amorous desire; as, a love-sick maid. “To the dear mistress of my love-sick mind.” Dryden. 2. Dictated by a languishing lover, or expressive of languishing love.…Lôve'-sick'ness, n. p. 790The state of being love-sick; languishing and amorous desire.Lôve'sôme, a. p. 790Lovely. [Obs.]Lôve'-sûit, n. p. 790Courtship; solicitation of union in marriage. Shak.Lōve'-trĭck, n. p. 791Artifice expressive of love. “Other love-tricks than glancing with the eyes.” — Donne.LŌv'ing, p. a. p. 791Affectionate; as, a loving friend. 2. Expressing love or kindness; as, loving words.Lōv'ing-kind'ness, n. p. 791(Script.) Tender regard; mercy; favor. My loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him. Ps. lxxxix. 33.Lŏv'ing-ly, adv. p. 791With love; affectionately. It is no great matter to live lovingly with meek persons. Taylor.Lōv'ing-ness, n. p. 791Affection; kind regard. The only two bands of good will, loveliness and lovingness. Sidney.Lōw (lō), a. p. 791Occupying an inferior position or place; not high or elevated; depressed below any given surface or place; as, low ground; a low fence; a low flight. 2. Not rising to the usual height; as, a man of…Lower case p. 791the case which contains the small letters.Lōw, adv. p. 791In a low position or manner; not aloft; not on high. 2. Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply; as, he sold his wheat low. 3. Near the ground; as, the bird flies very low. 4. In a mean…Lōw, v. t. p. 791To sink; to depress; to lower. [Obs.]Lōw, v. i. p. 791To bellow as an ox or cow. The lowing herds wind slowly o’er the lea. Gray.Lōw, n. p. 791The noise made by a bull, ox, cow, &c. “Talking voices and the low of herds.” Wordsworth.Lōw, n. p. 791Flame; fire. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Smart.Lōw'bĕll, n. p. 791A bell used in fowling at night, to make the birds lie still until by a more violent noise and a sudden light they are alarmed and fly into the net. The fowler's lowbell robs the lark of sleep. King.…Lōw'bĕll, v. t. p. 791To frighten, as with a lowbell.