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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mŏt'ley, a. p. 862Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled. “A motley coat.” Shak. ☞ The domestic fool of the great formerly wore a party-colored coat. Hence, in Shakespeare, Lear says, “A worthy…Mŏt'ley-mīnd'ed, a. p. 862Having diversified views and feelings. Shak.Mŏt'mŏt, n. p. 862(Ornith.) A passerine bird, of the genus Momotus, found in Brazil, having a long, strong, and thick beak, and a long, narrow tongue, barbed at the edges. It feeds upon insects, and builds its nest in…Mō'to, n. p. 862(Mus.) Movement; manner of movement; particularly, movement with increased rapidity;—used especially in the phrase con moto, directing to a somewhat quicker movement; as, andante con moto, a little…Mō'ton, n. p. 862(Anc. Armor.) A small plate covering the armpits of a knight, used when plate armor was worn. Fairholt.Mō'tor, n. p. 862One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source or originator of mechanical power; a moving power, as water, steam, animal strength, &c.Mō'tor or Mō'to-ry or Mo-tō'ri-al, a. p. 862Giving motion; pertaining to organs of motion; as, motory muscles.Mō'tor-pāth'ic, a. p. 862Of, or pertaining to, motorpathy.Mo-tōr'pa-thy, n. p. 862(Med.) A system of healing by directing and exercising the motions of the body;—called also the movement-cure.Mōt'tie, a. p. 862See MOTTY.Mōt'tle, v. t. p. 862To mark with spots of different color, or shades of color, as if stained; to spot; to maculate.Mōt'to, n. p. 862A sentence or phrase prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, and the like, intimating the subject of it; a brief sentence added to a device. It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his…Mōt'ty, a. p. 862Full of, or consisting of, motes. [Written also mottie.] [Scot.] The motty dust-reek raised by the workmen. H. Miller.Mouff'lon, n. p. 862(Zo-ol.) An animal of the sheep kind (Caprovis musimon), inhabiting the mountains of Sardinia, &c. Its horns are very large, with a triangular base, and rounded angles. It is supposed to be the…Mought p. 862the obsolete preterit of may.Mōuld or Mōuld'er or Mōuld'y p. 862&c. See MOLD, MOLDER, MOLDY, &c.Mou-line’ or Mou’li-net, n. p. 862The drum or roller upon which the rope is wound in a capstan, crane, or the like; also, a kind of turnstile. Wright.Mōult, v. & n. p. 862See MOLT.Moun, v. i. p. 862To be able; as an auxiliary, may; must. [Obs.] See MOWE. Moun ye drynke the cuppe whiche I schal drynke? thei seyn to him, we moun. Wycliffe, Luke xiii.Mounch, v. t. p. 862To munch. See MUNCH. [Obs.]Mound, n. p. 862An artificial hill or elevation of earth; a raised bank; an embankment thrown up for defense; a bulwark; a rampart; also, a natural elevation appearing as if thrown up artificially; a regular and…Mound, n. p. 862(Her.) A ball or globe forming part of the regalia of an emperor or other sovereign. It is encircled with bands, enriched with precious stones, and surmounted with a cross;—called also globe.Mound, v. t. p. 862To fortify with a mound.Mount, n. p. 862A mass of earth, or earth and rock, rising considerably above the common surface of the surrounding land; a mountain; a high hill;—used always instead of mountain, when put before a proper name; as…Mount, v. i. p. 862To rise on high; to go up; to be upraised or uplifted; to tower aloft; to ascend;—often with up. “Though Babylon should mount up to heaven.” Jer. ii. 53. The fire of trees and houses mounts on high.…Mount, v. t. p. 863To get upon; to ascend; to climb. Shall we mount again the rural throne? Dryden. 2. To place one's self on, as a horse or other animal, or any thing that one bestrides or sits upon; to bestride. 3.…Mount'a-ble, a. p. 863Capable of being ascended or mounted.Mount'ain, n. p. 863A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land; an elevation or protuberance on the earth’s surface; a high hill; a great eminence; a mount. 2. That which…Mount'ain, a. p. 863Pertaining to a mountain; found on mountains; growing or dwelling on a mountain; as, mountain air; mountain pines; mountain goats. 2. Of mountain size; like a mountain; vast. “The high, the mountain…Mount'ain-dew, n. p. 863Genuine Scotch whisky;—so called as being often secretly distilled in the mountains of Scotland.Mount-ain-eer’, n. p. 863An inhabitant of a mountain. 2. A rustic; a freebooter; a savage.Mount'ain-er, n. p. 863A mountaineer. [Obs.]Mount'ain-ĕt, n. p. 863A small mountain; a hillock. [Obs.] Sidney.Mount'ain-oŭs, a. p. 863Full of mountains; as, the mountainous country of the Swiss. 2. Large as a mountain; huge; as, a mountainous heap. Prior. 3. Inhabiting mountains. [Obs.] Bacon.Mount'ain-oŭs-ness, n. p. 863The state of being mountainous.Mount'ançe, n. p. 863Amount; sum; quantity. [Obs.]Mount'ant, a. p. 863Rising on high. [Obs.] Shak.Mount'e-bank, n. p. 863One who mounts a bench or stage in the market or other public place, boasts of his skill in curing diseases, and vends medicines which he pretends are infallible remedies; a quack-doctor. Such is the…Mount'e-bank, v. t. p. 863To cheat by boasting and false pretenses; to gull. [Rare.] Shak.Mount'e-bank-er-y, n. p. 863Quackery; boastful and vain pretenses.Mount'e-bank-ĭsm, n. p. 863The principles or practice of a mountebank; mountebankery.Mount'e-näunçe, n. p. 863Amount; distance. [Obs.] Spenser.Mount'er, n. p. 863One who mounts or ascends. 2. An animal mounted; a monture. [Obs.]Mount'ing, n. p. 863The act of preparing for use, or embellishing. 2. That by which any thing is prepared for use, or set off to advantage; equipment; embellishment; as, the mounting of a sword or diamond.Mount'ing-ly, adv. p. 863By rising or ascending.Mount'let, n. p. 863A small or low mountain. “Snowy mountlets.” P. Fletcher.Mount'y, n. p. 863The rise of a hawk. [Obs.] Sidney.Mōurn, v. i. p. 863To express grief or sorrow; to grieve; to be sorrowful; to lament. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. Gen. xxiii. 2. 2. To wear the customary habit of sorrow. We mourn in black…Mōurn, v. t. p. 863To grieve for; to lament; to deplore; to bewail. “As if he mourned his rival’s ill success.” Addison. 2. To utter in a sorrowful manner. The love-lorn nightingale Nightly to thee her sad song…Mōurne, n. p. 863The round end of a staff; the part of a lance to which the steel is fixed, or the ferrule. [Obs.] Sidney.Mōurn'er, n. p. 863One who mourns or is grieved at any loss or misfortune. His mourners were two hosts, his friends and foes. Byron. 2. One who follows a funeral in the habit of mourning.Mōurn'ful, a. p. 863Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; as, a mournful bell; mournful music. No funeral rites, nor man in mournful weeds. Shak. The mournful fair . . . Shall visit her…Mōurn'ful-ly, adv. p. 863In a manner expressive of sorrow; with sorrow.Mōurn'ful-ness, n. p. 863The condition of being mournful; sorrow; grief. 2. Appearance or expression of grief.Mōurn'ing, n. p. 863The act of sorrowing or expressing grief; lamentation; sorrow. 2. The dress or customary habit worn by mourners. And e'en the pavements were with mourning hid. Dryden.Mōurn'ing, p. a. p. 863Grieving; sorrowing; lamenting. 2. Employed to express sorrow or grief; worn or used as appropriate to the condition of one bereaved or sorrowing; as, mourning garments; mourning ring; mourning pin…Mōurn'ing-dȯve, n. p. 863A species of dove found in the United States (the Columba Carolinensis); — so name from its plaintive note; — called also the Carolina turtle-dove. Peabody.Mōurn'ing-ly, adv. p. 863With the appearance of sorrow; sorrowfully.Mouse, n. p. 863(Zoöl.) A small rodent quadruped (the Mus musculus), inhabiting houses. The name is also applied to many other allied species, as the field-mouse, meadow-mouse, rock-mouse, and the like. 2. (Naut.) A…Mouse, v. i. p. 863To watch for and catch mice. 2. To watch for or pursue any thing in a sly or insidious manner; to pry about, on the lookout for something.