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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…ŏp'tĭc-al-ly, adv. p. 917By optics or sight.Op-ti'cian, n. p. 917One who is skilled in relation to vision, or the science of optics. [Rare.] 2. One who makes or sells optical glasses and instruments.ŏp'tics, n. sing. p. 917That branch of physical science which treats of the nature and properties of light, the laws of its modification by opaque and transparent bodies, and the phenomena of vision. [See Note under…Ŏp'ti-grāph, n. p. 917A telescope with a diagonal eye-piece, suspended vertically in gimbals by the object-end beneath a fixed diagonal plane mirror, for delineating landscapes, &c., by so moving it that a dot in the…ŏp'ti-ma-cy, n. p. 917The body of nobles; the nobility. [Rare.] Howell.ŏp'ti-mate, a. p. 917Pertaining or belonging to the nobility; noble. [Rare.]ŏp'ti-mate, n. p. 917A nobleman; a chief man in a state or city. No optimate. Of all the Greeks, had the charge to ope And shut the stratagem but I. Chapman.ŏp'ti-mā'tēs, n. pl. p. 917The nobility or aristocracy of ancient Rome, as opposed to the populares.ŏp'ti-mē, n. p. 917One of those who stand in the second rank of honors, immediately after the wranglers, in the University of Cambridge, England. They are divided into senior and junior optimes.