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.
Ob-vĕrse', a. p. 904(Bot.) Having the base narrower than the top, as a leaf.ŏb'vĕrse, n. p. 904The face of a coin, having the principal image or inscription upon it; also, a projecting image or relief, as opposed to the corresponding depressed impression:—opposed to reverse. 2. Any thing…Ob-vĕrse'ly, adv. p. 904In an obverse form or manner.Ob-vĕr'sion, n. p. 904The act of turning toward or downward.Ob-vĕrt', v. t. p. 904To turn toward or downward.ŏb'vi-āte, v. t. p. 904To meet in the way; hence, to prevent by interception, or to remove at the beginning or in the outset; hence, to clear the way of. To lay down every thing in its full light, so as to obviate all…ŏb'vi-ā'tion, n. p. 904The act of obviating, or the state of being obviated.ŏb'vi-oŭs, a. p. 904Meeting; opposed in front. [Obs.] I to the evil turn My obvious breast. Milton. 2. Open; exposed; liable; subject. “Obvious to dispute.” Milton. 3. Easily discovered, seen, or understood; readily…ŏb'vi-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 904In a manner that is obvious; evidently; plainly.ŏb'vi-oŭs-ness, n. p. 904The state of being obvious or evident to the eye or the mind.ŏb'vo-lūte or ŏb'vo-lūt'ed, a. p. 904(Bot.) Arranged so as alternately to overlap, as the margins of one leaf those of the opposite one. Gray.ŏbŷ, n. p. 904Witchcraft among the African negroes. The same as OBEAH.ŏ'bŷ-ĭsm, n. p. 904The practice of a species of witchcraft among the negroes of Africa.ŏe, n. p. 904A Turkish arrow.Oc-cā′sion, n. p. 904A falling, happening, or coming to pass; hence, that which falls or happens out of the regular order of events; an occurrence, casualty, incident. The unlooked-for incidents of family history, and…Oc-cā'sion, v. t. p. 905To give occasion to; to cause incidentally; to produce; to influence; to cause. If we inquire what it is that occasions men to make several combinations of simple ideas into distinct modes. Locke.Oc-cā'sion-a-ble, a. p. 905Capable of being occasioned. [Obs.] Barrow.Oc-cā'sion-al, a. p. 905Pertaining to or occurring at times, but not regular or systematic; made or happening as opportunity requires or admits; called out by some occasion; furnishing an occasion; casual; incidental; as…Oc-cā'sion-al-ĭsm, n. p. 905The system of occasional causes; — a name given to certain theories of the Cartesian school of philosophers, by which they account for the apparent reciprocal action of the soul and the body.Oc-cā'sion-ăl'i-ty, n. p. 905The state or quality of being occasional; occurrence at intervals or occasionally.Oc-cā'sion-al-ly, adv. p. 905In an occasional manner; on occasion; at times, as convenience requires or opportunity offers; not regularly. “The one, Wol-sey, directly his subject by birth; the other, his subject occasionally by…Oc-cā'sion-āte, v. t. p. 905To cause; to occasion. [Obs. and rare.] The lowest may occasionate much ill. More.Oc-cā'sion-er, n. p. 905One who occasions, causes, or produces. He was the occasioner of loss to his neighbor. Sanderson.Oc-cā'sive, a. p. 905Pertaining to the setting sun; falling; descending; western.Oc-ce-cā'tion, n. p. 905The act of making blind. [Rare.]ŏc'ci-dent, n. p. 905The western quarter of the hemisphere; the west; — so called from the decline, or fall, of the sun.Oc'ci-dent'al, a. p. 905Situated in, or pertaining to, the west; western; — opposed to oriental: as, occidental climates; occidental pearl; occidental gold. 2. Setting after the sun; as, an occidental planet. 3. Possessing…Oc-cid'ū-ous, a. p. 905Western; occidental. [Obs.]Oc-cip'i-tal, a. p. 905Pertaining to the occiput, or the back part of the head.Ŏc'ci-pūt, n. p. 905(Anat.) The hinder part of the head, or that part of the skull which forms the hind part of the head.Oe-cĭs′ion, n. p. 905A killing; the act of killing. [Obs.] Hall.Oc-clūde', v. t. p. 905To shut up; to close. [Obs.] Browne.Oc-clū'dent, a. p. 905Serving to close; shutting up. [Obs.]Oc-clūd'ent, n. p. 905That which closes or shuts up.Oc-clūse', a. p. 905Shut; closed. [Obs.] Holder.Oc-clū'sion, n. p. 905The act of occluding, or shutting up; the state of being shut up. “Constriction and occlusion of the orifice.” Howell. 2. The transient approximation of the edges of a natural opening; also…Oc-cŭlt’, a. p. 905Hidden from the eye or understanding; invisible; secret; unknown; undiscovered; undetected. “Occult guilt.” Shak. It is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape…Oc'cul-ta'tion, n. p. 905The act of rendering occult, or the state of being occult. “The re-appearance of such an author after those long periods of occultation.” Jeffrey. 2. (Astron.) The hiding of a heavenly body from…Oc-cùlt'ed, a. p. 905Hid; secret. [Obs.] Shak. 2. (Astron.) Hidden or concealed by the intervention of some other heavenly body, as a star by the moon.Oc-cult'ing, n. p. 905The same as OCCULTATION.Ŏc-cŭlt'ly, adv. p. 905In an occult manner.Ŏc-cŭlt'ness, n. p. 905The state of being occult; secretness.Ŏc'cu-pan-cy, n. p. 905The act of taking or holding possession; possession. Title by occupancy (Law), a right of property acquired by taking the first possession of a thing, or possession of a thing which belonged to…Ŏc'cu-pant, n. p. 905One who occupies, or takes possession; one who has the actual use or possession, or is in possession, of a thing. ☞ This word, in law, sometimes signifies one who takes the first possession of a…Ōc'cu-pāte, v. t. p. 905To hold; to possess; to take up. [Obs.] Bacon.Ŏc'cu-pā'tion, n. p. 905The act of occupying or taking possession. 2. The state of being occupied; possession; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as, lands in the occupation of a tenant. 3. That which occupies or engages…Ŏc'cu-pī'er, n. p. 905One who occupies, or has possession. 2. One who follows an employment; hence, a tradesman. [Obs.] Also for coffins or coronets to lap spices and fruits in, and thereupon merchants and occupiers gave…ŏc'cu-pȳ, v. t. p. 905To take or hold in possession; to hold or keep for use; to possess. The better apartments were already occupied. W. Irving. 2. To hold, or fill, the dimensions of; to take up; to possess; to cover or…ŏc'cu-py, v. i. p. 905To hold possession; to be an occupant; to follow business; to negotiate. Occupy till I come. Luke xix. 13.Oc-cûr', v. i. p. 905— [Lat. occurrere, from prefix ob and currere, to run; It. occorrere, Sp. occurrir, Pr. occorrer, occorre, O. Fr. occurrir.] 1. To meet; to clash. [Obs.] “The resistance of the bodies they occur…Oc-cür'rençe, n. p. 905A coming or happening; hence, any incident or accidental event; that which happens without being designed or expected; any single event; as, an unusual occurrence, or the ordinary occurrences of…Oc·cur'rent, a. p. 905Occurring or happening; hence, incidental; accidental.Oc-cür'rent, n. p. 905One who meets; an adversary. “The weak parts of their occurrents, by which they may assail and conquer them sooner.” Holland. 2. Any thing that happens; an incident; an occurrence. Although these…Oc-cŭrse', n. p. 905A meeting or impact of bodies; occursion. [Obs.] Bentley.Oc-cûr'sion, n. p. 905A meeting of bodies; a clash. [Obs.] Boyle.Ō’cean, n. p. 905The water, considered as one vast body, which covers more than three fifths of the surface of the globe; — called also the sea, or great sea. 2. One of the large bodies of water into which the great…Ō'cean, a. p. 905Pertaining to the main or great sea; as, the ocean wave; ocean stream.Ō'ce-ăn'ic, a. p. 905Pertaining to the ocean; found or formed in the ocean.Ō'cean-ōl'o-gy, n. p. 905That branch of science which relates to the ocean; a treatise upon the ocean.O-cēl'a-nūs, n. p. 905(Myth.) The god of the sea.