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.
Sĕx'ta-ry, n. p. 1211(Rom. Antiq.) An ancient Roman measure, about equal to an English pint, in both liquid and dry measure.Sĕx'ta-ry, n. p. 1211The same as SACRISTY. [Obs.]Sēx'tīle, n. p. 1211(Astrol.) The aspect or position of two planets when distant from each other sixty degrees, or two signs. This position is marked thus: ⚹. Hutton.Sex-tīl'ion, n. p. 1211According to the English notation, the product of a million involved to the sixth power, or the number expressed by a unit with thirty-six ciphers annexed; according to the French notation, the…Sĕx'tet or Sex-tēt'to, n. p. 1211The same as SESTET. See SESTET.Sĕx'to, n. p. 1211A size of book made by folding each sheet into six leaves.Sēx'to-dēç'i-mō, a. p. 1211Formed of sheets folded so as to make sixteen leaves; of, or equal to, the size of one fold of a sheet of printing-paper when doubled so as to make sixteen leaves, or thirty-two pages; as, a…Sĕxʹto-dĕçʹi-mo, n. p. 1211A book composed of sheets folded so as to make sixteen leaves, or thirty-two pages; a sextodecimo book. 2. The size of a book thus composed; — usually indicated thus: 16mo., 16°.Sēx'ton, n. p. 1211An under officer of the church, whose business is to take care of the vessels, vestments, &c., belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating clergyman, and perform other duties pertaining to…Sēx'ton-ess, n. p. 1211A female sexton; the wife of a sexton.Sĕx'ton-ry, n. p. 1211Sextonship. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.Sēx'ton-ship, n. p. 1211The office of a sexton.Sēx'try, n. p. 1211The same as SACRISTAN.Sĕx'tu-ple, a. p. 1211Six times as much; sixfold. 2. (Mus.) Having six parts; as, sextuple measure.Sĕx'ū-al, a. p. 1211Pertaining to sex or the sexes; distinguishing sex; peculiar to the distinction and office of male or female; relating to the distinct organs of the sexes; as, sexual characteristics; sexual…Sĕx'ū-al-ĭst, n. p. 1211(Bot.) One who believes and maintains the doctrine of sexes in plants; one who classifies plants by the differences of the sexes and parts of fructification.Sēx'ū-al'ī-ty, n. p. 1211The state or quality of being distinguished by sex.Sĕx′/ū-al-ly, adv. p. 1211In a sexual manner or relation.Sfor-zăn'do or Sfor-zā'to, a. p. 1211(Mus.) Forcing or forced; — a direction placed over a note, to signify to the performer that it must be executed with peculiar emphasis and force; — marked fz (an abbreviation of forzando, q. v.)…Sfu-mā'to, a. p. 1211(Paint.) Intentionally misty; smoky; — said of pictures in a certain style of painting. Smart.Sgräf-fīto, a. p. 1211(Paint.) Scratched; — said of pictures of a certain style, in which a white overlaid surface is chipped away, so as to form the design, from a dark ground underneath. Smart.Shăb, n. p. 1211The itch in animals; also, a scab.Shăb, v. i. p. 1211To play mean tricks; to act shabbily.Shăb'bed, a. p. 1211Mean; shabby. [Obs.] A. Wood.Shāb'bĭ-ly, adv. p. 1211In a shabby manner; meanly; raggedly; as, to be clothed shabbily.Shăb’bi-ness, n. p. 1211The quality of being shabby; meanness; raggedness; as, the shabbiness of a garment.Shāb'ble, n. p. 1211A kind of crooked sword. W. Scott.Shăb'by, a. p. 1211Torn or worn to rags; poor; mean; ragged. “The necessity of wearing shabby coats and dirty shirts.” Macaulay. 2. Clothed with ragged or soiled garments. “The dean was so shabby.” Swift. 3. Mean…Shăb'rack, n. p. 1211(Mil.) The cloth furniture or housing of a troop horse or charger.Shăck, n. p. 1211Liberty of winter pasturage. In Norfolk and Suffolk, the lord of a manor has shack, that is, liberty of feeding his sheep at pleasure on his tenant's lands during the six winter months. In Norfolk…Shack, v. i. p. 1211To shed, or fall, as corn at harvest. [Prov. Eng.] Grose. 2. To feed in stubble, or upon the waste corn of the field. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.Shăck'a-tō'ry, n. p. 1211A hound. [Obs. or rare.]Shăck'le, n. p. 1211Stubble. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.Shăck'le, v. t. p. 1211To tie or confine the limbs of, so as to prevent free motion; to fetter; to chain; to join by a link or chain, as rail-road cars. So the stretched cord the shackled dancer tries, As prone to fall as…Shăck'le, n. p. 1211Something which confines the limbs so as to prevent their free motion; a fetter; gyve; chain. His shackles empty left; himself escaped clean. Spenser. 2. Hence, that which obstructs or embarrasses…Shăck'le-bār, n. p. 1211The coupling between a locomotive and its tender. [Local U. S.]Shăck'-lŏck, n. p. 1211A sort of shackle. [Obs.]Shâck'ly, a. p. 1211Shaky; rickety. [U. S.] Bartlett.Shād, n. sing. & pl. p. 1211(Ichth.) A fish of the genusShād'-bŭsh, n. p. 1211(Bot.) A shrub or small tree (Amelanchier Canadensis), allied to the apple, bearing serrated leaves, and racemes of white flowers. It is common in the Northern United States, and flowers in April or…Shād'dock, n. p. 1211(Bot.) A tree and its fruit, which is a large species of orange; Citrus decumana.Shāde, n. p. 1211Comparative obscurity owing to the interception, cutting off, or interruption of the rays of light; darkness caused by the intervention of something between the space contemplated and the source of…Shāde, v. t. p. 1211To shelter or screen by intercepting the rays of light; to keep off illumination from; to put in shadow. “Shaded with branching palm.” Milton. I went to crop the sylvan scenes, And shade our altars…Shāde'ful, a. p. 1211Full of shade; shady.Shāde'less, a. p. 1211Without shade; not shaded.Shād'er, n. p. 1211One who, or that which, shades.Shād'ly, adv. p. 1211In a shady manner; umbrageously.Shād'i-ness, n. p. 1211The state of being shady; umbrageousness; as, the shadiness of the forest.Shād'ing, n. p. 1211The act or process of making a shade. Scott. 2. That which represents the effect of light and shade, in a picture or drawing; the filling up of an outline.Shād'ōw, n. p. 1211Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of the body which intercepts the rays of light; as, the shadow of a man, of a tree, or…Shād'ōw, v. t. p. 1212To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to overspread with obscurity. The warlike elf much wondered at this tree, So fair and great, that shadowed all the ground. Spencer. 2. To conceal; to…Shād'ōw-grāss, n. p. 1212(Bot.) A certain kind of grass, so called. Johnson.Shād'ōw-i-ness, n. p. 1212The state of being shadowy or unsubstantial.Shād'ōw-ing, n. p. 1212Shade, or gradation of light and color; shading. Feltham.Shād'ōw-ish, a. p. 1212Shadowy. [Obs.] Hooker.Shād'ōw-less, a. p. 1212Having no shadow.Shād'ōw-y, a. p. 1212Full of shade; serving to shade. “A shadowy hat.” W. Scott. 2. Hence, dark; obscure; gloomy. “This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods.” Shak. 3. Not brightly luminous; faintly light. More pleasant…Shā'drāch, n. p. 1212A mass of iron on which the operation of smelting has failed of its intended effect. ☞ The name is derived from that of one of the three persons thrown into the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, as…Shād'y, a. p. 1212Abounding with shade or shades; overspread with shade. And Amaryllis fills the shady groves. Dryden. 2. Sheltered from the glare of light or sultry heat. Cast it also that you may have rooms shady…Shāf'fle, v. i. p. 1212To hobble or limp; to shuffle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]