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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Quér'que-dūle, n. p. 1074(Ornith.) The pin-tail duck; the Dafila cauducata, or Querquedula acuta of Selby. Eng. Cyc.Quér'ry, n. p. 1074A groom. See EQUERRY.Quēr'-u-lēn'tial, a. p. 1074Querulous. [Obs.]Quér'-u-lous, a. p. 1074Given to quarrelling; quarrelsome. [Obs.] 2. Apt to repine, or habitually complaining; disposed to murmur; as, a querulous man or people. Enmity can hardly be more annoying than querulous, jealous…Quĕr'u-lōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1074In a querulous or complaining manner.Quēr'ū-lous-ness, n. p. 1074The state of being querulous; disposition to complain, or the habit or practice of murmuring.Quér'ry, n. p. 1074A question; an inquiry to be answered or resolved. I will conclude by proposing some queries. Newton.Quē'ry, v. i. p. 1074To ask questions; to make inquiry; to put incredulous interrogatories. Three Cambridge sophs. Each prompt to query, answer, and debate. Pope.Quē'ry, v. t. p. 1074To seek by questioning; to inquire into; as, query the sum or amount; query the motive or the fact. 2. To elicit or examine by questions. Gayton. 3. To doubt of; to treat with incredulity. ☞— This…Quēse, v. t. p. 1074To search after; to look for. [Obs.]Quēst, n. p. 1074The act of seeking, or looking after any thing; attempt to find or obtain; search; as, to rove in quest of game, of a lost child, of property, and the like. “A low But loyal cottage, where you may be…Quēst, v. i. p. 1074To go in search of something; to make search or inquiry. If his questing had been unsuccessful, he appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat. Macaulay.Quēst, v. t. p. 1074To search for. Herbert.Quēst'ant, n. p. 1074[O. Fr. questant, N. Fr. quêtant,Quēst'er p. 1074One who seeks; a seeker. [Obs.]Quĕs'tion, n. p. 1075The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; examination; as, to examine by question and answer. 2. Discussion; debate; hence, dispute; verbal contest. It is to be put to question, whether it is lawful…Quĕs'tion, v. i. p. 1075To ask a question or questions; to inquire by interrogatory or proposition to be answered. He that questioneth much shall learn much. Bacon. 2. To debate by interrogatories. Shak.Quēs'tion, v. t. p. 1075To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness. 2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query. And most we question what we most desire. Prior. 3. To treat…Quĕs'tion-a-ble, a. p. 1075Admitting of being questioned or inquired of; inviting, or seeming to invite, inquiry. [Rare.] Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, That I will speak to thee. Shak. 2. Liable to question…Quēs'tion-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1075The quality or state of being questionable, doubtful, or suspicious.Quēs'tion-a-bly, adv. p. 1075In a questionable manner; doubtfully.Qués'tion-a-ry, a. p. 1075Inquiring; asking questions. “Questionary epistles.” Pope.Qués'tion-a-ry, n. p. 1075One who makes it his business to seek after relics and carry them about for sale. W. Scott.Qués'tion-er, n. p. 1075One who asks questions; an inquirer.Quēs'tion-ist, n. p. 1075A questioner; an inquirer. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. 2. (Eng. Universities.) One of those who are in the last term of their college course, and are soon to be examined for honors or degrees.Qués'tion-less, adv. p. 1075Beyond a question or doubt; doubtless; certainly. [Obs. or rare.] South. What it was in the apostles' time, that, questionless, it must be still. Milton.Quēst’man or Quēst’mŏn’ger, n. p. 1075One legally empowered to make quest of certain matters; as, specifically, (a.) A church-warden’s assistant. Blount. (b.) A collector of parish rents. Blount. (c.) A juryman; a person impaneled to try…Quēs'tor, n. p. 1075(Rom. Antiq.) An officer who had the management of the public treasure; the receiver of taxes, tribute, &c. ☞ At an early period there were also public accusers styled quæstors; but the office was…Quē's'tor-ship, n. p. 1075The office of a questor, or Roman treasurer. 2. The term of a questor's office.Quæs'trist, n. p. 1075A seeker; a pursuer. [Obs.] “Hot quæstrists after him.” Shak.Quēst'ū-a-ry, a. p. 1075Studious of profit. [Rare.] Browne.Quĕst'ū-a-ry, n. p. 1075One employed to collect profits. [Rare.] “The pope's questuaries.” Bp. Taylor.Queūe, n. p. 1075See CUE.Quey, n. p. 1075A young heifer. [Scot.] Burns.Quib, n. p. 1075A sarcasm; a bitter taunt; a quip; a gibe. He was fond of joke and jest, But all his merry quibs are o'er. Tennyson.Quib'ble, n. p. 1075A start or turn from the point in question; an evasion; a cavil; a pretense. Quirks and quibbles have no place in the search after truth. Watts. 2. A pun; a low conceit.Quib'ble, v. i. p. 1075To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or any conceit; to take refuge from the main matter in an insignificant or impertinent question raised or point made; to trifle…Quib'bler, n. p. 1075One who evades the point in question by trifling artifices, play upon words, or cavils. 2. A punster.Quib'bling-ly, adv. p. 1075Triflingly; evasively.Quīce, n. p. 1075See QUEEST.Quich or Quick, v. i. p. 1075To stir; to move. [Obs.] Spencer.Quick, a. p. 1075Alive; living; animate;—opposed to dead or inanimate. “The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead.” 2 Tim. iv. 1. Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire. Herbert. In this…Quick, adv. p. 1075In a quick manner; nimbly; with celerity; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run quick; be quick. “If we consider how very quick the actions of the mind are performed.” Locke. 2. Soon…Quick, n. p. 1075That which is alive or living; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, quickset. The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick, and planted with a stately row of limes on the rampart.…Quick, v. t. p. 1075To revive; to make alive. [Obs.] Chaucer.Quick, v. i. p. 1075To be or become alive; to stir, as a living being. [Obs.] Chaucer.Quick'-bēam, n. p. 1075See QUICKEN-TREE.Quick'ens, n. p. 1075See DOG-GRASS.Quick'en-tree, n. p. 1075(Bot.) A tree, the wild sorb; the Pyrus, or Sorbus, aucuparia, a species of service-tree;—sometimes also called rowan-tree, or roan-tree, mountain-ash, also fowl-pear, because the apples are used as…Quick'en, v. t. p. 1075To make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death, or an inanimate state; to reinvigorate. The mistress whom I serve quickens what's dead. Shak. 2. To make lively, active, or…Quick'en, v. i. p. 1075To become alive; to become vivified or enlivened. The heart is the first part that quickens, and the last that dies. Ray. When the pale and bloodless east began To quicken to the sun. Tennyson. 2. To…Quick'en-er, n. p. 1075One who, or that which, quickens, revives, vivifies, or communicates life, reinvigorates, or accelerates.Quick'en-ing, n. p. 1075The act or process of making or of becoming quick. 2. (Physiol.) The first motion of the fetus in the womb felt by the mother, and other abdominal movements giving rise to similar sensations…Quĭck'-grăss, n. p. 1075See QUITCH-GRASS.Quick'lime, n. p. 1075(Chem.) The protoxide of calcium; any carbonate of lime, as chalk, limestone, oyster-shells, &c., deprived of its carbonic acid and aqueous matter, by exposure to intense heat.Quĭck'ly, adv. p. 1075Speedily; with haste or celerity; soon; without delay.Quick'-match, n. p. 1075See MATCH.Quick'ness, n. p. 1075The condition or quality of being quick or living; life. [Obs.] Touch it with thy celestial quickness. Herbert. 2. Rapidity of motion; speed; celerity. Must send thee hence With fiery quickness.…Quĭck'sănd, n. p. 1075Sand easily moved or readily yielding to pressure; especially, a large mass of loose or moving sand mixed with water, sometimes found at the mouth of a river or along some coasts, and very dangerous…Quick'set, n. p. 1075A living plant set to grow, particularly for a hedge;—applied especially to the hawthorn. Evelyn.