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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. Me-rĭd′i-an, n.p. 830Midday; noon. 2. Hence, the highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination; climax. I have touched the highest point of all my greatness, And from that full meridian of my glory I…
  2. Me-rid'i-an, a.p. 830Pertaining to the meridian, or to midday. The sun sat high in his meridian tower. Milton. 2. Pertaining to the highest point or culmination; as, the hero enjoyed his meridian glory.
  3. Me-rĭd'i-on-al, a.p. 831Pertaining to the meridian. 2. Having a southern aspect; southern; southerly. Wotton. Meridional distance, the distance or departure from the meridian; the easting or westing. — Meridional parts…
  4. Me-rĭd'i-on-ăl'i-ty, n.p. 831The state of being in the meridian. 2. Position in the south; aspect toward the south.
  5. Me-rĭd'i-on-al-ly, adv.p. 831In the direction of the meridian.
  6. Mĕr'ils, n.p. 831A boy's play, called also five-penny morris. See MORRIS.
  7. Me-rĭ'no, a.p. 831Of, or pertaining to, a variety of sheep of very fine wool, originally coming from Spain. 2. Made of the wool of the merino sheep.
  8. Me·ri'no, n.p. 831A thin fabric, of merino wool, for ladies' wear.
  9. Mē-ri-ō'nēs, n.p. 831(Zoöl.) A genus of rodent quadrupeds having long, slender, tapering tails, covered with short, slightly rigid hair. Baird.
  10. Mĕr'is-māt'ic, a.p. 831Taking place by separation, or division into cells or segments; as, merismatic growth, which occurs by a division of one cell into many.
  11. Mĕr'it, n.p. 831The quality or relation of deserving well or ill; desert. Had they no ground for hope but merit, that is, could they look for nothing more than what they should strictly deserve. Paley. 2. The…
  12. Mér'it, v. t.p. 831To earn by active service, or by any valuable performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to be entitled to; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense, to incur. This kindness merits…
  13. Mĕr'it, v. i.p. 831To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. And if in my poor death fair France may merit, Give me a thousand blows. Beau. & Fl.
  14. Mĕr'it-a-ble, a.p. 831Deserving of reward. [Obs.]
  15. Mĕr'it-ed-ly, adv.p. 831By merit; deservedly.
  16. Mĕr'it-mŏn/gĕr, n.p. 831One who advocates the doctrine of human merit, as entitled to reward, or depends on merit for salvation. Milner.
  17. Mĕr'-i-tō'ri-oūs, a.p. 831Possessing merit or desert; deserving of reward or honor; worthy of recompense; valuable. And meritorious shall that hand be called, Canonized, and worshiped as a saint. Shak.
  18. Měr'i-tō'ri-oūs-ly, adv.p. 831In a meritorious manner.
  19. Mĕr'i-tō'ri-ous-ness, n.p. 831The state or quality of being meritorious, or of deserving reward.
  20. Mĕr'i-to-ry, a.p. 831Deserving of reward. [Obs.] Gower.
  21. Mẽr'i-tŏt, n.p. 831A kind of play used by children, in swinging themselves on ropes, or the like, till they are giddy.
  22. Mẽrk, n.p. 831An old Scotch silver coin, worth about three dollars and twenty-two cents.
  23. Mẽrk or Mẽrke, n.p. 831A mark. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  24. Mẽrke, a.p. 831Dark; murky. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  25. Mĕr'kin, n.p. 831Originally, a wig; hence, a mop for cleaning cannon.
  26. Mĕrl or Mĕrle, n.p. 831A blackbird. The merl upon her myrtle perch There to the mavis sings. Drayton.
  27. Měr'lin, n.p. 831(Ornith.) A species of small hawk, of the genus Falco. 2. A wizard.
  28. Mĕr'ling, n.p. 831(Ichth.) A small fish; Merlangus vulgaris (Gadus merlangus of Linnæus); the whiting.
  29. Mĕr'lon, n.p. 831(Fort.) That part of a parapet which lies between two embrasures.
  30. Mē'ro-cēle, n.p. 831(Med.) Hernia of the thigh. Dunglison.
  31. Mĕr'os, n.p. 831(Arch.) The plain surface between the channels of a triglyph. [Written also merus.] Weale.
  32. Mĕr'māid, n.p. 831A fabled marine animal, having the upper part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph with a fish’s tail.
  33. Mĕr'măn, n. pl.p. 831MĚR'-MĚN. The male corresponding to mermaid: a sea man, with the tail of a fish instead of legs.
  34. Me-rō'p'i-dān, n.p. 831(Ornith.) One of a family of birds, characterized by being usually of a green color, and by having long, slightly arched beaks, and long, pointed wings; the bee-eater.
  35. Mēr'ops, n.p. 831(Ornith.) A genus of birds; the bee-eater. See BEE-EATER.
  36. Mer-ôr'gan-i-zā'tion, n.p. 831An organization not fully completed, or made only in part; partial organization. [Rare.]
  37. Mĕr'ri-ly, adv.p. 831In a merry manner; with mirth; with gayety and laughter; jovially. See MIRTH and MERRY. Merrily sing, and sport, and play.
  38. Mĕr'ri-māke, n.p. 831A meeting for mirth; a festival; mirth. [Written also merry-make.]
  39. Mĕr'ri-māke, v. i.p. 831To make merry; to be merry or jovial; to feast. [Written also merry-make.] Gay.
  40. Mĕr'ri-ment, n.p. 831Gayety, with laughter or noise; noisy sport; mirth; hilarity; frolic. Methought it was the sound Of riot and ill-managed merriment. Milton. Syn.—See GLADNESS.
  41. Mĕr'ri-ness, n.p. 831The quality of being merry; merriment; mirth; gayety, with laughter.
  42. Mĕr'ry, a.p. 831Brisk; lively; stirring. There eke my feeble bark a while may stay, Till merry wind and weather call her thence away. Spenser. 2. Noisily gay; overflowing with good humor and good spirits; hilarious…
  43. Mĕr'ry, n.p. 831A kind of wild, red cherry.
  44. Mĕr'ry-ăn/drew, n.p. 831One whose business is to make sport for others; a buffoon; a zany; especially, one who attends a mountebank or quack doctor. ☞ This term is said to have originated from one Andrew Borde, a physician…
  45. Mĕr'ry-māke, n. & v. i.p. 831See MERRIMAKE.
  46. Mēr'ry-māk'ing, a.p. 831Producing mirth. Mirth, music, merry-making melody Speed the light hours no more at Holyrood. Hillhouse.
  47. Mĕr'ry-māk'ing or Mĕr'ry-meet'ing, n.p. 831A festival; a meeting for mirth.
  48. Mĕr'ry-thought, n.p. 831The forked bone of a fowl's breast, which is broken in sport by two persons, one pulling at each end, the longest part broken being taken as an omen that the one who gets it will be married first; a…
  49. Měr'sion, n.p. 831The act of sinking or plunging under water; immersion.
  50. Me-rū'li-dān, n.p. 831(Ornith.) A bird of the thrush family.
  51. Mē'rus, n.p. 831See MEROS.
  52. Mēg'-a-thē'ri-um, n.p. 831(Paleon.) A genus of mammals, allied to the camel, not now in existence, but found fossil.
  53. Mĕs'a-rā'ic, a.p. 831Pertaining to the mesentery; mesenteric.
  54. Mes-dāmes’, n.p. 831pl. of madame.
  55. Me-seems', v. impers.p. 831It seems to me.
  56. Me-sĕm'brȳ-ăn'-the-măm, n.p. 831(Bot.) A genus of plants, mostly shrubby, found at the Cape of Good Hope. The leaves are opposite, thick, and fleshy. The flowers usually open about midday, whence the name.
  57. Mēs'en-çe-phāl'ic, a.p. 831(Anat.) Occupying a central position in the head or skull. See SKULL.
  58. Mēs'en-tēr'ic, a.p. 831Pertaining to the mesentery; as, mesenteric glands or arteries.
  59. Mes-en-te-rī'tis, n.p. 831(Med.) Inflammation of the mesentery. Dunglison.
  60. Mĕs'en-tēr'y or Mĕs'en-tĕr'y, n.p. 831(Anat.) A membrane in the cavity of the abdomen, which retains the intestines and their appendages in a proper position. Dunglison.