Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mi'nus, a. p. 842(Math.) Less; also, requiring to be subtracted; negative; as, a minus quantity. Minus sign (Math.), the sign [−] denoting minus, or less, prefixed to negative quantities, or quantities to be…Mi-nŭs'cule, n. p. 842Any very small, minute object; especially, a small letter.Min'ū-ta-ry, a. p. 842Pertaining to, or consisting of, minutes. [Obs.] “Their clock gathering up the least crumb of time, presenting the minutary fractions thereof.” Fuller.Mi-nūte', a. p. 842Very small, little, or slender; of inferior bulk, size, or consequence; slight. 2. Attentive to small things; critical; particular; as, minute observation; minute philosophy. Syn.—Little; diminutive…Mĭn′ute, n. p. 842Something very small; a very slight portion; a jot; a mite; minutia. [Obs.] Who would have dreamt Of a young morsel now? things come in minutes. Beau. & Fl. The smallest minute of his expense shall…Min'ute, v. t. p. 842To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a brief summary of. The Empress of Russia, with her own hand, minuted an edict for universal tolerance. Bancroft.Mĭn'ute-bĕll, n. p. 842A bell sounded regularly at intervals of one minute.Mĭn'ute-book, n. p. 842A book of short hints.Min'ute-glāss, n. p. 842A glass, the sand of which measures a minute in running.Mĭn'ute-gūn, n. p. 842A gun discharged every minute, as a signal of distress or mourning.Mĭn'ute-hānd, n. p. 842The hand that points to the minutes on a clock or watch.Mĭn'ute-jăck, n. p. 842A figure which strikes the hour of a clock; — called also jack of the clock-house.Mi-nūte'ly, adv. p. 842In a minute manner; to a small point of time, space, or matter; exactly; nicely.Min’ute-ly, a. p. 842Happening every minute. [Obs.] “Throwing themselves absolutely upon God’s minutely providence.” Hammond.Min'ute-ly, adv. p. 842Every minute; with very little time intervening. What is it but a continued, perpetuated voice from heaven, resounding forever in our ears? as if it were minutely proclaimed in thunder from heaven.…Min'ute-măn, n. p. 842A man enlisted for service wherever required, and ready to march at a moment's notice; — a term used in the American revolution.Mi-nūte'ness, n. p. 842The quality of being minute; exiguity; extreme smallness, fineness, or slenderness. 2. Attention to small things; critical exactness; as, the minuteness of observation or distinction.Mĭn'ute-watch, n. p. 842A watch that distinguishes minutes of time, or on which minutes are marked. Boyle.Mĭ-nū'ti-ă or MĪ-NŪ'TI-Æ, n. p. 842A minute particular; smallest detail; — used chiefly in the plural.Minx, n. p. 842A pert, wanton girl. 2. A she puppy. 3. A kind of animal; the mink. See MINK.Min'y, a. p. 842Abounding with mines; subterraneous.Mĭ'o-cēne, a. p. 842(Geol.) Less recent; — a term applied to the middle division of the tertiary strata.Miq'ue-lēt, n. p. 842(Mil.) An irregular or partisan soldier. Smart.Mi-rāb'i-la-ry, n. p. 842One who narrates wonderful things; one who writes of wonders. [Obs.] The use of this work . . . is nothing less than to give contentment to the appetite of curious and vain will, as the manner of…Mi'ra-ble, a. p. 842Wonderful; admirable. [Obs.] Shak.Mir'a-cle, n. p. 842A wonder or wonderful thing. 2. Specifically, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. “A…Mi'rā-cle, v. t. p. 842To make wonderful. [Obs.] Shak.Mir'a-cle-mōn'ger, n. p. 842An impostor who pretends to work miracles.Mī-răc'ū-līze, v. t. p. 842To cause to seem to be a miracle; to render miraculous. [Obs. and rare.] Shaftesbury.Mī-rāe'ū-lōŭs, a. p. 842Of the nature of a miracle; performed supernaturally; effected by the direct agency of almighty power, and not by natural causes. 2. Extraordinarily wonderful; supernatural.Mi-rā'cū-lou's-ly, adv. p. 842In a miraculous manner; by miracle; supernaturally. Æneas, wounded as he was, could not have engaged him in single combat, unless his hurt had been miraculously healed. Dryden. 2. By extraordinary…Mi-rā'cū-lōus-ness, n. p. 842The quality of being miraculous.Mi'ra-dōr', n. p. 842(Arch.) A balcony or gallery commanding an extensive view.Mi-rāge', n. p. 842An optical illusion arising from an unequal refraction in the lower strata of the atmosphere, and causing remote objects to be seen double, as if reflected in a mirror, or to appear as if suspended…Mīre, n. p. 842Earth so wet and soft as to yield to pressure; deep mud.Mire, v. t. p. 842To plunge and fix in mire; to set or stall in mud. 2. To soil or daub with mud or foul matter.Mire, v. i. p. 842To sink in mud, or to sink so deep as to be unable to move forward.Mire, n. p. 842An ant. [Obs.] See PISMIRE.Mīre'-crōw, n. p. 842(Ornith.) The pewit or laughing gull (Xenia ridibunda); sea-crow. Baird.Mīre'drum, n. p. 842(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Botaurus (B. stellaris); the bittern.Mī-rīf'ic or Mī-rīf'ic-al, a. p. 842Working wonders; wonderful.Mi-rīf'i-cent, a. p. 842Causing wonder; wonderful. [Obs.]Mir'i-ness, n. p. 842The state or quality of being miry.Mĭrk, a. p. 842Dark; murky. See MURKY. That we may do Our Father's business in the temples mirk. Browning.Mĭrk'sŏme, a. p. 842Dark; obscure. [Obs.] “Mirksome air.” Spenser.Mirk'sōme-ness, n. p. 842Obscurity. See MURKY. [Obs.] “Clearly comprehend all the darkest mirksomeness therein.” Mountagu.Mirk'y, a. p. 842Murky; dark; obscure. See MURKY.Mĭr'ror, n. p. 842[Fr. miroir, O. Fr. mireor, Pr. mirador, It. miratore, mirradore, Lat. as if miratorium, from Fr. mirer, Pr., Sp., & Pg. mirar, It. mirare, to behold, view, from Lat. mirari, to wonder. [Cf.…Mĭr'ror, v. t. p. 842To reflect, as in a mirror.Mir'ror-stōne, n. p. 842A bright stone, or one which reflects like a mirror. [Obs.]Mirth, n. p. 842Social merriment; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in company; noisy gayety; jollity; hilarity. I will cause to cease . . . the voice of mirth from the streets of Jerusalem. Jer. vii. 34. With…Mirth'ful, a. p. 842Full of mirth or merriment; merry; jovial; festive. The feast was served, the bowl was crowned; To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round. Prior.Mirth'ful-ly, adv. p. 842In a mirthful manner.Mirth'ful-ness, n. p. 842The state or quality of being mirthful.Mīrth'less, a. p. 842Without mirth or hilarity.Mirth'less-ness, n. p. 842Absence of mirth.Mir'y, a. p. 842Abounding with deep mud; full of mire; as, a miry road; a miry lane. 2. Consisting of mire.Mīr'zā, n. p. 842The common style of honor in Persia, when it precedes the surname of an individual. When appended to the surname, it signifies prince. Brande.Mis. p. 842A prefix denoting error, wrong, defect, unlikeness, and the like.Mis-ăc'cep-tā'tion, n. p. 842Wrong acceptation; understanding in a wrong sense.