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.
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…Mās'ti-cot, n. p. 817Yellow oxide of lead. See MASSICOT.Mās'tiff, n. p. 817A large variety of dog, remarkable for strength and courage.Mās'ti-gā'dor, n. p. 817See MASTICADOR.Mās'ti-gōph'er-ōus, a. p. 817Furnished with, or carrying, a whip or scourge. [Rare.] S. Smith.Măst'ing-house, n. p. 817A large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for masting vessels.Mas-tī'tis, n. p. 817(Med.) Inflammation of the breast. Dunglison.Măst'less, a. p. 817Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel. 2. Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech.Măst’lin, n. p. 817See MASLIN.Măs'to-don, n. p. 817(Zoöl.) A mammal, resembling the elephant, but larger, and having tuberculate teeth, whence the name. The remains of mastodons are found in the temperate parts of both hemispheres. Skeleton of…Mās'to-dōn'tic, a. p. 818Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions. E. Everett.Mās'toid, n. p. 818(Anat.) A bone of the skull. See SKULL.Mās'toid, a. p. 818Resembling the nipple or breast; as, the mastoid process of the temporal bone.Mas-toid'e-al, a. p. 818(Anat.) Belonging or pertaining to the mastoid process.Mas-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 818The natural history of animals which suckle their young; mazology.Mā'stress, n. p. 818Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.Măs'tur-bā'tion, n. p. 818Onanism; self pollution.Măst'y, a. p. 818Full of mast; abounding with acorns, &c. [Obs.]Māt, n. p. 818A texture of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw, or other material, to be laid on a floor for wiping and cleaning the feet, and for other purposes. 2. Any similar fabric for various uses, as for…Māt, n. p. 818An alloy of copper, tin, iron, &c., usually called white metal;— so called by coppersmiths. [Written also matt.]Măt, v. t. p. 818To cover or lay with mats. Evelyn. 2. To twist together; to interweave like a mat; to entangle. And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted hair. Dryden.Măt, v. i. p. 818To grow thick together; to become interwoven like a mat. [Colloq.]Măt’a-chĭn, n. p. 818An old dance with swords and bucklers.Māt'a-co, n. p. 818(Zoöl.) An edentate animal of the genus Dasypus; a species of armadillo.Māt'a-dōre, n. p. 818One of the three principal cards in the game of omber and quadrille, which are always two black aces and the deuce in spades and clubs, and the seven in hearts and diamonds. 2. One who kills; the…Mātch, n. p. 818A thing used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or which, being lighted, remains burning a long time; especially, in modern usage, a…Mătch, n. p. 818A person or thing equal or similar to another in quality; one able to mate or cope with another on fair terms; an equal; a mate; a companion. Government . . . makes an innocent man of the lowest…Mātch, v. t. p. 818To be a mate or match for; to be able to compete with; to rival successfully; to equal. No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness. Shak. 2. To furnish with its match; to…Mătch, v. i. p. 818To be united in marriage; to mate. I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. Shak. Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep. Dryden. 2. To be of equal size, figure, or quality; to tally; to…Mātch'a-ble, a. p. 818Fit to be joined; suitable; equal. 2. Correspondent. [Rare.] Woodward.Mătch'a-ble-ness, n. p. 818The state or quality of being matchable; capability of being matched.Mātech'-elōth, n. p. 818A coarse kind of woolen cloth.Mătch'-cōat, n. p. 818A coat made of match-cloth.Mātch'er, n. p. 818One who matches.Mătch'less, a. p. 818Having no equal; unequaled; unrivaled. 2. Unequal; ill-adapted; unsuited. “With matchless ears deformed and distort.” Spenser.Mātch'less-ly, adv. p. 818In a manner or degree not to be equaled.Mātch'less-ness, n. p. 818The state or quality of being without an equal.Mătch'lŏck, n. p. 818The lock of a musket containing a match for firing it; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.Mātch'-māk'er, n. p. 818One who makes matches for burning. 2. One who contrives or effects a union by marriage.Mătch'-māk'ing, n. p. 818The act of making matches.Mătch'-māk'ing, a. p. 818Busy in making or contriving matches.Mātch'-plāne, n. p. 818(Carp.) Either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which are joined by grooving and tonguing.Mătch'-tŭb, n. p. 818A tub in which matches are kept near guns in war-vessels, provided with water to extinguish sparks that may fall from the burning match. Totten.Māte, n. p. 818One who customarily associates with another; a companion; an associate. 2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife; and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation and the care…Mate, n. p. 818The Paraguay tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly (Ilex Paraguariensis). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable bitter taste. Johnston.Māte, n. p. 818(Chess.) The state of the king when so situated that he can not escape, and which ends the game; check-mate.Māte, v. t. p. 818To match; to marry. 2. To match one's self against; to oppose as equal; to compete with. It is worthy the observing, that there is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the…Māte, v. t. p. 818To enervate; to crush. [Obs.] Audacity doth almost bind and mate the weaker sort of minds. Bacon.Māte'less, a. p. 818Having no mate or companion.Māt'e-lōte, n. p. 818A dish of food composed of many kinds of fish.Mā'te-ōl'o-gy, n. p. 818A vain discourse or inquiry. [Obs.]