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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. Ma-zōl'o-gist, n.p. 821One versed in mazology.
  2. Ma-zōl'o-gy, n.p. 821That branch of zoology which treats of mammiferous animals.
  3. Ma-zour'ke or Ma-zur'kā, n.p. 821A Polish national dance, or the music which accompanies it.
  4. Mā'zy, a.p. 821Perplexed with turns and windings; winding; intricate; confusing; perplexing; embarrassing; as, mazy error. Milton. “To run the ring, and trace the mazy round.” Dryden.
  5. Māz'zard, n.p. 821The same as MAZARD, q. v.
  6. Me, pron.p. 821pers. [A-S. me, mec, Goth. mik, O. H. Ger. mih, N. H. Ger. mich, D. mij, Icel. mik, Dan. & Sw. mig, allied to Lat. me, Gr. μέ, ἐμέ, Skr. mā, mām.] Myself; the person speaking;— objective case of I…
  7. Mēach, v. i.p. 821To lie hid; to skulk; to cower. See MICHE.
  8. Mēach'ing, p. pr. & a.p. 821Skulking; cowering; mean. See MEECH and MICHE.
  9. Mēa'cock, n.p. 821An uxorious, effeminate man. [Obs.] Johnson.
  10. Mēa'cock, a.p. 821Tame; timorous; cowardly. [Obs.]
  11. Mēad, n.p. 821A drink made of water and honey; metheglin. 2. A drink composed of sirup, with sarsaparilla or other flavoring extract, and water, sometimes impregnated with carbonic acid gas. [U. S.]
  12. Mēad or Mēad'ōw, n.p. 821A tract of low or level grass land, especially land somewhat wet, but covered with grass. In the United States, the word is especially applied to the low ground on the banks of rivers, consisting of…
  13. Mēad'ōw, a.p. 821Belonging, relating to, or growing in, a meadow.
  14. Mēad'ōw-beau'ty, n.p. 821(Bot.) A plant of the genus Rhexia, having showy purple flowers; deer-grass.
  15. Mēad'ōw-fōx'tāil, n.p. 821(Bot.) A kind of grass of the genus Alopecurus (A. pratensis), which is of great value to the farmer when cultivated on meadow land. Baird.
  16. Mēad'ōw-grāss, n.p. 821(Bot.) A kind of grass of several species of the genus Poa;—so called because it grows in meadows.
  17. Mēad'ōw-lārk, n.p. 821(Ornith.) A singing bird (Alauda magna), of a dark-brown color above, and yellow below. It is found in open fields in the United States.
  18. Mēad'ōw-ōre, n.p. 821(Min.) Conchoidal bog-iron ore.
  19. Mēad'ōw-pārs'nep, n.p. 821(Bot.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Thaspium, having yellow, or sometimes dark-purple, flowers. Gray.
  20. Mēad'ōw-pīnk, n.p. 821(Bot.) A plant of the genus Dianthus.
  21. Mēad'ōw-rue, n.p. 821(Bot.) A delicate, early plant, of the genus Thalictrum.
  22. Mēad'ōw-săf/fron, n.p. 821(Bot.) A plant of the genus Colchicum.
  23. Mēad'ōw-sāge, n.p. 821(Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Salvia (S. pratensis), sometimes used instead of the common sage. Baird.
  24. Mēad'ōw-sāx'/i-frage, n.p. 821(Bot.) A plant of the genus Seseli.
  25. Mēad'ōw-sweet or Mēad'ōw-wort, n.p. 821(Bot.) A shrub of the genus Spiræa (S. salicifolia and S. ulmaria).
  26. Mead'ōw-y, a.p. 821Pertaining to, resembling, or consisting of, meadow.
  27. Mēa'ger or Mēa'gre, a.p. 821Destitute of flesh, or having little flesh; thin; lean. Meager were his looks; Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. Shak. 2. Destitute of richness, fertility, strength, or the like; defective in…
  28. Mēa'ger or Mēa'gre, v. t.p. 821To make lean. [Obs.] Knolle.
  29. Mēa'ger-ly or Mēa'gre-ly, adv.p. 821Poorly; thinly.
  30. Mēa'ger-ness or Mēa'gre-ness, n.p. 821The quality of being meager; leanness; want of flesh. 2. Poorness; barrenness. 3. Scantiness.
  31. Mēak, n.p. 821A hook with a long handle. [Obs.] Tusser.
  32. Mēal, n.p. 821A part; a fragment; a portion. [Obs.] 2. A portion of food taken at one time; a repast.
  33. Mēal, n.p. 821The substance of edible grain ground to powder; flour, especially of a coarser kind, as of oats or maize. ¶ The term meal is properly applied to the coarser powder produced by grinding without…
  34. Mēal, v. t.p. 822To mix; to mingle. [Obs.] Shak. 2. To sprinkle with meal, or to mix meal with. 3. To pulverize; as, mealed powder.
  35. Mēal'-bee'tle, n.p. 822(Entom.) An insect of the genus Tenebrio, the larvæ of which is the meal-worm. See MEAL-WORM.
  36. Mēal'i-ness, n.p. 822The quality of being mealy; softness or smoothness, with friableness and dryness, to the touch or taste.
  37. Mēal'-mōth, n.p. 822(Entom.) A lepidopterous insect of the genus Pyralis (P. farinalis), the larvæ of which feed upon meal.
  38. Mēal'-mouthed, a.p. 822Same as MEALY-MOUTHED.
  39. Mēal’s’-mēat, n.p. 822A quantity of food sufficient for one meal. [Obs.]
  40. Mēal'-time, n.p. 822The usual time of eating meals.
  41. Mēal'-worm, n.p. 822(Entom.) The larve of a coleopterous insect of the genus Tenebrio (T. melitor). It infests granaries, corn-mills, bake-houses, &c., and is very injurious to flour, meal, and the like. Baird.
  42. Mēal'y, a.p. 822Having the qualities of meal, as soft, smooth. 2. Like meal; farinaceous; dry and friable; as, a mealy potato; a mealy apple. 3. Overspread with something that resembles meal; as, the mealy wings of…
  43. Mēal'y-būg, n.p. 822(Entom.) A small scale insect (Coccus adonidum), covered with a white, powder-like substance. It is a common pest in hot-houses.
  44. Mēal'y-mouthed, a.p. 822Having a soft mouth; unwilling to tell the truth in plain language; hypocritically, affectedly, or timidly delicate of speech. Not illiterate; neither one Who, dabbling in the fount of fictive tears…
  45. Mēal'y-mouth'ed-ness, n.p. 822The quality of being mealy-mouthed.
  46. Mēan, a.p. 822Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble. 2. Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless. Can you imagine I so mean could prove, To save my life…
  47. Mēan, a.p. 822Occupying a middle position; middle; intervening; intermediate; as, in the mean time. 2. Intermediate in excellence of any kind. According to the fittest style of lofty, mean, or lowly. Milton. 3.…
  48. Mēan, n.p. 822That which is intermediate between two extremes; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure. But to speak in a mean, the…
  49. Mean, v. t.p. 822To have in the mind, view, or contemplation; to intend. What mean ye by this service? Ex. xii. 26. 2. To purpose; to design. Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. Gen. i. 20. 3. To…
  50. Mēan, v. i.p. 822To have thought or ideas; or to have meaning.
  51. Me-ăn'der, n.p. 822A winding course; a winding or turning in a passage; a labyrinth; a maze; perplexity; intricacy; as, the meanders of the veins and arteries. Hale. While lingering rivers in meanders glide. Blackmore.…
  52. Me-án'der, v. t.p. 822To wind, turn, or flow round; to make flexuous.
  53. Me-ăn'der, v. i.p. 822To wind or turn in a course or passage; to be intricate.
  54. Me-án'drĭ-an, a.p. 822Winding; having many turns.
  55. Mē'an-drī'na, n.p. 822(Zoöl.) A genus of corals with meandering cells, as the brain-stone coral.
  56. Me-ăn'droŭs, a.p. 822Winding; flexuous.
  57. Mean'ing, n.p. 822That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object. I am no honest man, if there be any good meaning toward you. Shak. 2. That which is signified, whether by act or language…
  58. Mēan'ing-less, a.p. 822Having no meaning.
  59. Mēan'ing-ly, adv.p. 822Significantly; intendingly.
  60. Mēan'ly, adv.p. 822Moderately; not in a great degree. [Obs.] In the reign of Domitian, poetry was meanly cultivated. Dryden. 2. In a mean manner; low in dignity, rank, or social position; in a manner indicating…