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.
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…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.