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.
Măss, n. p. 816A body of matter concreted, assembled, or formed into a lump; a lump; a great quantity collected; a heap; a collective body; an assemblage; a confused or indiscrete body. They lose their forms, and…Máss, n. p. 816The communion service, or the consecration and oblation of the host, in the Roman Catholic churches. High mass, that which is sung or chanted, as distinguished from low mass, which is read, and not…Măss, v. i. p. 816To celebrate mass. [Obs.] Hooker.Máss, v. t. p. 816To fill; to stuff; to strengthen. [Obs.] 2. To form into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into masses; to assemble. But mass them together and they are terrible indeed.…Măs'sa-cre, n. p. 816The killing of human beings by indiscriminate slaughter; murder of numbers with cruelty or atrocity, or contrary to the usages of civilized people; cold-blooded destruction of life; butchery…Măs'sa-cre, v. t. p. 816To murder with circumstances of cruelty; to kill with indiscriminate violence, without authority or necessity, and contrary to the usages of nations; to butcher; to slaughter. “If James should be…Măs'sa-crer, n. p. 816One who massacres. [R.] Burke.Mȧss'-bo͝ok, n. p. 816The Missal, or Roman Catholic service-book.Mȧss'er, n. p. 816A priest who celebrates mass.Măs'se-ter, n. p. 816(Anat.) A muscle which raises the under jaw, and assists in chewing.Măs'se-tēr'ie or Măs'se-tēr'ine, a. p. 816(Anat.) Belonging, or pertaining, to the masseter.Mäss'-house, n. p. 816A Roman Catholic place of worship;—so called in contempt or derision. [Obs.]Măs'si-cŏt, n. p. 816(Chem.) Protoxide of lead, or yellow oxide of lead, which has not been fused. It forms the thin gray pellicle on the surface of melted lead. When melted and allowed to crystallize, it forms litharge.…Máss'i-ness, n. p. 816The state of being massy; great weight, or weight with bulk; ponderousness.Măss'ive, a. p. 816Forming, or consisting of, a mass; compacted; weighty; heavy; massy. 2. (Min.) In mass; having a crystalline structure, but not a regular form; as, a mineral occurs massive.Măss'ive-ly, adv. p. 816In a mass.Măs'sive-ness, n. p. 816The state or quality of being massive; massiness.Măss'-meet'ing, n. p. 816A large assembly of the people to be addressed on some public occasion, usually political. [U. S.]Mas-sōol'a Bōat p. 816A kind of boat used at Madras for landing through the surf.Măss'y, a. p. 817Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; heavy, as a compact mass; indicating weight or substance; weighty; heavy; ponderous; bulky and heavy; as, a massy shield; a massy rock. The yawning rocks in…Mäst, n. p. 817(Naut.) A pole set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, &c. A mast may also consist of many pieces of timber united by iron bands. Masts are of several kinds, as the…Mást, n. p. 817The fruit of the oak and beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns. Oak mast, and beech, and cannel-fruit they eat. Chapman. They feed and grow like swine under an oak filling themselves with the…Mást, v. t. p. 817To furnish with a mast or masts; as, to mast a ship.Măs'tax, n. p. 817(Zoöl.) A muscular mouth, having two bent, hammer-like jaws, common in rotifers, or wheel-bearers. Gosse.Mäst'ed, a. p. 817Furnished with a mast or masts;— chiefly used in composition.Mā'ster, n. p. 817One of eminent rank, power, or authority; a superior; a leader; a chief. It is employed as a title of respectful address, but more usually in a familiar way to an inferior, a young person, or a boy.…Măs’ter, v. t. p. 817To become the master of; to subject to one’s will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue, “And rather father thee than master thee.” Shak. I, the divided half of such A…Măs'ter, v. i. p. 817To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]Măs’ter-dòm, n. p. 817Dominion; rule; command. [Rare.] “Sovereign sway and masterdom.” Shak.Măs'ter-ful, a. p. 817Having the skill or power of a master; also, worthy to be master; indicating or expressing power or mastery. “His masterful, pale face.” E. B. Browning. 2. Inclined to play the master; domineering…Măs'ter-ful-ly, adv. p. 817In a masterful manner; imperiously. A lawless and rebellious man who held lands masterfully and in high contempt of the royal authority. Macaulay.Măs'ter-hānd, n. p. 817A person eminently skillful.Màs'ter-kēy, n. p. 817The key that opens many locks, the subordinate keys of which open only one each; hence, a general clew to lead out of many difficulties. Dryden.Mās'ter-less, a. p. 817Destitute of a master or owner. 2. Ungoverned; unsubdued. Spenser.Măs'ter-less-ness, n. p. 817The quality of being masterless; without owner; unrestrainedness; ungovernableness. “To make such a parade of masterlessness.” Hare.Măs'ter-li-ness, n. p. 817The quality of being masterly; masterly skill.Măs'ter-lōde, n. p. 817(Mining.) The principal vein of ore.Mäs'ter-ly, a. p. 817Indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill; suitable to a master; most excellent; skillful; as, a masterly design; a masterly performance; a masterly stroke of policy. The Commons, faithful to…Măs'ter-ly, adv. p. 817With the skill of a master. Thou dost speak masterly. Shak.Măs'ter-oŭs, a. p. 817Suitable to a master; masterly. [Obs.] Milton.Măs'ter-pièce, n. p. 817Any thing done or made with superior or extraordinary skill; a capital performance; a chef-d’œuvre. The top and masterpiece of art. South. This wondrous masterpiece I fain would see. Dryden. 2. Chief…Mās'ter-ship, n. p. 817The state or office of a master. 2. Mastery; dominion; authority; superior skill; superiority. “Where noble youths for mastership should strive.” Dryden. 3. Chief work; masterpiece. [Obs.] Dryden. ☞…Măs’ter-sĭn’ew, n. p. 817(Far.) A large sinew that surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow place, where the wind-galls are usually seated.Măs'ter-strōke, n. p. 817Capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action.Măs'ter-work, n. p. 817Principal performance; masterpiece.Mās’ter-wort, n. p. 817(Bot.) (a.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Imperatoria (I. ostruthium). (b.) A plant of the genus Astrantia. ☞ The name is also improperly applied to the Heracleum lanatum, commonly called…Măs'ter-y, n. p. 817The act of mastering. The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties. Locke. 2. The position or authority of a master; dominion…Măst'ful, a. p. 817Abounding with mast, or fruit of oak, beech, and other forest trees; as, the mastful chestnut. [i'ot.]Mást'-head, n. p. 817(Naut.) The top or head of a mast.Mäst-hĕad', v. t. p. 817(Naut.) To cause to go to the mast-head and remain there for a time by way of punishment. Marryatt.Māst'-house, n. p. 817A large roofed building in which masts are shaped, fitted, &c. Simmonds.Măs'tic, n. p. 817(Bot.) A low, shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (P. lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; — called also mastic-tree. 2. A resin…Mās'ti-ca-ble, a. p. 817Capable of being masticated.Mās'ti-cā'dor, n. p. 817(Man.) A part of a bridle; the slavering-bit. [Written also mastigador.]Măs'ti-cāte, v. t. p. 817To grind with the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food.Mās'ti-cā'tion, n. p. 817The act or operation of masticating, or of chewing solid food. Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. Arbuthnot.Mās'ti-ca-to-ry, a. p. 817Chewing; adapted to perform the office of chewing food.Mās'ti-ca-to-ry, n. p. 817(Med.) A substance to be chewed to increase the saliva.Măs'tich, n. p. 817See MASTIC.Mās'ti-cīne, n. p. 817(Chem.) A substance which remains as a residuum when mastic is dissolved in alcohol, by reason of its insolubility. When moist, it is soft and elastic, closely resembling caoutchouc, but when dried…