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.
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.Quick'set, v. t. p. 1075To plant with living shrubs or trees for a hedge or fence; as, to quickset a ditch. Mortimer.Quick'set, a. p. 1075Made of quickset. I could find dates and pomegranates on the quickset hedges. H. Walpole.Quick'-sight'ed, a. p. 1075Having quick sight or acute discernment; quick to see or discern.Quick'-sight'ed-ness, n. p. 1075Quickness of sight or discernment; readiness to see or discern.Quick'sil-ver, n. p. 1075(Min.) Mercury. See MERCURY.Quĭck'sĭl-vered, a. p. 1075Overlaid with quicksilver, or an amalgam of quicksilver and tin-foil.Quĭck'sĭl-ver-ing, n. p. 1075The mercury and foil on the back of a looking-glass.Quick'step, n. p. 1075(Mus.) A lively, spirited march.Quick'-wit'ted, a. p. 1075Having ready wit. Shak.Quick'-wit'ted-ness, n. p. 1075Readiness of wit.Quid, n. p. 1075A portion suitable to be chewed; a cud.Quid, v. t. p. 1075(Man.) To suffer to drop from the mouth, as hay or other food when partially chewed;—said of horses. Youatt.Qui'dam p. 1075Somebody; one unknown.Quid'da-ny, n. p. 1075A confection of quinces, in consistency between a sirup and marmalade. Dunton.Quid'da-tive, a. p. 1076Constituting the essence of a thing; quidditative.Quid'dit, n. p. 1076A subtility; an equivocation. [Obs.] Shak.Quid'di-tā'tive, a. p. 1076Constituting or containing the essence of a thing.Quid'di-ty, n. p. 1076The essence or nature of a thing; that which constitutes the peculiar nature of any thing, or answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it? “The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as…Quĭd'dle, v. i. p. 1076To spend or waste time in trifling employments, or to attend to useful subjects in a trifling, superficial manner; to dawdle.Quid'dle or Quid'dler, n. p. 1076One who spends time in trifling niceties.Quid'nŭnc, n. p. 1076One who is curious to know every thing that passes; one who knows, or pretends to know, all occurrences. “The idle stories of quidnuncs.” Motley.Qui-ēsçe', v. i. p. 1076To be silent, as a letter; to have no sound. M. Stuart.Qui-ēs'çence or Qui-ēs'çen-cy, n. p. 1076The state or quality of being quiescent; absence of motion; rest; repose. 2. Rest of the mind; a state of the mind free from agitation or emotion. 3. (Gram.) Silence; the having no sound, as of a…Qui-ēs'cent, a. p. 1076Being in a state of repose; still; not moving; as, a quiescent body or fluid. 2. Not ruffled with passion; unagitated; not in action; not excited; quiet; dormant. In times of national security, the…Qui-ēs'cent, n. p. 1076(Gram.) A silent letter. M. Stuart.Qui-ēs'cent-ly, adv. p. 1076In a quiescent manner; calmly; quietly.Qui'et, a. p. 1076Being in a state of rest; not moving; without stir, motion, or agitation. They ... were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. Judg. xvi. 2. 2. Free from…Qui'et, n. p. 1076The state of a thing not in motion; rest; repose. 2. Freedom from disturbance or alarm; tranquillity; peace; security. And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet. Milton. At quiet, still; peaceful.—In…Qui'et, v. t. p. 1076To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest; as, to quiet corporeal motion. 2. To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet…Qui'et-er, n. p. 1076One who, or that which, quiets.