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.
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.Ōr'a-tor-ize, v. i. p. 918To play the orator. [Obs.]Ōr'a-to-ry, n. p. 918The art of an orator; the art of public speaking in an eloquent or effective manner; the exercise of rhetorical skill in oral discourse; eloquence. “The oratory of Greece and Rome.” Milton. When a…Ŏr'a-tress or Ŏr'a-trix, n. p. 918A female orator.Ŏrb, n. p. 918A solid or hollow body of a round form; a globe; a sphere. 2. Especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star. Whether the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither rolled.…Ôrb, n. p. 918(Arch.) A blank window or panel. Oxf. Gloss.Ōrb, v. t. p. 918To form into an orb; to surround. The wheels were orbed with gold. Milton.Ōrb, v. i. p. 918To become transformed like an orb. [Po-et. and rare.] Or that the past will always win A glory from its being far, And orb unto the perfect star We saw not, when we moved therein. Tennyson.Ōr'bate, a. p. 918Bereaved; fatherless; childless. [Obs.]Or-bā'tion, n. p. 918The state of being orbate, or deprived of parents or children; privation in general; bereavement. [Obs.]Ôrbed, a. p. 918Having the form of an orb; round; circular; orbicular. The orbed eyelids are let down. Trench.Ŏrb'-fĭsh, n. p. 918See ORBIS.Ŏrb'ic, a. p. 918Ōrb'ic-al p. 918Spherical; orbicular. [Rare.] Bacon.Ōrb'i-cle, n. p. 918A small orb. [Obs.] Such watery orbicles young boys do blow Out from their soapy shells. G. Fletcher.Or-biē'ū-lar, a. p. 918Resembling or having the form of an orb; spherical; circular. “Orbicular as the disk of a planet.” De Quincey. 2. (Anat.) Having a spherical or circular form or arrangement; as, the orbicular bone…Or-bic'ŭ-lar-ly, adv. p. 918Spherically.Or-bie'ü-lar-ness, n. p. 918The state of being orbicular; sphericity.Or-biē'ū-late, n. p. 918That which is orbicular; especially, a thing having a figure the vertical section of which is oval, and the horizontal section circular.Or-bi'cū-lāte or Or-bi'cū-lā'ted, a. p. 918Made or being in the form of an orb. Orbiculate or orbicular leaf (Bot.), a leaf whose outline is nearly circular.Or-bi-eu-lā′tion, n. p. 918The state of being made in the form of an orb; orbicularness. [Obs.]Or-bĭc'ŭ-lus, n. p. 918(Bot.) (a.) A thick mass covering the ovarium of a flower, and adherent to the stamens. Lindley. (b.) A round, flat organ, which contains the gills within the capsules of some fungi.Orb'is, n. p. 918(Ichth.) A fish of a circular form (the Chætodon orbis of Gmelin), inhabiting the Indian seas. It is covered with a firm, hard skin, full of small prickles, but is destitute of scales. It is unfit…Ōrb'it, n. p. 918(Astron.) The path described by a heavenly body in its periodical revolution; as, the orbit of Jupiter or Mercury. 2. A small orb. [Rare.] “Roll the lucid orbit of an eye.” Young. 3. (Anat.) The…Ôrb'it-al, a. p. 918Belonging or pertaining to an orbit. “Orbital revolution.” J. D. Forbes.Ôrb'it-ar, a. p. 918The same as ORBITAL. [Rare.]