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.
Shrăg'ger, n. p. 1224One who lops; one who trims trees. [Obs.] Huloet.Shrām, v. t. p. 1224To cause to shrink or shrivel with cold; to benumb. [Prov. Eng.]Shrānk, imp. p. 1224of shrink. [Obs.] See SHRINK.Shrāp or Shrāpe, n. p. 1224A place baited with chaff to invite birds. [Written also scrap.] [Obs.] Bp. Bedell.Shrap'nel, a. p. 1224(Mil.) Of, pertaining to, or invented by, General Shrapnel:—said of a certain kind of shells. Shrapnel shell, a shell filled with a quantity of musket balls, which, when the shell explodes, are…Shrăp'nel, n. p. 1224Shrapnel shells.Shred, v. t. p. 1224To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and long pieces, as of cloth or leather. 2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]Shred, n. p. 1224A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip. 2. A fragment; a piece. “A king of shreds and patches.” Shak.Shred'ding, n. p. 1224The act of cutting into shreds. 2. That which is cut or torn off; a piece; a strip. 3. (pl.) (Arch.) Slight, short pieces fixed below the roof as bearers in old buildings, and forming a straight line…Shrēd'dy, a. p. 1224Composed of shreds.Shred'less, a. p. 1224Having no shreds; without a shred. And those which waved are shredless dust ere now. Byron.Shree'ta-ly, n. p. 1224(Bot.) The talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera), from which a kind of flour is obtained;—so called in India. Simmonds.Shrew, n. p. 1224Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a brawler; a scold. The man had got a shrew for his wife, and there could be no quiet in the…Shrew, v. t. p. 1224To beshrew; to curse. [Obs.] Chaucer.Shrew, a. p. 1224Shrewd; troublesome; tormenting; wicked. [Obs.]Shrewd, a. p. 1224Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; vexatious; annoying; vicious; wicked. [Obs.] Every of this number That have endured shrewd nights and days with us. Shak. He hath shrewd cause to…Shrewd'ly, adv. p. 1224In a vexatious, annoying or troublesome manner; vexatiously; sharply. [Obs.] The obstinate and schismatical are like to think themselves shrewdly hurt by being cut from that body they chose not to be…Shrewd'ness, n. p. 1224The quality or state of being shrewd; keenness; vexatiousness; astuteness; sagacity; discrimination. The neighbors round admire his shrewdness. Swift.Shrew'ish, a. p. 1224Having the qualities of a shrew; froward; peevish; petulantly clamorous. My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. Shak.Shrew'ish-ly, adv. p. 1224In a shrewish manner; peevishly; clamorously; turbulently. He speaks very shrewishly. Shak.Shrew'ish-ness, n. p. 1224The state of being shrewish; frowardness; petulance; clamorousness. I have no gift in shrewishness. Shak.Shrew'-mōle, n. p. 1224(Zoöl.) A North American animal of the genus Scalops (S. aquaticus, or Canadensis), found near the banks of rivers. It is about six inches in length and burrows like the mole, which it resembles.…Shrew'-mouse, n. p. 1224(Zoöl.) An insectivorous animal of the Sorex or shrew family, and genera Sorex, Neosorex, &c. It burrows in the ground, and is a harmless animal.Shrīek, v. i. p. 1224To utter a loud, sharp, shrill cry; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. It was the owl that shrieked. Shak. At this she shrieked aloud. Dryden. 2. To mourn with sharp, shrill…Shriek, v. t. p. 1224To utter sharply and shrilly. On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl, Shrieked his baleful note. Spenser. She shrieked his name To the dark woods. T. Moore.Shrīek, n. p. 1224A sharp, shrill outcry or scream, such as is produced by sudden terror or extreme anguish. Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, filled the affrighted town. Dryden.Shrīek'er, n. p. 1224One who utters a shriek.Shrīk'-owl, n. p. 1224The same as SCREECH-OWL.Shrīev'al, a. p. 1224Pertaining to a sheriff. [Obs.]Shrīev'al-ty, n. p. 1224The office or sphere of jurisdiction of a sheriff; sheriffalty. It was ordained by 2d Edward I. that the people shall have election of sheriff in every shire, where the shrievalty is not of…Shrīeve, n. p. 1224Sheriff. [Obs.]Shrīeve, v. t. p. 1224The same as SHRIVE. [Obs.]Shrift or Shrift-father, n. p. 1224Confession made to a priest. Address you to your shrift, And be yourself; for you must die. Rowe. Shrift-father, a priest to whom confession is made.Shrīght, imp. & p. p. p. 1224of shriek, for shrieked. [Obs.] See SHRIKE. Chaucer.Shrīght, n. p. 1224A shriek. [Obs.] Spenser.Shrike, n. p. 1224(Ornith.) A rapacious bird (Lanius or excubitor), of an ash color above and white below. It is common in Europe. An American species having much the same color is L. borealis. This bird has a strong…Shrĭll, a. p. 1224Uttering an acute sound; sharp; piercing. Hear the shrill whistle. Shak. Let winds be shrill. Byron.Shrīll, v. i. p. 1224To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound in a sharp, shrill tone. Break we our pinions, that shrilled as loud as lark. Spenser. No sound was heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith. 2. To have…Shrĭll, v. t. p. 1224To cause to make a shrill sound; to utter in a shrill tone. Spenser. 2. To pierce; to penetrate; to wound. About me leaped and laughed, The modish Cupid of the day, And shrilled me with his shaft.…Shrill'ness, n. p. 1224The state of being shrill or acute in sound; sharpness or fineness of voice.Shrill'-tŏngued, a. p. 1224Having a shrill voice. “Thy cheek pays shame when shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.” Shak.Shrīl'ly, adv. p. 1224In a shrill manner; acutely; with a sharp sound or voice.Shrīl'ly, a. p. 1224Somewhat shrill. [Poet.] Some kept up a shrilly, mellow sound. Keats.Shrĭmp, v. t. p. 1224To contract; to shrink. [Obs.]Shrĭmp, n. p. 1224(Zoöl.) A long-tailed decapod crustacean, of the genus Crangon, and others;—often applied to most of the smaller macrourans. There are numerous species, some of which are used for food. 2. A little…Shrīmp'er, n. p. 1224One who catches shrimps with a dredge-net on a beach. Simmonds.Shrĭmp'-nĕt, n. p. 1224A dredge-net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep-net dragged over the fishing ground.Shrine, n. p. 1225A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which sacred relics are deposited. 2. Hence, any sacred place; an altar; a place of worship. “Too weak the sacred shrine to guard.” Byron. 3. Hence, a…Shrine, v. t. p. 1225To enshrine; to place. “Shrined in his sanctuary.” Milton.Shrĭnk, v. i. p. 1225To become wrinkled by contraction; to draw back and offer less space than before; to shrivel; to contract; to dry up. All the boards did shrink. Coleridge. 2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger…Shrink, v. t. p. 1225To cause to contract; as, to shrink flannel by immersing it in boiling water. To shrink on (Mach.), to fix firmly one part around another, as a hoop upon a cannon, by making it slightly smaller than…Shrĭnk, n. p. 1225The act of shrinking; a spontaneous drawing into less compass; corrugation; contraction. 2. A withdrawing from fear or horror; recoil.Shrink'age, n. p. 1225A shrinking or contraction into a less compass. 2. The reduction in the bulk or dimensions of any thing, as grain, castings, &c., by shrinking.Shrĭnk'er, n. p. 1225One who shrinks; one who withdraws from danger.Shrĭnk'ing-head, n. p. 1225(Founding.) A body of molten metal connected with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting;—called also sinking-head and riser. Hobbes.Shrink'ing-ly, adv. p. 1225In a shrinking manner; by shrinking.Shrīke, n. p. 1225(Ornith.) A certain bird; the thrush.Shrīv'al-ty, n. p. 1225The same as SHRIEVALTY, q. v.Shrīve, v. t. p. 1225To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession to;—said of a priest. He shrives this woman. Shak. 2. To cause to make confession; to confess;—used reflexively. Get you to the church…Shrive, v. i. p. 1225To receive confessions, as a priest; to administer confession.