Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
O'pal, n. p. 913(Ichth.) A large sea-fish (Lampris guttatus), called also king-fish. Its back is of a steel-blue color, its flanks of a rich green, and its abdomen of a rose color.O-pāke', a. p. 913See — OPAQUE.Ō'pal, n. p. 913(Min.) A mineral consisting of silex in what is called the soluble state, and usually a small quantity of water. The precious opal presents a peculiar play of colors of delicate tints, and is highly…Ō'pal-ēsce', v. i. p. 913To give forth a play of colors, like the opal.Ō'pal-ēs'cence, n. p. 913(Min.) A reflection of a milky or pearly light from the interior of a mineral. Dana.Ō'pal-ēs'cent, a. p. 913Reflecting a milky or pearly light from the interior.Ō'pal-īne, a. p. 913Pertaining to or like opal.Ō'pal-īze, v. t. p. 913To convert into opal, or a substance like opal; as, opalized wood. Lyell.Ō'pal-jăs/per, n. p. 913(Min.) A kind of opal containing iron, and resembling jasper, but not so hard.O-pāque', a. p. 913Impervious to the rays of light; not transparent; as, an opaque substance. 2. Dark; obscure.O-pāque', n. p. 913That which is opaque; opacity; opaqueness. [Rare.]O-pāque'ness, n. p. 913The quality of being impervious to light; want of transparency; opacity.Ōpe, a. p. 913Open. On Sunday heaven's gate stands ope. Herbert.Ōpe, v. t. & i. p. 913To open. [Poet.]Ō'pen, a. p. 913Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress or egress; not impeding or obstructing motion; also, sometimes, not locked up, or covered over; — applied to passage-ways; as…ŏ′pen, v. t. p. 914To make open; to render free of access; to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening from; as, to open a door, a desk, &c.; to break the seal of; as, to open a letter; to remove a…Ō'pen, v. i. p. 914To unclose; to be unclosed; to be parted. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Ps. cvi. 17. 2. To begin to appear; as, the harbor opened to our view. 3. To…Ō'pen-bill, n. p. 914(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Anastomus, allied to the stork;— so called because the two parts of the bill touch only at the base and tip, leaving an open space in the middle.Ō'pen-er, n. p. 914One who, or that which, opens. “True opener of my eyes.” Milton.Ō'pen-eȳed, a. p. 914Watchful; vigilant.Ō'pen-hănd'ed, a. p. 914Generous; liberal; munificent. Rowe.Ō'pen-hĕad'ed, a. p. 914Bare-headed. [Obs.]Ō'pen-heärt'ed, a. p. 914Candid; frank; generous. Dryden.Ō'pen-heärt'ed-ly, adv. p. 914With frankness; without reserve.Ō'pen-heärt/ed-ness, n. p. 914Frankness; candor; -sincerity; munificence; generosity.Ō'pen-ing, n. p. 914A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a hole or perforation. 2. Beginning; commencement; first appearance; as, the opening of a speech. The opening of your glory was like that of light.…Ō'pen-ly, adv. p. 914In an open manner; publicly; not in private; without secrecy; as, to avow our sins and follies openly. How grossly and openly do many of us contradict the precepts of the gospel by our ungodliness…ō'pen-mouthed, a. p. 914Having the mouth open; gaping; hence, greedy; clamorous; as, an open-mouthed lion. L'Estrange.Ō'pen-ness, n. p. 914The quality, state, or condition of being open; freedom from secrecy, disguise, ambiguity, or obscurity; plainness; candor; mildness, as of the weather.Ō'pen-tīde, n. p. 914See OPE-TIDE.Ŏ'pen-work, n. p. 914Any thing manufactured so as to show openings through its substance; work filled with openings or perforations.ŏp'er-ā, n. p. 914A musical drama consisting of airs, choruses, recitations, &c., enriched with magnificent scenery, machinery, and other decorations, and representing some passionate action. Moore. 2. The score of a…ŏp'er-ā-ble, a. p. 914Practicable. [Obs.] Browne.Ŏp'er-ā-glāss, n. p. 914A short telescope with concave eye-lenses of low power, usually made double, or with a tube and set of glasses for each eye, and used at theaters and other places of public amusement to see objects…Ŏp'er-ă-hăt, n. p. 914A hat which folds up into a narrow space. Simmonds.Ŏp'er-ă-house, n. p. 914A house or theater for the representation of operas.ŏp'er-ăm'e-ter, n. p. 914An instrument or machine for measuring work done, especially for ascertaining the number of rotations made by a machine or wheel in manufacturing cloth; a counter.ŏp'er-ance or ŏp'er-an-cy, n. p. 914The act of operating or working; operation. [Rare.] He never denies, yet never admits, it any separate operancy. Coleridge.ŏp'er-ant, a. p. 914Having power to produce an effect; operative. [Obs.] Shak.Ōp'er-ant, n. p. 914One who operates; an operator. [Rare.] Coleridge.Ŏp'er-āte, v. i. p. 914To perform a work or labor; to act; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical. 2. To produce an appropriate physical effect; to issue in the result designed by nature; especially (Med.), to…Ŏp'er-āte, v. t. p. 914To produce as an effect; to cause; to occasion. The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock. Hamilton. 2. To put into or to continue in operation or activity; to work; as, to…Ŏp'er-āt'ic or Ŏp'er-āt'ic-al, a. p. 914Pertaining to the opera; resembling the opera; appropriate to, or designed for, the opera.ŏp'er-ā'tion, n. p. 914The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral. The pain and sickness caused by manna are the effects of its operation on the stomach. Locke.…ŏp'er-a-tīve, a. p. 914Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects. It holds in all operative principles, especially in morality. South. 2. Efficient in work…Ōp'er-a-tīve, n. p. 914A laboring man; a laborer, artisan, or workman in manufactories.Ōp'er-a-tīve-ly, adv. p. 914In an operative manner.Ōp'er-ā'tor, n. p. 914One who, or that which, operates; one who, or that which, produces an effect. 2. (Surg.) The person who performs some act upon the human body by means of the hand, or with instruments; as, a skillful…Ōp'er-a-to-ry, n. p. 914A laboratory. [Obs.]O-pĕr'eu-lar, a. p. 914(Bot.) Pertaining or belonging to the operculum. 2. (Ichth.) Pertaining or belonging to the operculum or gill-cover, which consists usually of four pieces, the anterior of which, being articulated…O-pĕr'eu-late or O-pĕr'eu-lā'ted, a. p. 914(Bot.) Closed by a lid or cover, as the capsules of the mosses. 2. (Ichth.) Having an operculum, or apparatus for protecting the gills; — said of fishes or their gills.O-pĕr'cu-li-fōrm or Ō'per-cū'li-fōrm, a. p. 914Having the form of a lid or cover.O-pĕr'eu-lŭm, n. p. 914(Bot.) (a.) The lid of a pitcher-form leaf. (b.) The lid of the urn-like flower capsule of mosses. 2. (Conch.) (a.) The lid closing the aperture of various species of snails' shells, as the common…Ŏp'er-ēt'tā, n. p. 914(Mus.) A short, light, musical drama.Ōp'er-ōse', a. p. 914Wrought with labor; requiring labor; laborious; hence, tedious; wearisome. “A very operose calculation.” De Quincey. All these operose proceedings were adopted by one of the most decided tyrants in…Ōp'er-ōse'ly, adv. p. 914In an operose manner.Ōp'er-ōse'ness, n. p. 914The state of being operose or laborious.ŏp'er-ŏs'i-ty, n. p. 914Laboriousness. [Rare.]Ōp'er-ōŭs, a. p. 914The same as OPEROSE. [Obs.]Ōp'er-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 914In an operose manner. “I conceive myself not here concerned operously to insist in proving.” J. Howe.