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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. 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.…
  2. 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…
  3. Măs'ter, v. i.p. 817To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]
  4. Măs’ter-dòm, n.p. 817Dominion; rule; command. [Rare.] “Sovereign sway and masterdom.” Shak.
  5. 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…
  6. 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.
  7. Măs'ter-hānd, n.p. 817A person eminently skillful.
  8. 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.
  9. Mās'ter-less, a.p. 817Destitute of a master or owner. 2. Ungoverned; unsubdued. Spenser.
  10. Măs'ter-less-ness, n.p. 817The quality of being masterless; without owner; unrestrainedness; ungovernableness. “To make such a parade of masterlessness.” Hare.
  11. Măs'ter-li-ness, n.p. 817The quality of being masterly; masterly skill.
  12. Măs'ter-lōde, n.p. 817(Mining.) The principal vein of ore.
  13. 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…
  14. Măs'ter-ly, adv.p. 817With the skill of a master. Thou dost speak masterly. Shak.
  15. Măs'ter-oŭs, a.p. 817Suitable to a master; masterly. [Obs.] Milton.
  16. 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…
  17. 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. ☞…
  18. 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.
  19. Măs'ter-strōke, n.p. 817Capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action.
  20. Măs'ter-work, n.p. 817Principal performance; masterpiece.
  21. 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…
  22. 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…
  23. Măst'ful, a.p. 817Abounding with mast, or fruit of oak, beech, and other forest trees; as, the mastful chestnut. [i'ot.]
  24. Mást'-head, n.p. 817(Naut.) The top or head of a mast.
  25. 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.
  26. Māst'-house, n.p. 817A large roofed building in which masts are shaped, fitted, &c. Simmonds.
  27. 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…
  28. Mās'ti-ca-ble, a.p. 817Capable of being masticated.
  29. Mās'ti-cā'dor, n.p. 817(Man.) A part of a bridle; the slavering-bit. [Written also mastigador.]
  30. Măs'ti-cāte, v. t.p. 817To grind with the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food.
  31. 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.
  32. Mās'ti-ca-to-ry, a.p. 817Chewing; adapted to perform the office of chewing food.
  33. Mās'ti-ca-to-ry, n.p. 817(Med.) A substance to be chewed to increase the saliva.
  34. Măs'tich, n.p. 817See MASTIC.
  35. 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…
  36. Mās'ti-cot, n.p. 817Yellow oxide of lead. See MASSICOT.
  37. Mās'tiff, n.p. 817A large variety of dog, remarkable for strength and courage.
  38. Mās'ti-gā'dor, n.p. 817See MASTICADOR.
  39. Mās'ti-gōph'er-ōus, a.p. 817Furnished with, or carrying, a whip or scourge. [Rare.] S. Smith.
  40. Măst'ing-house, n.p. 817A large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for masting vessels.
  41. Mas-tī'tis, n.p. 817(Med.) Inflammation of the breast. Dunglison.
  42. Măst'less, a.p. 817Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel. 2. Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech.
  43. Măst’lin, n.p. 817See MASLIN.
  44. 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…
  45. Mās'to-dōn'tic, a.p. 818Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions. E. Everett.
  46. Mās'toid, n.p. 818(Anat.) A bone of the skull. See SKULL.
  47. Mās'toid, a.p. 818Resembling the nipple or breast; as, the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
  48. Mas-toid'e-al, a.p. 818(Anat.) Belonging or pertaining to the mastoid process.
  49. Mas-tŏl'o-gy, n.p. 818The natural history of animals which suckle their young; mazology.
  50. Mā'stress, n.p. 818Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  51. Măs'tur-bā'tion, n.p. 818Onanism; self pollution.
  52. Măst'y, a.p. 818Full of mast; abounding with acorns, &c. [Obs.]
  53. 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…
  54. Māt, n.p. 818An alloy of copper, tin, iron, &c., usually called white metal;— so called by coppersmiths. [Written also matt.]
  55. 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.
  56. Măt, v. i.p. 818To grow thick together; to become interwoven like a mat. [Colloq.]
  57. Măt’a-chĭn, n.p. 818An old dance with swords and bucklers.
  58. Māt'a-co, n.p. 818(Zoöl.) An edentate animal of the genus Dasypus; a species of armadillo.
  59. 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…
  60. 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…