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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Shā'man, n. p. 1213A priest of Shamanism; a wizard or conjurer in some northern Asiatic regions. Brande.Shā'man, a. p. 1213Of, or pertaining to, Shamanism.Shā'man-ism, n. p. 1213The superstitious religion of the northern nations of Asia, consisting in a belief in evil spirits, and in the necessity of averting their malign influence by magic spells and rites.Shā'man-ist, n. p. 1213A believer in, or adherent to, Shamanism.Shām'ble, v. i. p. 1213To walk awkwardly and unsteadily, as if the knees were weak; to shuffle along.Shăm'ble, n. p. 1213(Mining.) A niche or shelf left at suitable distances to receive the ore which is thrown from one to another, and thus raised to the top. 2. (pl.) The place where butcher's meat is sold; a…Shām'bling, p. a. p. 1213Moving with an awkward, irregular, clumsy pace; as, a shambling trot; shambling legs.Shām'bling, n. p. 1213An awkward, clumsy, irregular pace or gait.Shāme, n. p. 1213A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or of the exposure of that which nature or modesty prompts us to conceal; hence…Shāme, v. t. p. 1213To make ashamed; to excite a consciousness of guilt or of conduct derogatory to reputation in; to cause to blush. Who shames a scribbler breaks a cobweb through. Pope. 2. To cover with reproach or…Shāme, v. i. p. 1213To be ashamed; to feel shame. [Rare.] I do shame to think of it. Shak.Shāme'fāced (-fāst), a. p. 1213Easily confused or put out of countenance; diffident; bashful; modest. Conscience is a blushing, shamefaced spirit. Shak. Your shamefaced virtue shunned the people's praise. Dryden. ☞ “Shamefaced was…Shāme'fāçed-ly, adv. p. 1213With excessive modesty; bashfully; also, with becoming modesty.Shāme'fāçed-ness, n. p. 1213Excess of modesty; bashfulness; also, a becoming modesty.Shāme'fāst, a. p. 1213Extremely modest; shamefaced. [Obs.] He saw her wise, shamefast, and bringing forth children. North.Shāme'fāst-ly, adv. p. 1213Shamefacedly. [Obs.]Shāme'fāst-ness, n. p. 1213Extreme modesty; bashfulness; shamefacedness. [Obs.] Marston.Shāme'fŭl, a. p. 1213Bringing shame or disgrace; injurious to reputation; scandalous; disgraceful. His naval preparations were not more surprising than his quick and shameful retreat. Arbuthnot. 2. Raising shame in…Shāme'ful-ly, adv. p. 1213In a shameful manner; with indignity or indecency; disgracefully. How shamefully that maid he did torment. Spenser.Shāme'ful-ness, n. p. 1213The state or quality of being shameful; disgracefulness.Shāme'less, a. p. 1213Destitute of, or indicating an absence of, shame; wanting modesty; brazen-faced; insensible to disgrace. “Such shameless bards we have.” Pope. Syn. — Impudent; brazen-faced; unblushing; audacious…Shāme'less-ly, adv. p. 1213In a shameless manner; without shame; impudently; as, a man shamelessly wicked.Shāme'less-ness, n. p. 1213Destitution of shame; want of sensibility to disgrace or dishonor; impudence. He that blushes not at his crime, but adds shamelessness to shame, has nothing left to restore him to virtue. Bp. Taylor.Shām'er, n. p. 1213One who, or that which, makes ashamed; that which confounds.Shām'mel, n. p. 1213(Min.) A process of lifting ore or water by bringing it first to an intermediate platform before raising it to the surface of the ground.Shām'mer, n. p. 1213One who shams; an impostor.Sha-moy'ing, n. p. 1213A process used in preparing certain kinds of leather, which consists in working into the skin a certain quantity of oil to supply the place of the astringent or chloride of ammonium ordinarily used…Shām'my, n. p. 1213A kind of leather prepared originally from the skin of the chamois, and much esteemed for its softness, pliancy, and the quality of bearing soap without damage. Much of the leather which bears this…Shăm'ois, n. p. 1213See SHAMMY.Sham-poo', v. t. p. 1213To rub and percuss the whole surface of the body of, and at the same time to flex and extend the limbs and rack the joints, in connection with the hot bath. 2. To wash thoroughly and rub the head of…Sham-poo'er, n. p. 1213One who shampoos.Shām'rock, n. p. 1213(Bot.) A plant of the genus Trifolium (T. repens), used by the Irish as their national emblem; white trefoil; white clover. ☞ The name shamrock is supposed to have been originally applied to a plant…Shām'shōo, n. p. 1213See SAMSHOO.Shānk, n. p. 1213The lower joint of the leg from the knee to the foot; the shin; hence, sometimes, the bone of the leg; the whole leg. His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank. Shak. 2.…Shănk'-beer, n. p. 1214The same as SCHENK-BEER. See SCHENK-BEER.Shànked, a. p. 1214Having a shank.Shānk'er, n. p. 1214(Med.) A primary, syphilitic ulcer, always occasioned by the application of the specific secretion from another primary syphilitic ulcer. It is always the first manifestation of true and regular…Shānk'ing, a. p. 1214(Vineries.) Becoming diseased with a moist gangrene, which attacks the footstalks of grapes. Dana.Shănk'lin-sănd, n. p. 1214(Geol.) A sandstone, with other associated deposits, constituting the lower part of the cretaceous formation. Mantell.Shānk'-pāint'er, n. p. 1214(Naut.) A short rope and chain which sustains the shank and flukes of an anchor against the ship's side, as the stopper fastens the ring and stock to the cat-head. Totten.Shăn'ny, n. p. 1214A small fish (Pholis subfurcatus), which lurks under stones and weeds. Storer.Shă'n't p. 1214An inelegant contraction of shall not, often used in colloquial language; as, you shă'n't; he shă'n't.Shăn’ty, a. p. 1214Gay; showy; jaunty. [Prov. Eng.]Shăn’ty, n. p. 1214A mean dwelling; a temporary building or erection; a hut. [Written also shantee.]Shăn’ty, v. i. p. 1214To inhabit a shanty. Hammond.Shăn’ty-măn, n. p. 1214One who lives in a shanty; a wood-cutter. Simmonds.Shāp'a-ble, a. p. 1214Capable of being shaped or formed.Shāpe, v. t. p. 1214To form or create; to make; to produce. I was shapen in iniquity. Ps. li. 5. 2. To mold or make into a particular form; to give form or figure to; to form. Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked…Shāpe, v. i. p. 1214To square; to suit; to be adjusted. [Rare.] Shak.Shāpe, n. p. 1214Character or construction of a thing as determining its external appearance; outward aspect; make; figure; form; guise; as, the shape of a horse or a tree; the shape of the head, hand, or foot; an…Shāpe'less, a. p. 1214Destitute of shape or regular form; wanting symmetry of dimensions; formless. “The shapeless rock or hanging precipice.” Pope.Shāpe'less-ness, n. p. 1214The state of being shapeless; destitution of regular form.Shāpe'li-ness, n. p. 1214The quality of being shapely; beauty or proportion of form.Shāpe'ly, a. p. 1214Well formed; having a regular shape; symmetrical. Warton. Waste, sandy valleys, once perplexed with thorn, The spiry fir and shapely box adorn. Pope.Shāpe’smith, n. p. 1214One who undertakes to improve the form of the body. [Burlesque.] Garth.Shāp'ing-ma-chīne', n. p. 1214(Mach.) A modified planing-machine, in which the tool moves and the work is fixed on a table for dressing surfaces of all shapes.Shārd, n. p. 1214A piece or fragment of an earthen vessel, or of a like brittle substance. [Obs.] Shak. 2. Hence, the hard wing-case of a beetle. They are his shards, and he their beetle. Shak. 3. The shell of an egg…Shärd'-bōrne, a. p. 1214Borne on shards, or with wings like shards. “The shard-borne beetle.” Shak.Shārd'ed, a. p. 1214Having wings sheathed with a hard case. “The sharded beetle.” Shak.Shärd'y, a. p. 1214Pertaining to, or furnished with, shards. “The hornet's shardy wing.” J. R. Drake.