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.
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.Pōk'y, a. p. 1005Dull; stupid. [Colloq.] Bartlett.Po-lăc'eā, n. p. 1005(Naut.) A vessel with three masts, used in the Mediterranean. The masts are usually of one piece, so that they have neither tops, caps, nor cross-trees, nor horses to their upper yards. 2. (Mus.) A…Pō'lack, n. p. 1005(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander. [Obs.]Po-lā'ere, n. p. 1005See POLACCA.Pō'land-er, n. p. 1005(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Pole.Pō'lar, a. p. 1005Pertaining to, surrounding, or proceeding from one of the poles of the earth, or the poles of artificial globes; situated near one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds. 2.…Pŏl'ar-chy, n. p. 1006Government by a number of persons; polyarchy.Po-lār'ic, a. p. 1006The same as POLAR. [Rare.]Pō'lar-ĭm'e-ter, n. p. 1006(Physics.) An instrument for determining the polarization of light; a polariscope.Pō'lar-ĭm'e-try, n. p. 1006The art or process of measuring the polarization of light.Pō-lā'ris, n. p. 1006(Astron.) The pole-star.Po-lār'i-scōpe, n. p. 1006(Opt.) An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties.Pō'lar-is'tic, a. p. 1006Pertaining to or exhibiting poles; having a polar arrangement or disposition; arising from, or dependent upon, the possession of poles or polar characteristics; as, polaristic antagonism.Po-lār'i-ty, n. p. 1006(Physics.) That quality or condition of a body in virtue of which it exhibits opposite or contrasted properties or powers, in opposite or contrasted parts or directions; or a condition giving rise to…Pō'lar-īz'a-ble, a. p. 1006Susceptible of polarization.Pō'lar-ĭ-zā'tion, n. p. 1006The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity. Angle of polarization. Circular polarization. Elliptic polarization. Plane of polarization. Plane polarization.…Pō'lar-īze, v. t. p. 1006To communicate polarity to.Pō'lar-īz'er, n. p. 1006That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, as a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly-refracting…Pō'lar-y, a. p. 1006Tending to a pole; having a direction to a pole. [Rare.] Browne.Pōl'der, n. p. 1006A tract of low land reclaimed from the sea by means of high embankments; also, a tract of marshy or wet land. [Holland and Belgium.]Pōld'wāy, n. p. 1006A kind of coarse sacking for coal-sacks and the like. Weale.Pōle, n. p. 1006A long, slender piece of wood, or the stem of a small tree deprived of its branches; — often used in composition; as, (a.) A carriage-pole; that is, a pole which separates two draft-horses, and to…Pōle, n. p. 1006One of the extremities of an axis, on which a sphere revolves. 2. Especially, one of the extremities of the earth’s axis. 3. (Spherics.) A point on the surface of a sphere equally distant from every…Pōle, n. p. 1006(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.Pōle, v. t. p. 1006To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans. 2. To bear or convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn. 3. To impel by poles, as a boat; to push forward by the use of poles.Pōle'āx or Pōle'āxe, n. p. 1006An ax fixed to a pole or handle; or, rather, a sort of hatchet with a handle about fifteen inches in length, and often a point or claw bending downward, or projecting from the back of its head. It…Pōle'căt, n. p. 1006(Zoöl.) A carnivorous mammal (Mustela putorius), allied to the weasel, which exhales a disagreeable odor; the fitchew or fitchet. The AmericanPōle'da-vy, n. p. 1006A sort of coarse canvas; hence, any coarse wares. [Obs.] You must be content with such homely poledavy ware from me. Howell.Pōle'-ē'vil, n. p. 1006The same as POLL-EVIL.Pōle'-lāthe, n. p. 1006A simple form of lathe, or a substitute for a lathe, in which the work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being fastened to the treadle, and the other to an elastic pole above.Pōl'e-mārch, n. p. 1006(Gr. Antiq.) In Athens, originally, the military commander-in-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had under his care all strangers and sojourners in the city. There were also in Sparta…Pōle'-māst, n. p. 1006(Naut.) A mast formed of a single piece, or from a single tree. Craig.Po-lēm'ic, n. p. 1006One who writes in support of an opinion or system in opposition to another; a controversialist; a disputant. “The sarcasm and invective of the young polemic.” Macaulay.Po-lēm'ic or Po-lēm'ic-al, a. p. 1006Pertaining to, engaged in, or involving controversy; controversial; as, a polemic treatise, discourse, essay, or book; polemic divinity. 2. Given to controversy; disputatious; as, a polemic writer.…Po-lēm'i-cist, n. p. 1006One given to controversy; a polemic. [Rare.]Po-lēm'ics, n. sing. p. 1006Contest or controversy, especially on religious subjects; — that branch of theological science which pertains to the history or conduct of ecclesiastical controversy. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Pōl'e-mīst, n. p. 1006A polemic. [Rare.]Po-lēm'o-scōpe, n. p. 1006An oblique perspective glass contrived for seeing objects that do not lie directly before the eye; — called also diagonal or side opera-glass.Pōl'e-my, n. p. 1006Warfare; war; hence, contention; opposition; resistance. [Obs.]Po-lĕn'ta, n. p. 1006Pudding made of the flour of maize, or Indian meal. [Italy.] 2. A pudding made of the meal of chestnuts boiled in milk. [France.] Simmonds.Pōl'er, n. p. 1006One who poles. 2. An extortioner. See POLLER. Burton.Pōle'-stär, n. p. 1006(Astron.) A star at or near to the pole of the heavens; a lode-star. The present northern pole-star is the star Alpha, of the second magnitude, in the constellation Ursa Minoris. 2. Hence, that which…Pō'ley, n. p. 1006See POLY.Pō'ley-grāss, n. p. 1006A plant of the genus Lythrum.Pō'ley-mount'ain, n. p. 1006(Bot.) A plant of the genus Teucrium.Pō'li-a-nīte, n. p. 1006(Min.) A mineral occurring in crystals, and consisting chiefly of the peroxide of manganese.Pō'li-ăn' thēz, n. p. 1006(Bot.) A genus of plants, one species of which (P. tuberosa) is cultivated for its flowers.Po-līçe', n. p. 1006A judicial and executive system and an organized civil force for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of order, cleanliness, health, &c., and for the enforcement of the…Po-līçed' or Pōl'i-çied, a. p. 1006Regulated by laws; furnished with a regular system of laws and administration. Bacon. Burke.Po-līce'man, n. p. 1006One of the ordinary police.Po-lī'cial, a. p. 1006Of, or pertaining to, the police. [Rare.]Pŏl'i-cy, n. p. 1006Polity. [Obs.] 2. The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external…