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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Quăs'sīne or Quăs'sīte, n.p. 1073(Chem.) The bitter principle of Quassia amara of Central America, and Q. (Picræna) excelsa of Jamaica. ☞ This substance, by the aid of water, crystallizes in very small, white prisms. Its taste is…
  2. Quat, n.p. 1073A pustule or pimple. 2. A troublesome, insignificant person. Shak.
  3. Quat, v. t.p. 1073To satiate. [Obs.] “The stomach quatted with dainties.” Lyly.
  4. Quatch, a.p. 1073Squat; flat. [Obs. Shak.]
  5. Quā'ter-cou'sin, n.p. 1073A cousin within the first four degrees of kindred. [Obs.]
  6. Qua-tër'na-ry, n.p. 1073The number four. Boyle.
  7. Qua-tĕr'na-ry, a.p. 1073Consisting of four; by fours. 2. (Geol.) Older than, or previous to, the tertiary; —a term applied to strata supposed to be more ancient than the upper tertiary. Dana.
  8. Qua-tēr'nāte, a.p. 1073Composed of, or arranged in, sets of four. 2. (Bot.) Having the verticillate appendages arranged by fours. Henslow.
  9. Qua-tër'nate-pïn'nate, a.p. 1073(Bot.) Pinnate, with the pinnæ arranged in fours.
  10. Qua-tẽr'ni-on, n.p. 1073The number four. [Poet.] Milton. 2. A set of four parts, objects, or individuals. He put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him. Acts xii. 4. Ye elements, the…
  11. Qua-tẽr'ni-on, v. t.p. 1073To divide into files or companies. Milton.
  12. Qua-tẽr'ni-ty, n.p. 1073The number four. [Obs.] Browne.
  13. Qua'ter-on, n.p. 1073See QUADROON.
  14. Qua-tôrze', n.p. 1073The four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens, in the game of piquet; — so called because each quatorze reckons fourteen points.
  15. Quat'rāin, n.p. 1073(Poet.) A stanza of four lines rhyming alternately. Dryden.
  16. Quăt're-feūille or Quăt're-foil, n.p. 1073The same as QUARTER-FOIL.
  17. Quăt'u-or, n.p. 1073(Mus.) A quartet;— applied chiefly to instrumental compositions.
  18. Quāve, n.p. 1073The same as QUAVER. [Obs.]
  19. Quāve, v. i.p. 1073To quaver. [Prov. Eng.]
  20. Quāve'mīre, n.p. 1073The same as QUAGMIRE. [Obs.]
  21. Quā'ver, v. i.p. 1073To tremble; to vibrate; to shake. The finger . . . moved with a quavering motion. Newton. 2. Especially, to shake the voice; to utter or form sound with rapid vibrations, as in singing; to sing with…
  22. Quā'ver, n.p. 1073A shake or rapid vibration of the voice, or a shake on an instrument of music. 2. (Mus.) An eighth note. See EIGHTH.
  23. Quā'ver-er, n.p. 1073A warbler.
  24. Quay, n.p. 1073A mole or bank formed toward the sea, or on the side of a river, for the purpose of loading and unloading vessels. [Written also key.]
  25. Quay (kē), v. t.p. 1073To furnish with quays.
  26. Quay'age, n.p. 1073Wharfage. [Written also keyage.]
  27. Quay'-bērth, n.p. 1073A loading or discharging berth for a ship in a public dock. Simmonds.
  28. Quē, n.p. 1073A small coin worth less than a half-penny. [Obs.]
  29. Quéach, n.p. 1073A thick, bushy plot. [Obs.] In some queach, Or strength of shade. Chapman.
  30. Quēach, v. i.p. 1074To stir; to move. [Obs.] See QUICK.
  31. Quēach'y, a.p. 1074Yielding or trembling under the feet, as moist or boggy ground; shaking; moving. “The quēachy fens.” “Godwin's quēachy sands.” Drayton. 2. Thick; bushy. [Obs.] Cockeram.
  32. Quēan, n.p. 1074A woman; a young woman; a girl. W. Scott. 2. Especially, a low woman; a wench; a slut. “The dread of every scolding quean.” Gay.
  33. Quēa'si-ness, n.p. 1074The state of being queasy; nausea; qualmishness.
  34. Quēa'sy, a.p. 1074Sick at the stomach; affected with nausea; inclined to vomit. 2. Fastidious; squeamish; delicate. 3. Causing nausea; occasioning uncomfortable feelings. “A queasy question.” Shak.
  35. Quēch or Quēck, v. i.p. 1074A doubtful word, occurring in a corrupted passage of Bacon's Essays, and probably meaning to stir, to move.
  36. Queen, n.p. 1074The consort of a king. 2. A woman who is the sovereign of a kingdom; a female monarch; as, Elizabeth, queen of England; Mary, queen of Scotland. 3. The sovereign of a swarm of bees, or the female of…
  37. Queen, v. i.p. 1074To play the queen; to act the part or character of a queen. Shak.
  38. Queen, v. t.p. 1074(Chess.) To make a queen or other piece of, as a pawn when moved to the eighth square.
  39. Queen'-ăp'ple, n.p. 1074A kind of apple so called. "Queen-apples and red cherries from the tree." Spenser.
  40. Queen'-crāft, n.p. 1074Craft or skill in policy on the part of a queen. Elizabeth showed much queen-craft in procuring the votes of the nobility. Fuller.
  41. Queen'-gōld, n.p. 1074A royal duty or revenue formerly belonging to every queen of England during her marriage to the king.
  42. Queen'ly, a.p. 1074Like a queen; becoming a queen; suitable to a queen.
  43. Queen'-pōst, n.p. 1074(Arch.) One of two suspending posts in a trussed roof, framed below into the tie-beam, and above into the principal rafters. Gwilt.
  44. Queen'ship, n.p. 1074The state, condition, or dignity of a queen.
  45. Queen's'-wāre, n.p. 1074Glazed earthenware of a cream color.
  46. Queen'-trūss, n.p. 1074A truss framed with queen-posts.
  47. Queer, a.p. 1074Going athwart what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; quaint; whimsical; as, a queer story or act. “Gave a queer look about the room.” W. Irving.
  48. Queer'ish, a.p. 1074Rather queer; somewhat singular.
  49. Queer'ly, adv.p. 1074In an odd or singular manner.
  50. Queer'ness, n.p. 1074Oddity; singularity; particularity.
  51. Queest, n.p. 1074(Ornith.) The European wood-pigeon (Columba palumbus); the cushat.
  52. Quegh, n.p. 1074See QUAICH.
  53. Quĕint, imp. & p. p.p. 1074of quench. [Obs.]
  54. Quĕll, v. t.p. 1074To take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] Ere he did recover he did him quell. Spenser. 2. To crush; to subdue; to put down; to reduce. The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled…
  55. Quĕll, v. i.p. 1074To die. [Obs.] Yet he did quake and quiver, like to quell. Spenser. 2. To be put down, subdued, or vanquished; to abate. [Rare.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser.
  56. Quĕll, n.p. 1074Murder. [Obs.] Shak.
  57. Quĕll'er, n.p. 1074One who quells; one who crushes or subdues. “Queller of Satan.” Milton.
  58. Quĕl'li-o, n.p. 1074A ruff for the neck. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  59. Quelque-chose, n.p. 1074A trifle; a kickshaw.
  60. Quēme, v. t.p. 1074To please. [Obs.] Spenser.