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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ob-liv'i-ous, a. p. 901Promoting oblivion; causing forgetfulness. “The oblivious pool.” Milton. Behold the wonders of the oblivious lake. Pope. 2. Evincing oblivion; forgetful. “Through age both weak in body and…Ob-liv'i-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 901In an oblivious manner; forgetfully.Ob-liv'i-ōus-ness, n. p. 901The state of being oblivious or forgetful.Ob-lŏc'ū-tor, n. p. 901A gainsayer. (Obs.)Ŏb'lōng, a. p. 901Having greater length than breadth.Ob'long, n. p. 901A rectangular figure which is longer than it is broad; hence, any figure longer than it is broad. The best figure of a garden I esteem an oblong upon a descent. Sir W. Temple.Ŏb'long-ish, a. p. 902Somewhat oblong.Ŏb'long-ly, adv. p. 902In an oblong form.Ŏb'long-ness, n. p. 902The state of having greater length than breadth.Ob'long-ō'vate, a. p. 902(Bot.) Between oblong and obovate, but inclined to the latter.Ob-lō'qui-oŭs, a. p. 902Containing obloquy; reproachful. [Obs.] Naunton.Ōb'lo-quy, n. p. 902Censorious speech; reproachful language; language that casts contempt on men or their actions. Shall names that made your city the glory of the earth be mentioned with obloquy and detraction?…Ŏb'luĕ-tā'tion, n. p. 902A struggle or striving against; resistance. [Obs.] Fotherby.Ŏb'mu-tēs'çençe, n. p. 902Loss of speech; silence. Browne. 2. A keeping silence. Paley.Ob-nŏx'ious, a. p. 902Liable to censure; exposed to punishment; reprehensible; blameworthy. “Obnoxious authors.” Fell. All are obnoxious, and this faulty land, Like fainting Hester, does before you stand Watching your…Ob-nŏx'ious-ly, adv. p. 902In an obnoxious manner.Ob-nŏx'ious-ness, n. p. 902The condition of being obnoxious; liability; odiousness; offensiveness.Ob-nū'bi-lāte, v. t. p. 902To cloud; to obscure. [Obs.] Burton.Ob-nū'bi-lā'tion, n. p. 902The act or operation of making dark or obscure. [Obs.] Beddoes.Ō’bo-e, n. p. 902A portable wind instrument of music sounded by means of a reed, and in form somewhat like a clarionet; a hautboy. Moore.Ŏb'ōle, n. p. 902The weight of twelve grains; or, according to some, of ten grains. [Written also obol.]Ŏb'o-līze, v. t. p. 902The same as OBELIZE, q. v.ŏb'o-lūs, n. p. 902(Antiq.) (a.) A small silver coin of Athens, the sixth part of a drachma, about three cents in value. (b.) An ancient weight, the sixth part of a drachm.Ob-ō'vate, a. p. 902(Bot.) Inversely ovate; ovate with the narrow end downward; as, an obovate leaf.Ob-rĕp'tion, n. p. 902The act of creeping on with secrecy or by surprise. [Obs.]Ŏb'rep-tī'tiŏŭs, a. p. 902Done or obtained by surprise; with secrecy, or by concealment of the truth. [Rare.]Ob'ro-gāte, v. t. p. 902To propose or proclaim a new and contrary law, instead of annulling the old one. [Obs.]Ob-scēne', a. p. 902Offensive to chastity and delicacy; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity, and decency forbid to be exposed; impure; as, obscene language; obscene pictures. 2.…Ob-scēne'ly, adv. p. 902In a manner offensive to chastity or purity; impurely; unchastely.Ob-scēne'ness or Ob-scēn'i-ty, n. p. 902That quality in words or things which presents what is offensive to chastity or purity of mind; ribaldry; impurity; lewdness. To wash the obscenities of night away. Dryden. No pardon vile obscenity…Ob-scū'rant, n. p. 902One who obscures; one who hinders or prevents enlightenment or the progress of knowledge. I will venture to appeal to these self-obscurants, whose faith dwells in the land of the shadow of darkness.…Ob-sēūr'ant-īsm, n. p. 902The system or the principles of one who desires to extinguish the lights of reason and inquiry among the people; and who opposes the progress of knowledge.Ob-sēūr'ant-ist, n. p. 902One who seeks to obscure the light of knowledge; one who opposes the progress of knowledge and enlightenment; an obscurant. “An author of the obscurantist or pseudo-conservative school.” C. Kingsley.Ŏb'scu-rā'tion, n. p. 902The act of obscuring. 2. The state of being obscured; as, the obscuration of the moon in an eclipse.Ob-scūre', a. p. 902Covered over, shaded, darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov. xx. 20. 2. Living in…Ob-scūre', v. t. p. 902To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to conceal; to hide from view; to make less intelligible, legible, visible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious. They are couched in a pit hard by Herne's…Ob-scūre′, v. i. p. 902To conceal one's self; to hide. [Obs.] How! there's bad news. I must obscure, and hear it. Beau. & Fl.Ob-scūre', n. p. 902Obscurity. [Obs.] “The dark and palpable obscure.” Milton.Ob-scūre'ly, adv. p. 902In an obscure manner; imperfectly; darkly; dimly; privately; indirectly.Ob-scūre'ment, n. p. 902The act of obscuring, or the state of being obscured; obscuration. [Obs.]Ob-scūre'ness or Ob-scū'ri-ty, n. p. 902The state or quality of being obscure; darkness; privacy; unintelligibleness; humility. You are not for obscurity designed. Dryden. They were now brought forth from obscurity, to be contemplated by…Ob-scūr'er, n. p. 902One who, or that which, obscures.Ŏb'se-crāte, v. t. p. 902To beseech; to entreat; to supplicate. Cockeram.Ŏb'se-crā'tion, n. p. 902Act of obsecrating or imploring. Stillingfleet. 2. (Rhet.) A figure of speech in which the orator implores the assistance of God or man.Ŏb'se-erā'to-ry, a. p. 902Expressing, or used in, entreaty; supplicatory. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Ŏb'se-quent, a. p. 902Obedient; submissive. [Obs.]Ob-sē'qui-ence, n. p. 902Obsequiousness. [Rare.]Ob-sē'qui-ous, a. p. 902Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another. [Obs.] His servants weeping. Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither. Addison. 2. Hence…Ob-sē'qui-ōs-ly, adv. p. 902In an obsequious manner; with obsequiousness; with prompt compliance. They rise, and with respectful awe, At the word given, obsequiously withdraw. Dryden. 2. In a manner appropriate to obsequies…Ob-sē'qui-oŭs-ness, n. p. 902The state of being obsequious; ready obedience; servile submission. They apply themselves both to his interest and humor, with all the arts of flattery and obsequiousness. South.Ōb'se-quy, n. p. 902A funeral rite or solemnity; the last duty performed to a deceased person;—rare in the singular; chiefly used in the plural. Him I'll solemnly attend With silent obsequy and funeral train. Milton. I…Ōb'se-rāte, v. t. p. 902To lock up. [Obs.]Ob-sĕrv'a-ble, a. p. 902Worthy or capable of being observed or noticed; remarkable. The difference is sufficiently observable. Southey.Ob-sērv'a-ble-ness, n. p. 902The state or quality of being observable; remarkableness.Ob-sĕrv'a-bly, adv. p. 902In an observable manner; in a manner worthy of note.Ob-sĕrv'ance, n. p. 902The act of observing or noticing with attention; fidelity of performance; attention; tokens or marks of fidelity. O that I wasted time to tend upon her, To compass her with sweet observances!…Ob-sĕrv'an-cy, n. p. 902The same as OBSERVANCE. [Obs.]Ŏb'ser-vān'dum, n. p. 902A thing to be observed.Ob-sĕrv'ant, a. p. 902Taking notice; attentively viewing or noticing; as, an observant spectator or traveler. 2. Obedient; adhering to in practice;—with of; as, he is very observant of the rules of his order. We are told…Ob-sĕrv'ant, n. p. 902One who rigidly adheres to rule; also, a formal or sycophantic servant. [Obs.] Than twenty silly ducking observants, That stretch their duties nicely. Shak. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a monkish…