Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mŏss'-bŭnk'er, n. p. 861(Ichth.) A fish (Alosa menhaden) related to the shad. De Kay.Mŏss'i-ness, n. p. 861The state of being overgrown with moss.Mŏss'-lănd, n. p. 861Land produced by the accumulation of aquatic plants, forming peat-bogs of more or less consistency, as the water is drained off or retained in its pores.Mŏss'-pĭnk, n. p. 861(Bot.) A plant of the genus Phlox (P. subulata), found on dry, rocky hills in the Middle United States, and often cultivated for its handsome flowers. Gray.Mŏss'-rōse, n. p. 861(Bot.) A variety of rose having a moss-like pubescence or growth on the calyx or envelope of the flower. London.Mŏss'-rŭsh, n. p. 861(Bot.) A plant of the genus Juncus (J. squarrosus).Mŏss'-trōop'er, n. p. 861One of a class of marauders or bandits that formerly infested the border country between England and Scotland. The name is derived from the character of the country over which they “trooped,” it…Mŏss'y, a. p. 861Overgrown with moss; abounding with moss. Old trees are more mossy than young. Bacon. 2. Bordered with moss; as, mossy brooks; mossy fountains. Pope. Cowley.Mōst, a. p. 861superl. of more. [Scot. mast, maist, A-S. mæst, Goth. maists, O. Sax., O. D., & Icel. mest, Dan. & D. meest, Sw. mast, O. & N. H. Ger. meist.] 1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity…Mōst, adv. p. 861In the greatest or highest degree. Those nearest the king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. Milton. ☞ Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative…Mōs'tic or Mōs'tick, n. p. 861A mahl-stick, or painter's staff or stick on which he rests his hand in painting.Mōs'ti-hī'bā, n. p. 861See MUSTAIBA.Mōst'ly, adv. p. 861For the greatest part; chiefly; in the main.Mōs'tra, n. p. 861(Mus.) A mark placed upon the staff at the end of a line to show what note the next line begins with; a direct. See DIRECT.Mōst'what, adv. p. 861For the most part. [Obs.] All the rest do mostwhat far amiss. Spencer.Mōt, n. p. 861A word; hence, a motto. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. 2. (Pron. mò.) A pithy or witty saying; a witticism. [A Gallicism.] Here and there turns up a . . . savage mot. North Brit. Rev. 3. A note or brief strain on…Mōt'a-çil, n. p. 861(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Motacilla.Mōt'a-çil'la, n. p. 861(Ornith.) A genus of passerine, dentirostral birds, including the wagtail. Baird.Mo-tā'tion, n. p. 861The act of moving; motion. [Obs.]Mōte p. 861A word used in composition, and signifying meeting, as in burgh-mote, folk-mote, and the like.Mōte, n. p. 861A small particle; any thing proverbially small; a spot; a speck. The little motes in the sun do ever stir, though there is no wind. Bacon. We are motes in the midst of generations. Lawlor. Mōte, for…Mo-tēl'la, n. p. 861(Ichth.) A genus of fishes, including the whistle-fish.Mo-tēt′, n. p. 861(Mus.) A musical composition adapted to sacred words in church style; an anthem.Mŏth, n. p. 861(Entom.) A lepidopterous insect, having antennæ that taper regularly to a point, chiefly of nocturnal habits. The clothes' moth is of several species of the genus Tinea. This breeds in yarn and…Mōth'eat, v. t. p. 861To eat or prey upon, as a moth eats a garment.Mōth'en, a. p. 861Full of moths. [Obs.] Fulke.Mōth'er, n. p. 861A female parent; especially, one of the human race; a woman who has borne a child; — correlate to son or daughter. 2. That which has produced any thing; source of birth or origin; that in which any…Mōth'er, a. p. 861Received by birth or from ancestors; native; natural; as, mother language; also, acting the part, or having the place, of a mother; originating. It is the mother falsehood from which all idolatry is…Mȯth'er, v. i. p. 862To become concreted, as the thick matter of liquors.Mȯth'er, v. t. p. 862To adopt as a son or daughter; to perform the duties of a mother to.Mȯth'er, n. p. 862A thick, slimy substance concreted in liquors, particularly in vinegar, but different from scum or common lees.Mōth'er-hōod, n. p. 862The state of being a mother; the character or office of a mother.Mōth'er-ing, n. p. 862A rural custom in England, practiced on Mid-lent Sunday, supposed to have been originally a visiting of the mother church to make offerings at the high altar, but now a friendly visit to a parent.…Mōth'er-in-law, n. p. 862The mother of one's husband or wife.Mōth'er-lānd, n. p. 862The land of one's mother or parents.Mōth’er-less, a. p. 862Destitute of a mother; having lost a mother; as, motherless children.Mōth'er-līq'uor, n. p. 862See MOTHER-WATER.Mŏth'er-ly, a. p. 862Pertaining to a mother; as, motherly power or authority. 2. Becoming a mother; tender; parental; as, motherly love or care. Syn. — Maternal; parental. — MOTHERLY, MATERNAL. Motherly, being…Mōth'ér-ly, adv. p. 862In the manner of a mother.Mōth'er-of-pēarl', n. p. 862The hard, silvery, brilliant, internal layer of several kinds of shells, particularly oysters, which is often variegated with changing purple and azure colors; nacre.Mōth'er-of-thŷme', n. p. 862(Bot.) A small aromatic plant (Thymus serpyllum);—called also wild-thyme. P. Cyc.Mōth'ér-queen, n. p. 862The mother of a reigning sovereign; queen-mother.Mōth'er-tōngue, n. p. 862A language from which another language has had its origin. 2. The language of one's native land; native language.Mōth'ér-wa/ter, n. p. 862The impure residue of a liquor or solution from which crystals have been obtained.Mōth'ér-wīt, n. p. 862Native wit; common sense.Mōth'er-wort, n. p. 862(Bot.) An herb of the genus Leonurus, of a bitter taste, used popularly in medicine.Mōth'er-y, a. p. 862Resembling or partaking of the nature of mother; concreted; as, the mothery substance in liquors.Mōth'-gnāt, n. p. 862(Entom.) A dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda.Mōth'-hūnt'er, n. p. 862(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Caprimulgus; the goat-sucker.Mōth'-mūl'lein or Mōth'-mūl'len, n. p. 862(Bot.) A plant of the genus Verbascum (V. blattaria), having flowers yellow or white tinged with purple. It is common by road-sides. Gray.Mōth'wort, n. p. 862A plant.Mōth'y, a. p. 862Full of moths; eaten by moths.Mō'tif, n. p. 862Motive. [Obs.] Chaucer.Mo-tif'ic, a. p. 862Producing motion. Good.Mō'tile, a. p. 862Having powers of self-motion, though unconscious; as, the motile spores of certain sea-weeds. Dana.Mo·til'i·ty, n. p. 862The faculty of moving; contractility. Dunglison.Mō'tion, n. p. 862The act or process of changing place; movement; alteration of position; the passing of a body from one place to another, whether by voluntary, organic, or mechanical action;—opposed to rest. 2.…Perpetual motion p. 862an incessant motion conceived to be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces independently of any action from without, or which has within itself the means, when once set in motion, of…Mō'tion, v. i. p. 862To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat. 2. To make proposal; to offer plans. [R.] Milton.Mō'tion, v. t. p. 862To propose. [Rare.] See MOVE. O thou that, . . . when we were quite breathless, didst motion peace and terms of covenant with us. Milton.