Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mid'wald, n. p. 837A kind of bird that feeds upon bees.Mid'ward, a. p. 837Situated in the middle. [Obs.]Mid'ward, adv. p. 837In or toward the midst. [Obs.]Mid’wāy, n. p. 837The middle of the way or distance. “Paths indirect, or in the midway faint.” Milton.Mid'way, a. p. 837Being in the middle of the way or distance; as, the midway air.Mid'wāy, adv. p. 837In the middle of the way or distance; half way. She met his glance midway. Dryden.Mid'wife, n. p. 837A woman that assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art.Mid'wīfe, v. i. p. 837To perform the office of midwife.Mid'wīfe, v. t. p. 837To assist in childbirth.Mid'wīfe-ry or Mid'wife-ry, n. p. 837The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth; obstetrics. 2. Assistance at childbirth; help or co-operation in production.Mid’wīn-ter, n. p. 837The middle of winter, or the winter solstice, December 21; also, the middle of severe winter weather, which is, usually, much later.Mid'wīve, v. t. p. 837To perform the duties of a midwife to; to midwife. [Obs.] South.Miēn, n. p. 837Look; air; manner; external appearance; carriage; bearing. Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated, needs but to be seen. Pope. Syn.—Look; air; countenance; aspect; demeanor…Miff, n. p. 837A slight degree of resentment. [Colloq.]Miffed, a. p. 837Slightly offended. [Colloq.]Might, imp. p. 837of may. [A-S. meahte, mihte.]Might (mīt), n. p. 837Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose or feeling; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity. Thou shalt love the…Might'i-ly, adv. p. 837In a mighty manner; with might; with great earnestness; vigorously; powerfully. Let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God. Jonah iii. 8. So mightily grew the word of God…Might'i-ness, n. p. 837The quality of being mighty; possession of might; power; greatness; height of dignity. How soon this mightiness meets misery! Shak. 2. Highness; excellency;—used chiefly with a personal pronoun, as a…Might'less, a. p. 837Having no might or power; weak. [Obs.] “The rose is mightless.” Brunne.Might'y, a. p. 837Possessing might; having great power; forcible; strong; vigorous; valiant. “The fat beeves which they roasted, and the mighty ale that they brewed.” W. Scott. I'll sing of heroes and of kings, In…Might'y, adv. p. 837In a great degree; very; as, mighty wise; mighty thoughtful. [Collog.] He was mighty methodical, too, in ordering his household. Jeffreys.Migniard, a. p. 837Soft; dainty; delicate; pretty. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Mign'iard-ise, n. p. 837Delicacy; gentleness. [Obs.] “With all the migniardise and quaint caresses you can put upon them.” B. Jonson.Mign'on-nĕtte', n. p. 837(Bot.) An annual flowering plant, having a delicate and an agreeable fragrance; Reseda odorata.Mĭ'grant, a. p. 837Making migrations; migratory.Mī'grant, n. p. 837A bird or other animal which is migratory.Mi'grâte, v. i. p. 837To remove from one country or state to another, with a view to residence; to change one's place of residence; to go to another home; to pass from a colder to a warmer climate in the autumn, returning…Mi-grā'tion, n. p. 837The act of migrating or removing from one kingdom, state, or country to another.Mi'gra-to-ry, a. p. 837Removing or accustomed to remove from one state or country to another. 2. Regularly or occasionally removing from one place to another; roving; wandering; occasionally removing for pasturage; as, the…Mil′age, n. p. 837The same as MILEAGE.Mil'an-ēse', n., sing. & pl. p. 837(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Milan in Italy; in the plural, the people of Milan.Mil'an-ēse', a. p. 837(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Milan, or the inhabitants of Milan.Milch, a. p. 837Giving or furnishing milk;—now applied only to beasts. Not above fifty-one have been starved, excepting infants at nurse, caused rather by carelessness and infirmity of the milch women. Grant. I have…Mild, a. p. 837Tender and gentle in temper or disposition; kind; compassionate; merciful; clement; indulgent; not severe or cruel. It teaches us to adore him as a mild and merciful Being. Rogers. 2. Not showing…Mil'dew, n. p. 837A thin, whitish, powdery or cobweb-like coating, consisting of minute fungi, and found on various diseased or decaying substances.Mil'dew, v. t. p. 837To taint with mildew. “He mildews the white wheat.” Milton.Mil'dew, v. i. p. 837To become tainted with mildew.Mild'ly, adv. p. 837In a mild manner; softly; gently; tenderly; not roughly or violently; moderately.Mild'ness, n. p. 837The quality of being mild; tenderness; clemency; gentleness; softness. My mildness hath allayed their swelling grief. Shak. 2. Temperateness; moderation; pleasant condition; as, the mildness of the…Mīle, n. p. 837A certain measure of distance, being equivalent to 320 rods, or 5280 feet. ☞ The English geographical or nautical mile is one sixtieth part of a degree of latitude, or about 2025 yards. The Roman…Mile'age, n. p. 837An allowance for traveling, as so much by the mile; especially, in the United States, an allowance made to members of Congress to defray the expenses of their journeys to and from Washington.…Mīle′-pōst or Mīle′-stōne, n. p. 837A post or stone set to mark the distance or space of a mile.Mile'-rūn, n. p. 837A unit of work in railway accounts; — called also train-mile. ☞ The cost of fuel, maintenance, &c., is roughly estimated by dividing the total cost by the number of miles run by all the trains.Mi-lē'sian, n. p. 837(Anc. Geog.) A native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Miletus in Asia Minor. 2. A native or inhabitant of Ireland, descended, according to the legendary history of the country, from King…Mi-lē'sian, a. p. 838(Anc. Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Miletus or its inhabitants. 2. (Irish Legendary Hist.) Descended from King Milesius; relating to the descendants of King Milesius.Mĭl'foil, n. p. 838(Bot.) An herb of the genus Achillea; yarrow.Mīl'i-ā'ri-ā, n. p. 838(Med.) A fever accompanied by an eruption of small, isolated, red pimples, resembling a millet seed in form or size; miliary fever.Mil'ia-ry, a. p. 838Resembling millet seeds; as, a miliary eruption. 2. Accompanied with an eruption like millet seeds; as, a miliary fever. Miliary glands, the sebaceous glands of the skin.Mi-līce′, n. p. 838Militia. [Obs.]Mīl'i-ō'lā, n. p. 838(Paleon.) An extinct genus of microscopic, univalve shells.Mīl’i-o-līte, n. p. 838(Palæon.) A fossil shell of the genus Miliola.Mil'i-o-lit'ic, a. p. 838Of, pertaining to, or containing, miliolites.Mĭl'i-tan-cy, n. p. 838Warfare. [Obs.]Mĭl'i-tant, a. p. 838Engaged in warfare; fighting; combating; serving as a soldier. At which command the powers militant Moved on in silence. Milton. Church militant, the Christian church on earth, which is supposed to…Mĭl'i-tant-ly, adv. p. 838In a militant manner. [Rare.]Mīl'i-tar, a. p. 838Military. [Obs.] “A prince in militar virtue approved.” Bacon.Mil'i-ta-ri-ly, adv. p. 838In a military or soldierly manner.Mĭl'i-ta-rist, n. p. 838One devoted to military pursuits; a military man. [Obs.] “Gallant militarist.” Shak.Mil'i-ta-ry, a. p. 838Pertaining to soldiers, to arms, or to war; having to do with the affairs of war; as, a military parade or appearance; military discipline. 2. Engaged in the service of soldiers or arms; as, a…