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.
Re-fēr', v. t. p. 1104To carry or send back; to pass over; to give in charge; to direct or deliver, as for treatment, decision, information, or the like; to make over; to cause to betake one's self to. I'll refer me to…Re-fér’,, v. i. p. 1104To have recourse; to apply; to appeal; to betake one’s self. In suits it is good to refer to some friend of trust. Bacon. 2. To have reference or relation; to relate; to point. “Those places that…Rēf'er-a-ble, a. p. 1104Capable of being referred or considered in relation to something else; assignable; ascribable; imputable. [Written also referrible.] It is a question among philosophers, whether all the attractions…Rēf'er-ee',, n. p. 1104One to whom a thing is referred; a person to whom has been referred a matter in dispute in order that he may settle it. Syn.—Judge; arbitrator; umpire. See JUDGE.Rēf'er-ence, n. p. 1104The act of referring, or the state of being referred; a directing, delivering, making over, or sending, as for treatment, decision, information, and the like. It passed in England without the least…Rēf'er-ēnd'a-ry, n. p. 1104One to whose decision a cause is referred; a referee. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. An officer who delivered the royal answer to petitions. Harman. 3. (Early Hist.) An officer charged with the duty of procuring…Rĕf'er-ĕn'tial, a. p. 1105Containing a reference; pointing to something out of itself. Smart.Rĕf'er-ĕn'tial-ly, adv. p. 1105In the way of reference.Re-fẽr'ment, n. p. 1105Reference for decision. [Obs.]Rē'fer-mĕnt', v. t. & i. p. 1105To ferment again. Blackmore.Re-fẽr'rer, n. p. 1105One who refers.Re-fẽr'ri-ble, a. p. 1105Admitting of being referred; referable. “Some of which may be referrible to this period.” Hallam. [Written also referable.]Re-fĭg'ūre, v. t. p. 1105To figure again.Re-fill', v. t. p. 1105To fill again.Re-find', v. t. p. 1105To find again; to experience anew. Sandys.Re-fīne', v. t. p. 1105To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to separate from extraneous matter; to free from impurities; to purify; to defecate; to clarify; as, to refine wine, sugar, and the like. “A quantity of…Re-fine', v. i. p. 1105To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter. So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains, Works itself clear, and, as it runs, refines. Addison. 2. To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or…Re-fīn'ed-ly, adv. p. 1105In a refined manner; also, with affected nicety or elegance. Dryden.Re-fīn'ed-ness, n. p. 1105State of being refined; purity; refinement; also, affected purity. Barrow.Re-fine'ment, n. p. 1105The act of refining, or the state of being refined; separation from what is extraneous or defining; clarification; purification; as, the refinement of metals or liquors. The more bodies are of a kin…Re-fin'er, n. p. 1105One who refines; an improver in purity and elegance; as, a refiner of language; an inventor of superfluous subtilties; one who is over-nice in discrimination, in argument, reasoning, philosophy, or…Re-fīn’er-y, n. p. 1105The place and apparatus for refining metals, sugar, and the like.Re-fit', v. t. p. 1105To fit or prepare again; to repair; to restore after damage or decay; as, to refit ships of war. 2. To fit out or provide a second time.Re-fit′, v. i. p. 1105To repair damages; as, the fleet returned to refit.Re-fit'ment, n. p. 1105A second fitting out.Re-fix’, v. t. p. 1105To fix again; to establish anew. Fuller.Re-flēct’, v. t. p. 1105To bend back; to give a backward turn to; to throw back; especially, to cause to return after striking upon any surface; as, to reflect light, heat, sound, or the like. Let me mind the reader to…Re-flēct', v. i. p. 1105To throw back light, heat, or the like; to return rays or beams. 2. To be sent back; to rebound as from a surface; to revert. Whose virtues will, I hope, Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth.…Re-flēct'ed, p. a. p. 1105(Bot.) Bent or curved backward, or away from the axis.Re-flēct'ent, a. p. 1105Bending or flying back. “The ray descendent and ray reflectent.” Digby. 2. Reflecting.Re-flēct'i-ble, a. p. 1105Capable of being reflected or thrown back.Re-flēct'ing, p. a. p. 1105Throwing back light, heat, &c., as a mirror or other surface. 2. Given to reflection or serious consideration; reflective; as, a reflecting mind. Reflecting circle, an astronomical instrument for…Re-flēct'ing-ly, adv. p. 1105With reflection; also, with censure. Swift.Re-flēc'tion, n. p. 1105The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected; as, (a.) The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. The eye sees not itself, But by reflection…Re-flēct'ive, a. p. 1105Throwing back images; as, a reflective mirror. In the reflective stream the sighing bride, Viewing her charms impaired. Prior. 2. Capable of exercising thought or judgment; as, reflective reason.…Re-flĕct'ive-ly, adv. p. 1105By reflection; reflexively.Re-flĕct'ive-ness, n. p. 1105The state or quality of being reflective.Re-flēct'or, n. p. 1105One who, or that which, reflects. Boyle. 2. (Physics.) (a.) Something having a polished surface for reflecting light or heat, as a mirror, a speculum, and the like. (b.) A reflecting telescope.Rē'flex, a. p. 1105Directed back; attended by reflection; retro-active; introspective. “A reflex act of the soul, or the turning of the intellectual eye inward upon its own actions.” Hale. 2. Produced in reaction, in…Re-flĕx', n. p. 1105Reflection. [Rare.] Yon gray is not the morning's eye; 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow. Shak. On the depths of death there swims The reflex of a human face. Tennyson. 2. The light…Re-flēx', v. t. p. 1105To reflect. Shak. 2. To bend back; to turn back. [Rare.] Gregory.Re-flĕxed’, a. p. 1105(Bot.) Bent downward or backward. Gray.Re-flēx'/i-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1105The quality of being reflexible, or capable of being reflected; as, the reflexibility of the rays of light. Newton.Re-flĕx′ĭ-ble, a. p. 1105Capable of being reflected or thrown back. The light of the sun consists of rays differently refrangible and reflexible. Cheyne.Re-flēx'ion, n. p. 1105See REFLECTION.Re-flĕx'i-ty, n. p. 1105Capacity of being reflected.Re-flĕx'ive, a. p. 1105[Fr. réflexif, Pr. reflexiu.] Bending or turned backward; reflective; having respect to something past. Assurance reflexive can not be a divine faith. Hammond. 2. (Gram.) Having for its direct object…Re-flĕx'ive-ly, adv. p. 1105In a reflexive manner; in a direction backward. Gov. of Tongue. 2. (Gram.) After the manner of a reflexive verb.Re-flĕx'ive-ness, n. p. 1105The state or quality of being reflexive.Re-flĕx'ly, adv. p. 1105In a reflex manner.Rē'flōat, n. p. 1105Reflux; ebb; a flowing back. [Obs.] Bacon.Rē'flo-rēs'cençe, n. p. 1105A blossoming anew.Rē-flour'ish, v. i. p. 1105To flourish anew.Re-flōw', v. i. p. 1105To flow back; to ebb.Re-flūct'ū-ā'tion, n. p. 1105A flowing back.Rēf'lu-ence or Rēf'lu-en-cy, n. p. 1105A flowing back. Mountague.Rĕf'lu-ent, a. p. 1105Flowing back; returning; ebbing. And refluent through the pass of fear The battle's tide was poured. W. Scott.Rē'flux, a. p. 1105Returning or flowing back; reflex; as, reflux action.Rē'flux, n. p. 1105A flowing back, as the return of a fluid; ebb; as, the flux and reflux of the tides. All from one Shall with a fierce reflux on me redound. Milton.Re-fŏç'il-lāte, v. t. p. 1105To give new vigor to; to refresh; to revive. [Obs.] Aubrey.