Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Sēar, v. t. p. 1190To wither; to dry up. Shak. 2. To burn to dryness and hardness the surface of; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or hardness of the surface; to scorch; to make…Séar, a. p. 1190Dry; withered. [Written also sere.] Milton.Sēar, n. p. 1190The catch in a gun-lock by which it is held cocked or half cocked. Sear-spring, the spring by which the sear catches the cock.Sēa'-răt, n. p. 1190A pirate. [Obs.] Massinger.Sēarçe, v. t. p. 1190To separate the fine part of, as meal, from the coarse; to sift; to bolt. [Rare.] Mortimer.Sēarçe, n. p. 1190A sieve; a bolter. [Rare.]Sēar'cer, n. p. 1190One who sifts or bolts. [Rare.]Sēarch, v. t. p. 1190To look over or through, for the purpose of finding something; to examine by inspection; to explore. They are come to search the house. Shak. 2. To inquire after; to look for; to seek. Enough is left…Sēarch, v. i. p. 1190To seek; to look; to make inquiry or exploration; to hunt. Once more search with me. Shak. It suffices that they have once, with care, sifted the matter, and searched into all the particulars. Locke.Sēarch, n. p. 1190The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding. The orb he roamed with narrow search. Milton. Nor did my search of liberty begin Till my black hairs were changed…Sēarch'a-ble, a. p. 1190Capable of being searched or explored. Cotgrave.Sēarch'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1190State of being searchable.Sēarch’er, n. p. 1190One who, or that which, searches, explores, or examines; a seeker; an inquirer; an examiner; a trier; as, specifically, (a.) An officer in London, appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and…Sēarch'ing, p. a. p. 1190Hard to escape from or avoid; penetrating; trying; close; as, a searching discourse.Sëarch'ing-ly, adv. p. 1190In a searching manner.Sēarch'ing-ness, n. p. 1190The quality of being searching, penetrating, or close.Sēarch'less, a. p. 1190Eluding search or investigation; inscrutable.Sēarch'-war/rant, n. p. 1190(Law.) A warrant legally issued, authorizing persons to search houses, or other places, for goods stolen, secreted, or concealed.Sēar'-cloth, n. p. 1190A cloth to cover a sore; a plaster. Mortimer.Sēar'-clōth, v. t. p. 1190To cover, as a sore, with sear-cloth; to bind with sear-cloth.Sēar'ed-ness, n. p. 1190The state of being seared, cauterized, or hardened; hardness; hence, insensibility. Bp. Hall.Sēa'-reed, n. p. 1190(Bot.) A kind of grass found on sandy shores; Calamagrostis arenaria.Sēa'-risk, n. p. 1190Hazard or risk at sea; danger of injury or destruction by the sea.Sēa'-rōb'ber, n. p. 1190One who robs on the high seas; a sea-rover; a pirate.Sēa'-rōb'in, n. p. 1190(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Trigla; the gurnard.Sēa'-rŏck'et, n. p. 1190(Bot.) A cruciferous plant of the genus Cakile, growing on the sea-shore. London.Sēa'-rōom, n. p. 1190Ample space or distance from land, shoals, or rocks, sufficient for a ship to drive or scud without danger of shipwreck. Totten.Sēa'-rōv'er, n. p. 1190One that cruises for plunder; a sea-robber; a pirate.Sēa'-rōv'ing, a. p. 1190Wandering on the ocean.Sea'-ruff, n. p. 1190A kind of sea-fish. Johnson.Sēa’salt, n. p. 1190Common salt, obtained from sea-water by evaporation. Simmonds.Sēa'-sănd'wort, n. p. 1190(Bot.) The same asSēa'-scôr'pi-on, n. p. 1190(Ichth.) A voracious salt-water fish (Cottus scorpius), having the head armed with spines. Jardine.Sēa'-sĕr'pent, n. p. 1190A serpent-like animal of great size, supposed to dwell in the sea; now commonly reckoned as fabulous. 2. A kind of eel found in the Mediterranean. 3. The Hydrus stokesii, a large marine serpent found…Sēa'-shĕll, n. p. 1190A marine shell; a shell that grows in the sea.Sēa'-shōre, n. p. 1190The coast of the sea; the land that lies adjacent to the sea or ocean. 2. (Law.) All the ground between the ordinary high-water and low-water mark. Parsons.Sēa'-sick, a. p. 1190Affected with sickness or nausea, by means of the pitching or rolling of a vessel.Sēa'sick-ness, n. p. 1190The sickness or nausea occasioned by the pitching and rolling of a ship.Sēa'-side, n. p. 1190The land bordering on the sea; the country adjacent to the sea, or near it.Sēa'-slŭg, n. p. 1190The trepang, or sea-cucumber. See SEA-CUCUMBER.Sēa'-snāil, n. p. 1190(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Liparis, found under stones upon the sea-shore. Yarrell.Sēa'-snāke, n. p. 1190(Zoöl.) One of a family of snakes, mostly of small size, which inhabit the sea; especially, a marine snake of the genus Hydrus.Sēa'son, n. p. 1190One of the four divisions of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter; hence, a period of the year, as marked by its characteristics of temperature, moisture, conditions of nature, and the like. We…Sēa'son, v. t. p. 1191To render suitable or appropriate; to prepare; to fit. He is fit and seasoned for his passage. Shak. 2. To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to mature; as, to season one to…Sēa'son, v. i. p. 1191To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate, as the human body. 2. To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance.…Sēa'son-a-ble, a. p. 1191Occurring in good time, in due season, or in proper time for the purpose; opportune; timely; as, a seasonable supply of rain. Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction. Ecclus. xxxv. 20.…Sēa'son-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1191The quality or condition of being seasonable; opportuneness.Sēa'son-a-bly, adv. p. 1191In a seasonable manner; in due time; in time convenient; sufficiently early; as, to sow or plant seasonably.Sēa'son-age, n. p. 1191Seasoning; sauce. [Obs.] “The light, which is that that gives a seasonage to all other fruitions.” South.Sēa'son-al, a. p. 1191Of or pertaining to the seasons. Partington.Sēa'son-er, n. p. 1191One who, or that which, seasons, matures, or gives a relish.Sēa'son-ing, n. p. 1191That which is added to any species of food, to give it a higher relish; usually, something pungent or aromatic, as salt, spices, aromatic herbs, acids, sugar, or the like; a condiment. 2. Hence…Sēa'son-less, a. p. 1191Without succession of the seasons.Sēa'-spī'der, n. p. 1191(Zoöl.) A crab of the genus Maia (M. squinado), having the body nearly triangular, and the legs rather slender, and sometimes quite long. Dana.Sēa'-stār, n. p. 1191(Zoöl.) The star-fish, a marine, radiate animal.Sēa'-sūr'geon, n. p. 1191A surgeon employed on ship-board.Sēa'-swal'low, n. p. 1191(Ornith.) (a.) The common tern; Sterna hirundo. (b.) The storm petrel; Thalassidroma (Procellaria, Linnæus) pelagica. P. Cyc.Sēat, n. p. 1191The place or thing upon which one sits. 2. The place occupied by any thing, or where any thing is situated, resides, or abides; station; post of authority; site; abode. “A seat of plenty, content…Sēat, v. t. p. 1191To place on a seat; to cause to sit down; as, we seat our guests. The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate. Arbuthnot. 2. To cause to occupy a post, site, situation, or…Sēat, v. i. p. 1191To rest; to lie down. [Obs.] Spenser.