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.
Reach, v. t. p. 1090To extend; to stretch; to thrust out; to put forth, as a limb, a member, something held, or the like. Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. John xx. 27. Trees reached too far their…Reach, v. i. p. 1091To stretch out the hand. Goddess humane, reach, then, and freely taste. Milton. 2. To strain after something; to make efforts at attainment. Reaching above our nature does no good. Dryden. 3. To be…Rēach, n. p. 1091The act of stretching or extending; extension; power of reaching or touching with the person, or a limb, or something held. 2. The power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like…Rēach'a-ble, a. p. 1091Within reach.Rēach'er, n. p. 1091One who reaches or extends; one who delivers by extending the arm.Rēach'ing-pōst, n. p. 1091(Rope-making.) A post at the lower end of a rope-walk. Wright.Rēach'less, a. p. 1091Beyond reach; lofty. “Unto a reachless pitch of praises hight.” Bp. Hall.Re-āct', v. t. p. 1091To act or perform a second time; to do over again; as, to react a play; the same scenes were reacted at Rome.Re-ăct’, v. i. p. 1091To return an impulse or impression; to resist the action of another body by an opposite force; as, every body reacts on the body that impels it from its natural state. 2. To act upon each other; to…Re-ăc'tion, n. p. 1091Any action in resisting other action or power; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action. 2. (Chem.) The mutual or reciprocal action of chemical agents upon each other; the…Reaction-wheel p. 1091a water-wheel driven by the reaction of water, which, entering it centrally, escapes at its periphery in a direction opposite to that of its motion by orifices at right angles to its radii.Re-ăc'tion-a-ry, a. p. 1091For, or implying, reaction; as, reactionary movements.Re-ăc'tion-a-ry, n. p. 1091One who favors reaction, or seeks to undo political progress or revolution.Re-äc'tion-ist, n. p. 1091A reactionary. C. Kingsley.Re-ăct′ive, a. p. 1091Having power to react; tending to reaction.Re-ăc'tive-ly, adv. p. 1091By reaction.Re-ăc'tive-ness, n. p. 1091The quality of being reactive.Read, n. p. 1091Saying; sentence; hence, word; advice; decision; counsel; rede. [Obs.] Who dares dissent from this my read. Spenser.Read, v. t. p. 1091To advise; to rede. [Obs.] Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and thereby try all doctrine. Tyndale.Read, v. t. p. 1091To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, whether written, printed, engraved, or the like; to peruse; as, to…Read, v. i. p. 1091To perform the act of reading; to peruse a book or other like document. So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense. Neb. viii. 8. 2. To be studious; to practice much…Read, a. p. 1091Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned. “A poet well read in Longinus.” Addison.Read'a-ble, a. p. 1091Capable of being read; fit, legible, or suitable to be read; worth reading.Read'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1091The state of being readable.Read'a-bly, adv. p. 1091In a readable or legible manner.Rē'-ad-drēss', v. t. p. 1091To address a second time; — often used reflexively. “He re-addressed himself to her.” Boyle.Re'-a-dĕpt', v. t. p. 1091To regain; to recover. [Obs.]Rē'-a-dĕp'tion, n. p. 1091A regaining; recovery of something lost. [Obs.] Bacon.Rēad'er, n. p. 1091One who reads; any person who peruses or studies what is written; specifically, (a.) One whose distinctive office is to read prayers in a church. (b.) (University of Oxford, Eng.) One who reads…Rēad'er-ship, n. p. 1091The office of reading prayers in a church. 2. (University of Oxford, Eng.) The office of a reader or lecturer on scientific subjects. Lyell.Read'i-ly, adv. p. 1091In a ready manner; quickly; promptly; easily. 2. Without delay or objection; without reluctance; cheerfully.Rĕad'i-ness, n. p. 1091The state or quality of being ready; condition of preparation; preparedness. 2. Quickness; promptness; promptitude; facility; freedom from hindrance or obstruction; as, readiness of speech; readiness…Read'ing, p. a. p. 1091Addicted to reading; as, a reading community. Reading man (Eng. Universities), a hard student, or one who is entirely devoted to his collegiate studies.Read'ing, n. p. 1091The act of one who reads; perusal. 2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading. 3. A lecture or prelection; public recital. The Jews had their weekly readings of the law.…Rēad'ing-bōōk, n. p. 1091A book containing selections to be used as exercises in reading; a reader.Rēad'ing-boy, n. p. 1091A boy who reads copy to the corrector of the press. Simmonds.Rēad'ing-dĕsk, n. p. 1091A desk used for reading the service in a church. Hook.Hēad'ing-rōōm, n. p. 1091A room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort for reading.Rē'-ad-jōurn', v. t. p. 1091To adjourn a second time.Rē'-ad-jūst', v. t. p. 1091To adjust or settle again; to put in order again.Rē'-ad-jūst'ment, n. p. 1091A second adjustment.Rē'-ad-mis'sion, n. p. 1091The act of admitting again, or the state of being readmitted; as, the re-admission of fresh air into an exhausted receiver; the re-admission of a student into a seminary.Rē'-ad-mit', v. t. p. 1091To admit again; to give second entrance or allowance to. Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the suppliant. Milton.Re'-ad-mit'tance, n. p. 1091A second admittance; allowance to enter again.Rē-a-dŏpt′, v. t. p. 1091To adopt again. Young.Rē'-a-dōrn', v. t. p. 1091To adorn anew; to decorate a second time. Blackmore.Rē'-ad-vānce', v. i. p. 1091To advance again.Rē'-ad-vĕrt'en-cy, n. p. 1091The act of again adverting to, or of reviewing. Norris.Rĕad’y, a. p. 1091Prepared at the moment; not behindhand or backward when called upon; causing no delay for lack of being fitted or furnished. My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Matt. xxii.…Rēad'y, adv. p. 1091In a state of preparation so as to need no delay. We ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel. Num. xxxii. 17.Rĕad'y, n. p. 1091Ready money; cash. [Colloq. and low.] Lord Strut was not flush in ready, either to go to law, or to clear old debts. Arbuthnot.Rēad'y, v. t. p. 1091To dispose in order; to prepare. [Obs.] Brooke.Rĕad'y-māde, a. p. 1091Already provided; kept on hand to answer demands; not made to order.Rēad'y-wit'ted, a. p. 1091Having ready wit.Re'-af-fīrm', v. t. p. 1091To affirm a second time.Rē'-af-firm'ance, n. p. 1091A second affirmation. Ayliffe.Rē'-af-fōr'est-ed, a. p. 1092Converted anew into a forest. See AFFOREST.Re-ā'gent, n. p. 1092(Chem.) A substance employed to detect the presence of other bodies; a test.Re-ăg'gra-vā'tion, n. p. 1092(Rom. Cath. Eccl. Law.) The last monitory, published after three admonitions and before the last excommunication.Rē'-a-gree', v. i. p. 1092To agree again.