Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
ŏp'pi·dan, a. p. 915Pertaining to a town. [Obs.] Howell.ŏp'pi-dan, n. p. 915An inhabitant of a town. [Obs.] Wood. 2. A student of Eton College, England, who boards in the town, and not in the college.Op-pĭg'ner-āte, v. i. p. 915To pledge; to pawn. [Obs.] Bacon.Ŏp'pi·lāte, v. t. p. 915To crowd together; to fill with obstructions. [Obs.]ŏp'pi-lā'tion, n. p. 916The act of filling or crowding together; a stopping by redundant matter; obstructions, particularly in the lower intestines. “Gouts and dropsies, catarrhs and oppilations.” Bp. Taylor.ŏp'pi-lā'tive, a. p. 916Obstructive. [Obs.] Sherwood.ŏp-plēte' or ŏp-plēt'ed, a. p. 916Filled; crowded. [Obs.]Ŏp-plē'tion, n. p. 916The act of filling up, or the state of being filled. [Obs.]Ŏp-pōne', v. t. p. 916To oppose. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Op-pō'nen-cy, n. p. 916The act of opposing, or of opening an academical disputation; the proposition of objections to a thesis; an exercise for a degree. Todd.Op-pō'nent, a. p. 916Inclined to oppose; adverse; opposing; antagonistic. 2. Situated in front; opposite.Op-pō'nent, n. p. 916One who opposes, or opposes; an adversary; an antagonist; a foe. 2. Especially, one who opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy. 3. (Academic Usage.) One who attacks some…ŏp′por-tūne′, a. p. 916Present at a proper time; recurring or furnished at a needed or suitable occasion; seasonable; timely; fit; becoming. This is most opportune to our need. Shak. Perhaps in view Of those bright…ŏp'por-tūne', v. t. p. 916To be fit or suitable for; to suit. [Obs.]ŏp'por-tūne'ly, adv. p. 916In an opportune manner; seasonably.ŏp'por-tūne'ness, n. p. 916The quality or condition of being opportune or timely.ŏp'por-tū'ni-ty, n. p. 916Fit or convenient time; a time favorable for the purpose; suitable time combined with other favorable circumstances. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. Bacon. I had an opportunity…Ŏp-pōs'a-ble, a. p. 916Capable of being opposed or resisted. 2. Admitting of being opposed to something else, in position or action.Ŏp-pōs'al, n. p. 916Opposition. [Obs.] Herbert.ŏp-pōse′, v. t. p. 916To place in front of; to set opposite. Her Grace sat down In a rich chair of state; opposing freely The beauty of her person to the people. Shak. 2. To put in opposition, with a view to…Op-pōse′, v. i. p. 916To act adversely;—with against; as, a servant opposed against the act. [Rare.] Shak. 2. To make objection or opposition in controversy.Op-pōse'less, a. p. 916Not to be opposed or checked; irresistible. [Obs.] Shak.Op-pōs'er, n. p. 916One who opposes; an opponent in party, in principle, in controversy, or argument; an antagonist; an adversary.Ŏp'po-site (-zīt), a. p. 916Placed over against; standing or situated in front; facing;—often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange. As I bent down to look, just opposite A shape within the watery gleam appeared.…Ōp'po-sīte, n. p. 916One who opposes; an opponent; an adversary; an enemy; an antagonist; a competitor. Who were the opposites of this day's strife. Shak. 2. That which is opposed or contrary. The virtuous man meets with…ŏp'po-sĭte-ly, adv. p. 916In a situation to face each other; in front. 2. Adversely; against each other. Winds from all quarters oppositely blow. May.Ōp'po-sīte-ness, n. p. 916The state of being opposite or contrary.Op-pōs'i-ti-fō'li-oūs, a. p. 916(Bot.) Opposite to the leaf; as, an oppositifolious peduncle.Ōp'po-sĭ'tion, n. p. 916The state of being opposed, or placed over against; situation so as to front something else; a standing over against; repugnance; contrariety; as, the opposition of two mountains or buildings. 2. The…ŏp'po-sĭ'tion-ĭst, n. p. 916One who belongs to an opposing party, usually to the party opposed to the government.Op-pōs'i-tive, a. p. 916Capable of being put in opposition.Op-prĕss’, v. t. p. 916To press down; to press severely, cruelly, or unjustly; to burden or constrain; to overburden; to overpower. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down. Shak. Behold the kings of the earth! how they…Op-prĕs'sion, n. p. 916The act of oppressing; the imposition of unreasonable burdens, sufferings, labors, or sacrifices; cruelty; severity. 2. The state of being oppressed or overburdened; misery. 3. That which oppresses…Op-prĕss'ive, a. p. 916Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe; as, oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service. 2. Proceeding from a design to oppress; tyrannical; as, oppressive authority or commands. 3. Heavy…Op-prĕss'ive-ly, adv. p. 916In a manner to oppress; with unreasonable severity.Op-prĕss'ive-ness, n. p. 916The quality of being oppressive.Op-prĕss'or, n. p. 916One who oppresses; one who imposes unjust burdens on others; one who harasses others with unjust laws or unreasonable severity. Power, when employed to relieve the oppressed and to punish the…Op-press'ure, n. p. 916Oppression. [Obs.]Op-prō'bri-ōus, a. p. 916Expressive of opprobrium; reproachful and contemptuous; scurrilous; as, opprobrious language; opprobrious words or terms. 2. Blasted with infamy; despised; rendered hateful; as, an opprobrious name.…Op-prō'bri-ōus-ly, adv. p. 916In an opprobrious manner; scurrilously.Op-prō'bri-ōus-ness, n. p. 916Reproachfulness mingled with contempt; scurrility.Op-prō'bri-ūm, n. p. 916Reproach mingled with contempt or disdain. Being both dramatic author and dramatic performer, he found himself heir to a twofold opprobrium, and at an era of English society when the weight of that…Op-prō'bry, n. p. 916Opprobrium. [Obs.]Op-pūgn', v. t. p. 916To fight against, whether in attack, resistance, or simple opposition; to attack; to oppose; to resist. They said the manner of their impeachment they could not but conceive did oppugn the rights of…Op-pŭg'nan-cy, n. p. 916The act of oppugning; opposition; resistance. Shak.Op-pŭg'nant, n. p. 916One who oppugns; an opponent. [Rare.] Coleridge.Op-pŭg'nant, a. p. 916Tending to awaken hostility; hostile; opposing. “The oppugnant forces of two or more powers which have a natural fitness to counteract each other.” J. Taylor.ŏp'/pug-nā'/tion, n. p. 916Opposition; resistance. [R.] Bp. Hall.Op-pūgn'er, n. p. 916One who opposes or attacks; that which opposes.Op-sīm'a-thy, n. p. 916Late education; education late in life. [Obs. and rare.] Hales.ŏp'/si-ŏm'e-ter, n. p. 916An instrument for measuring the extent of the limits of distinct vision in different individuals, and from that to determine the focal length of a lens necessary to correct imperfect sight. Brandé.ŏp'so-nā'tion, n. p. 916A catering; a buying of provisions. [Obs.]ŏp'ta-ble, a. p. 916Desirable. [Obs.]ŏp'tāte, v. i. p. 916To choose; to wish for; to desire. [Obs.] Cotgrave.Op-tā'tion, n. p. 916The act of optating; the expression of a wish. [Obs.] “Regulating determined realities unto their private optations.” Browne.Ŏp'ta-tĭve, a. p. 917Expressing desire or wish. Optative mode (Gram.), that form of the verb in which wish or desire is expressed.Ŏp'ta-tĭve, n. p. 917Something to be desired. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. (Gram.) A mode of the verb expressing desire.Ŏp'ta-tĭve-ly, adv. p. 917In an optative manner; with the expression of desire. God blesseth man imperatively, and man blesseth God optatively. Bp. Hall.Ŏp'tic, n. p. 917An organ of sight; an eye. The difference is as great between The optics seeing as the objects seen. Pope.ŏp'tĭc or ŏp'tĭc-al, a. p. 917Relating or pertaining to vision or sight. The moon, whose orb, Through optic glass, the Tuscan artist views. Milton. 2. Relating or pertaining to the organ of sight; as, the optic nerve. 3. Relating…