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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Point, n. p. 1004That which pricks or pierces; especially, the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as of a needle, a pin, a thorn, an awl, a sword, and the like. 2. Hence, sometimes, an instrument which pricks or…Point, v. t. p. 1004To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart or a pin. 2. To direct toward an object; to aim; as, to point a musket at a wolf; to point a cannon…Point, v. i. p. 1004To direct the finger for designating an object, and exciting attention to it;—with at. Now must the world point at poor Catharine. Shak. Point at the tattered coat and ragged shoe. Dryden. 2. To…Point'al, n. p. 1004(Bot.) The pistil of a plant.Point-blānk', n. p. 1004The white spot on a target, at which an arrow, or other missile, is aimed. [Obs.] Johnson. 2. (Mil.) The point at which the line of sight intersects the trajectory of a projectile. Natural…Point-blānk', a. p. 1004Directed in a line toward the object aimed at; aimed directly toward the mark. 2. Hence, direct; plain; express; as, a point-blank assertion. Point-blank range, the extent of the apparent right line…Point-blānk', adv. p. 1004In a point-blank manner; directly. Satan daily solicits me to sin, point-blank against God's word. Fuller.Point-d’appui, n. p. 1004Point of support; basis; a fixed point at which troops form, and on which operations rest.Point-de-vîçe or Point-de-vise', a. p. 1004Uncommonly nice and exact; precise; particular. [Obs.] You are rather point-devise in your accouterments. Shak. “It is difficult to ascertain the origin of this phrase. It appears like French; but I…Point'ed, p. a. p. 1005Sharp; having a sharp point; as, a pointed rock. 2. Characterized by distinctness of meaning and pithiness of expression; as, a pointed rebuke. His moral pleases, not his pointed wit. Pope.Point'ed-ly, adv. p. 1005In a pointed manner; with lively turns of thought or expression. He often wrote too pointedly for his subject. Dryden. 2. With direct assertion; with direct reference to a subject; with explicitness…Point'ed-ness, n. p. 1005The state of being pointed; sharpness; keenness. In this you excel Horace—that you add pointedness of thought. Dryden.Point'el, n. p. 1005Something set on a point. These poises, or pointels, are, for the most part, little balls set at the top of a slender stalk, which they can move every way at pleasure. Derham. 2. A kind of pencil or…Point’er, n. p. 1005Any thing that points; as, (a.) The hand of a time-piece. (b.) A variety of dog, trained to stop, and, with his nose, point out the game to sportsmen. Pointer Dog. (c.) (Astron.) One of the two stars…Point'ing, n. p. 1005The art of making the divisions of a writing; punctuation; interpunctuation. 2. The state of being pointed with marks or points. 3. The act of filling the crevices of a wall with mortar, &c.; or the…Point'ing-stŏck, n. p. 1005An object of ridicule or scorn. Shak.Point'-lāçe, n. p. 1005A kind of fine lace wrought with the needle. Simmonds.Point'less, a. p. 1005Having no point; wanting keenness or smartness; blunt; obtuse; as, a pointless sword or remark. Syn. — Blunt; obtuse; dull; stupid.Point'let-ed, a. p. 1005(Bot.) Having a small, distinct point; apiculate. Henslow.Points’man, n. p. 1005The man who has charge of rail-way switches. [Eng.] Simmonds.Poise, n. p. 1005Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend or tend to the center. “Weights of an extraordinary poise.” Evelyn. 2. The weight or mass of metal used in weighing with steelyards, to balance…Poise, v. t. p. 1005To balance in weight; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance. 2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance. Our nation, with united interest blest, Not now content to…Poĭ'son, n. p. 1005Any substance which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it. 2. Any thing infectious or malignant; as, the poison of…Poi'son, v. t. p. 1005To infect with poison; as, to poison an arrow. If you poison us, do we not die? Shak. 2. To attack, injure, or kill, by poison. He was so discouraged that he poisoned himself, and died. 2 Mac. xiii.…Poī'son-a-ble, a. p. 1005Capable of being poisoned.Poi'son-āsh, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A tree of the genus Amyris (A. toxifera) found in the Carolinas, from the trunk of which a black liquor distils, supposed to have poisonous qualities. Baird.Poi'son-būlb, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A bulbous plant of the genus Brunsvigia (B. toxicaria), possessing poisonous properties.Poī'son-er, n. p. 1005One who poisons or corrupts; that which corrupts.Poi'son-făng, n. p. 1005One of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides the cavity for the pulp, is apparently perforated by a longitudinal canal, which receives at its bottom end the…Poī'son-glānd, n. p. 1005A gland which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, which, in animals and plants, is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound. Craig.Poi'son-ful, a. p. 1005Poisonous. [Obs.]Poi'son-hēm'lock, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous herbaceous plant of the genus Conium (C. maculatum).Poi'son-ī'vy, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous trailing plant of the genus Rhus (R. toxicodendron);—called also poison-oak. Gray.Poi'son-nūt, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A tree found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, the seeds of which contain a deadly poison; Strychnos nux-vomica.Poi'son-ōak, n. p. 1005(Bot.) See POISON-IVY.Poi'son-ous, a. p. 1005Having the qualities of poison; corrupting; impairing soundness or purity. “The poisonous damp of night.” Shak.Poĭ'son-ōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1005With fatal or injurious effects.Poī'son-ous-ness, n. p. 1005The quality of being fatal or injurious to health and soundness.Poī'son-sōme, a. p. 1005Poisonous. [Obs.] “Poison-some honey.” Holland.Poi'son-sū'mac, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous shrub of the genus Rhus (R. venenata);—sometimes improperly called poison-elder. [Written also poison-sumach.] Gray.Poī'son-tree, n. p. 1005A tree that poisons:—a name applied to a great number of trees of different genera possessing poisonous qualities.Poi'trel, n. p. 1005Armor for the breast of a horse. [Obs.] Skinner. 2. A graving tool; a pointel. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Poitrine, n. p. 1005(Anc. Armor.) The breastplate worn by a knight; also, the overlapping scales or sheets of metal which covered the breast of a war-horse. Fairholt.Poīze, n. p. 1005The same as POISE. [Obs.] See POISE.Po-käl', n. p. 1005A tall drinking-cup. Fairholt.Pōke, n. p. 1005A pocket; a small bag. 2. A long, wide sleeve, formerly much worn. To buy a pig in a poke (that is, in a pocket), to buy a thing without seeing it, or knowing definitely its quality or value. “I will…Pōke, v. t. p. 1005To thrust against; to push against with any thing pointed; hence, to feel or search for with a long instrument. 2. To thrust at with the horns, as an ox. To poke fun, to make fun; to joke; to jest.…Pōke, v. i. p. 1005To grope, as in the dark. Prior. To poke at, to thrust the horns at.Pōke, n. p. 1005The act of poking or pushing; a thrust; as a poke in the ribs. 2. A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [U. S.] Bartlett. 3. A machine to prevent unruly beasts from…Pōke, v. t. p. 1005To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.Pōke, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A North American herbaceous plant of the genus Phytolacca (P. decandra), bearing dark-purple, juicy berries; — called also cocum, garget, pigeon-berry, pocan, and poke-weed. The root has…Pōke'-bŏn'net, n. p. 1005A bonnet of a long, straight, projecting form. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005One who pokes. 2. That which pokes, or is used in poking, especially an iron bar, used in stirring or opening a fire of coals. 3. (Naut.) An iron tool used in driving hoops on masts. Craig.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005A favorite game of cards in the Southern States. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005Any frightful object, especially one dimly seen in the dark; a bugbear. [Low.]Pōk'er-ish, a. p. 1005Calculated to excite fear; occasioning fright or unreasonable fear; abounding in frightful objects; as, a pokerish place. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er-pict'ūre, n. p. 1005A picture formed in imitation of bister-washed drawings, by singeing the surface of white wood with a heated poker or other iron. Fairholt.Pōke'-weed, n. p. 1005A plant. See POKE.Pōk'ing, a. p. 1005Drudging; servile. [Colloq.] Gray.Pōk'ing-stick, n. p. 1005A small stick or rod of steel, formerly used in adjusting the plaits of ruffs. Shak.