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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.

  1. Rīve, v. t.p. 1143To rend asunder by force; to split; to cleave; as, to rive timber, for rails or shingles, with wedges. The scolding winds Have rived the knotty oaks. Shak.
  2. Rīve, v. i.p. 1143To be split or rent asunder. Freestone rives, splits, and breaks in any direction. Woodward.
  3. Rīve, n.p. 1143A place torn; a rent; a rift. [Prov. Eng.]
  4. Rĭv'el, v. t.p. 1143To contract into wrinkles; to shrink; as, riveled
  5. Riv'el, n.p. 1143A wrinkle. [Obs.]
  6. Riv'en, p. p.p. 1143of rive. See RIVE.
  7. Riv'er, n.p. 1143One who rives or splits.
  8. Rĭv'er, n.p. 1143A large stream of water flowing in a channel on land toward the ocean, a lake, or another river; a stream larger than a rivulet or brook. “Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is…
  9. Riv'er, v. t.p. 1143To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  10. Riv'er-děl'tá, n.p. 1143A delta formed by the current of a river.
  11. Riv'er-drăg'on, n.p. 1143A crocodile;—a name given by Milton to the king of Egypt.
  12. Riv'er-driv'er, n.p. 1143A lumberman who drives or conducts logs down rivers. [U. S.] Bartlett.
  13. Riv'ered, a.p. 1143Supplied with rivers; as, a well-rivered country. Wilson.
  14. Riv'er-ět, n.p. 1143A small river; a rivulet. [Obs.]
  15. Riv'er-gŏd, n.p. 1143A deity supposed to preside over a river as its tutelary divinity.
  16. Riv'er-hööd, n.p. 1143The quality of being a river. “Useful riverhood.” H. Miller.
  17. Riv'er-hôrse, n.p. 1143The hippopotamus, an animal inhabiting rivers.
  18. Riv'er-plāin, n.p. 1143A plain by a river.
  19. Rĭv'er-y, a.p. 1143Having rivers; as, a rivery country. [Obs.] Drayton.
  20. Rĭv'et, n.p. 1143A pin of iron or other metal with a head, driven through a piece of timber or metal, the point being bent or spread and beaten down fast, to prevent its being drawn out; a pin or bolt clinched at…
  21. Riv'et, v. t.p. 1143To fasten with a rivet, or with rivets; as, to rivet two pieces of iron. 2. To clinch; as, to rivet a pin or bolt. Moxon. 3. Hence, to fasten firmly; to make firm, strong, or immovable; as, to rivet…
  22. Riv'et-ing, n.p. 1143The act of jointing with rivets. 2. The whole set of rivets collectively. Tomlinson.
  23. Rī-vōse', a.p. 1143(Zoöl.) Marked with furrows sinuate and irregular.
  24. Rĭv'ŭ-let, n.p. 1143A small river or brook; a streamlet. By fountain or by shady rivulet He sought them. Milton.
  25. Rix-ā'tion, n.p. 1143A brawl or quarrel. [Obs.]
  26. Rix-ā'trix, n.p. 1143(Law.) A scolding or quarrelsome woman; a scold. Barrill.
  27. Rĭx'-dōl'lar, n.p. 1143A silver coin of Germany, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden, of different value in different places, and varying from 60 cents to $1.08, according to the country where coined.
  28. Riz'zered, a.p. 1143Half dried or salted; as, rizzered haddock. W. Scott.
  29. Rōach, n.p. 1143(Ichth.) A gregarious fresh-water fish of the carp family (Leuciscus rutilus). It is of a silver-white color, with a greenish back, having the dorsal fin opposite the ventral. It is about a foot in…
  30. Rōad, n.p. 1143A journey. [Obs.] With easy roads he came to Leicester. Shak. 2. A place where one may ride; an open way public passage; a track for travel, forming a communication between one city, town, or place…
  31. Rōad, n.p. 1144A place where ships may ride at anchor at some distance from the shore; a roadstead.
  32. Rōad'-bĕd, n.p. 1144The bed or foundation on which the superstructure of a railroad rests. Farnham.
  33. Rōad'-bōōk, n.p. 1144A guide-book for roads.
  34. Rōad'-mĕt'al, n.p. 1144The broken stone used in macadamizing roads.
  35. Rōad’stēad, n.p. 1144A place where ships may ride at anchor, at some distance from the shore.
  36. Rōad'ster, n.p. 1144(Naut.) A vessel riding at anchor in a road or bay. 2. A horse fitted for traveling. Bell.
  37. Rōad'-sūl'ky, n.p. 1144A light, two-wheeled vehicle for one person, with springs and dash-board, and the seat set on braces.
  38. Rōad'wāy, n.p. 1144The part of a road traveled by carriages. Shak.
  39. Rōak, n.p. 1144See ROKE.
  40. Rōam, v. i.p. 1144To walk or move about from place to place without any certain purpose or direction; to rove. “Daphne roaming through a thorny wood.” Shak. Syn.—To wander; rove; range; stroll; ramble; stray.
  41. Rōam, v. t.p. 1144To range or wander over. And now wild beasts came forth the woods to roam. Milton.
  42. Rōam, n.p. 1144The act of roaming; a wandering. He . . . began Through wood, through waste, o’er hill, o’er dale, his roam. Milton.
  43. Rōam'er, n.p. 1144One who roams; a wanderer; a rover.
  44. Rōan, a.p. 1144Having a bay, sorrel, or dark color, with spots of gray, or white, thickly interspersed; — said of a horse. Give my roan horse a drench. Shak.
  45. Rōan, n.p. 1144The color of a roan horse; a roan color. 2. A roan horse. 3. A kind of leather for book-binding, made from sheep-skin, in imitation of morocco. Tomlinson.
  46. Rōan'-tree, n.p. 1144(Bot.) A tree of the genus Pyrus; the European mountain-ash. Lee.
  47. Rōar, v. i.p. 1144To cry with a full, loud, continued sound; especially, (a.) To bellow or cry as a beast. “Roaring bulls he would him make to tame.” Spenser. (b.) To cry loudly, as in pain or distress. The suffering…
  48. Rōar, v. t.p. 1144To cry aloud; to make known loudly. [Rare.] This last action will roar thy infamy. Ford.
  49. Rōar, n.p. 1144The sound of roaring; as, (a.) The bellow or loud note of a wild beast; as, the roar of a lion. (b.) The cry of one in pain, distress, anger, and the like; as, the roar of a child in pain. (c.) A…
  50. Roar'er, n.p. 1144One who, or that which, roars; specifically, (a.) A riotous fellow; a roaring boy. “O strange! a lady to turn roarer, and break glasses.” Massinger. (b.) A horse subject to roaring.
  51. Rōar'ing, n.p. 1144A loud, continuous sound, as of a beast, or of one in distress, anger, mirth, and the like. 2. (Far.) An affection of the windpipe of a horse, causing a loud, peculiar noise in breathing under…
  52. Roar'ing-ly, adv.p. 1144In a roaring manner.
  53. Rōar'y, a.p. 1144Dewy; — more properly rory.
  54. Rōast, v. t.p. 1144To cook, dress, or prepare, as meat for the table, by exposure to heat, before the fire, or in an oven. 2. To prepare for food by exposure to heat; as, to roast apples or potatoes; to roast eggs. 3.…
  55. Rōast, n.p. 1144That which is roasted. To rule the roast, to take the lead; to domineer. “The new-made duke that rules the roast.” Shak. ☞ The origin of this phrase is uncertain. Johnson says, “It was originally…
  56. Rōast, a.p. 1144Roasted; as, roast beef.
  57. Rōast, v. i.p. 1144To be cooked by exposure to heat before a fire; to be roasted.
  58. Rōast'er, n.p. 1144One who roasts meat. 2. A contrivance for roasting. 3. A pig, or other animal or article, for roasting.
  59. Rŏb, n.p. 1144The inspissated juice of ripe fruit, obtained by evaporation of the juice over a fire till it acquires the consistence of a sirup, which will prevent its fermentation. It is sometimes mixed with…
  60. Rŏb, v. t.p. 1144To take away from by force; to strip by stealing; to plunder; to steal from. Who would rob a hermit of his weeds, His few books, or his beads, or maple dish? Milton. 2. (Law.) To take property from…