Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Op′ti-mĭsm, n. p. 917The opinion or doctrine that every thing in nature is ordered for the best; or the ordering of things in the universe so as to produce the highest good. “The true and amiable philosophy of optimism.”…ŏp'ti-mĭst, n. p. 917One who holds the opinion that all events are ordered for the best.Op-tim'i-ty, n. p. 917The state of being best.ŏp'tion, n. p. 917The power of choosing; the right of choice or election. There is an option left to the United States of America, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptible and miserable, as a…Ŏp'tion-al, a. p. 917Left to one's wish or choice; depending on choice or preference; as, it is optional with you to go or stay. If to the former the movement was not optional, it was the same that the latter chose when…Ŏp'tion-al-ly, adv. p. 917In an optional manner; with the privilege of choice.Op-tŏm'e-ter, n. p. 917An instrument for measuring the limits of distinct vision of different persons, chiefly with a view to the selection of spectacles and eyeglasses.Op'ū-lence, n. p. 917Wealth; riches; affluence. Swift.ōp′ū-len-çy, n. p. 917The same as OPULENCE. [Rare.]<br>The infinite flatteries that follow<br>Youth and opulency. Shak.Ŏp'ū-lent, a. p. 917Having a large estate or property; wealthy; rich; affluent.Ŏp'ū-lent-ly, adv. p. 917In an opulent manner; richly.O-pŭn'ti-ȧ, n. p. 917(Bot.) A genus of cactaceous plants; the prickly-pear, or Indian fig.Ō'pus, n. p. 917Work. 2. (Mus.) A musical composition. ☞ Each composition is called an opus, and they are numbered in the order of their issue. It is often abbreviated to op.Opus operatum p. 917(Theol.), the mere outward administration of a sacrament or rite, when regarded as of itself productive of spiritual effects, without respect to the fitness or character of the recipient.O-pŭs'cle (-sl) or O-pŭs'cule, n. p. 917A small work.Ŏ-pŭs'cu-lum, n. p. 917A small work; an opuscule. Smart.Or p. 917A termination of Latin nouns, denoting an agent, as in actor, creditor. It is annexed to many words of English origin, as in lessor. In general, or is annexed to words of Latin, and er to those of…Ōr, conj. p. 917A connective that marks an alternative; as, you may read or may write,—that is, you may do one of the things at your pleasure, but not both. It corresponds to either. You may ride either to London or…Ôr, adv. p. 917Ere; before; sooner than. [Obs.] He was of Lindesay, als I ore told. R. Brunne. But natheless, while I have time and space, Or that I further in this tale pace. Chaucer. Or ever, sooner than ever…Ôr, n. p. 917(Her.) The yellow or gold color represented on an escutcheon by small dots.Ō'rā, n. p. 917A money of account among the Anglo-Saxons, valued, in the Doomsday Book, at twenty pence sterling.Ŏr'ach or Ŏr'ache, n. p. 917(Bot.) A plant of the genus Atriplex, sometimes used as a substitute for spinage. [Written also orrach.]Ŏr'a-cle, n. p. 917The answer of a god, or some person reputed to be a god, among the heathen, to an inquiry made respecting some affair of importance, usually respecting some future event, as the success of an…Ŏr'a-cle, v. i. p. 917To utter oracles.O-răc'ū-lar, a. p. 917Pertaining to an oracle; uttering oracles; as, an oracular tongue. 2. Resembling, or partaking of, the nature of an oracle; as, (a.) Grave or venerable, like an oracle. “Oracular shade.” Waller. They…O-räc'ū-lar-ly, adv. p. 917In the manner of an oracle; authoritatively; positively.O-răc'ū-lar-ness, n. p. 917The quality of being oracular; oraculousness.O-rāc'ŭ-lōŭs, a. p. 917Pertaining to an oracle; uttering oracles; having the dignity or authority of an oracle; oracular. “The oraculous seer.” Pope. 2. Ambiguous; indistinct; obscure. “Equivocations or oraculous…O-răc'ū-lōus-ly, adv. p. 917In an oraculous manner; oracularly. [Rare.]O-răc'ū-lōus-ness, n. p. 917The state of being oracular.Ŏr'ai-son, n. p. 917Verbal supplication, or oral worship; prayer; orison. [Obs.] See ORISON. Shak.Ōr'al, a. p. 917Pertaining to the mouth; uttered by the mouth, or in words; spoken, not written; as, oral traditions; oral testimony; oral law.Ō'ral-ly, adv. p. 917In an oral manner; by mouth; in words, without writing; as, traditions derived orally from ancestors.Ŏr'ange, n. p. 917The fruit of a tree of the genus Citrus (C. aurantium). It is usually round, and consists of a number of pulpy carpels, inclosed in a leathery rind, which is easily separable, and is yellow when…Ŏr'ange, a. p. 917Pertaining to an orange; of the color of an orange.Ŏr'ange-āde', n. p. 917A drink made of orange-juice, corresponding to lemonade; orange sherbet.Orangeat, n. p. 918Orange peel covered with candy. 2. Orangeade.Ōr'ange-cōl'ored, a. p. 918Having the color of an orange.Ōr'ange-man, n. p. 918A member of a secret society instituted in Ireland in 1795, whose aim was to uphold Protestantism, and discourage Roman Catholicism. It had lodges, office-bearers, a distinctive color, being orange…Or'ange-mūsk, n. p. 918A species of pear.Ōr'ange-pip'pin, n. p. 918A kind of apple. Simmonds.ōr'an-gēr-y, n. p. 918A place for raising oranges; a plantation of orange-trees. Pronounced o-rawn'zher-ŷ by Walker.ŏr'ange-taw'ny, a. p. 918Of a color between yellow and brown.Ōr'ange-taw'ny, n. p. 918A color between yellow and brown.Ōr'ange-wife, n. p. 918A woman who sells oranges.Ō-răng'-qu-tāng', n. p. 918(Zoöl.) A large monkey (the Simia [or Pithecus] satyrus), in many respects approaching man more closely than any other known monkey. It is about five feet high, and covered with coarse hair of a…Ō-rā'tion, n. p. 918An elaborate discourse, delivered in public, treating an important subject in a dignified manner; especially, a discourse having reference to some occasion, as a funeral, an anniversary, a…Ō-rā'tion, v. i. p. 918To deliver an oration; to make a speech. [Obs. and rare.] Donne.ōr'a-tor, n. p. 918A public speaker; one who delivers an oration; especially, one who is distinguished for his skill as a public speaker; one who is eloquent; as, a great orator. I am no orator, as Brutus is. Shak.…ŏr'a-tō'ri-al, a. p. 918Belonging or pertaining to an orator or to oratory; oratorical.ōr'a-tō'ri-al-ly, adv. p. 918In an oratorial manner; oratorically.ŏr'a-tŏr'ie-al, a. p. 918Pertaining to an orator or to oratory; rhetorical; becoming an orator; as, oratorical flourishes; an oratorical way.Ŏr'a-tōr'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 918In a rhetorical manner.Ōr'a-tō'ri-o, n. p. 918(Mus.) A sacred composition consisting of airs, recitatives, duets, trios, choruses, &c., the subject of which is generally taken from the Scriptures. 2. A place of worship; an oratory.ŏr'a-tō'ri-oŭs, a. p. 918Of, or pertaining to, an orator; oratorical. [Obs.] What error is so rotten and putrid which some oratorious varnish hath not sought to cover over? Bp. Taylor.ŏr'a-tō'ri-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 918In an oratorious manner. The fathers often speak oratoriously. Selden.