Dictionary
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.
Sight'ful-ness, n. p. 1228The state or quality of being sightful; clearness of sight; perspicuity. [Obs.]Sight'less, a. p. 1228Wanting sight; blind. “Of all who blindly creep or sightless soar.” Pope. 2. Offensive or unpleasing to the eye; unsightly; as, sightless stains. [Rare.] Shak.Sight'less-ly, adv. p. 1228In a sightless manner.Sight'less-ness, n. p. 1228The state of being sightless; want of sight.Sight'li-ness, n. p. 1228The state of being sightly; comeliness.Sight'ly, a. p. 1228Open to sight; conspicuous; as, a house stands in a sightly place. 2. Pleasing to the sight; comely. “Many brave, sightly horses.” L'Estrange.Sight'-see'ing, a. p. 1228Given to seeing sights; eager for novelties or curiosities.Sight'-see'ing, n. p. 1228The act of seeing sights; eagerness for novelties or curiosities.Sight'-sē'er, n. p. 1228One given to seeing sights, or eager for novelties or curiosities.Sight'-shot, n. p. 1228Distance to which the sight can reach, or be thrown. [Rare.] Cooley.Sights’man, n. p. 1228One who reads or performs music readily at first sight. [Rare.] Busby.Sĭg'il, n. p. 1228A seal; signature. “Of talismans and sigils knew the power.” Pope.Sĭgĭl-lā'ri-ă, n. pl. p. 1228(Rom. Antiq.) Little images or figures of earthen-ware exposed for sale, or given as presents, on the last two days of the Saturnalia; hence, the last two, or sixth and seventh, days of the…Sĭg'ĭl-la-tīve, a. p. 1228Fit to seal; belonging to a seal; composed of wax. [Obs.] Cotgrave.Sĭg'la, n. pl. p. 1228The signs, abbreviations, letters, or characters standing for words, &c., such as are found in ancient manuscripts, or on coins, medals, and the like. Savage.Sĭg'mă, n. p. 1228The Greek letter Σ, σ, or ς (English S, or s);—originally having the form of the English C. 2. A dining-table shaped like the letter C. Elmes.Sig'moid or Sig-moid'al, a. p. 1228Curved in two directions, like the letter S, or the Greek ς. Bigelow. Sigmoid flexure (Anat.), the last curve of the colon, before it terminates in the rectum.Sig-moid'al-ly, adv. p. 1228In a sigmoidal manner.Sīgn, n. p. 1228That by which any thing is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof; hence, specifically, (a.) A remarkable event, considered by the ancients…Sīgn, v. t. p. 1228To represent by a sign; to signify; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech. I signed to Browne to make his retreat. W. Scott. 2. To affix a signature to; to…Sign, v. i. p. 1228To be a sign or omen. [Obs.] Shak. 2. To make a sign or signal; to communicate intelligence by signs.Sig'nal, n. p. 1228A sign which has been agreed upon to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, to a person at a distance; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon, as the occasion of…Sig'nal, a. p. 1229Distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence. As signal now in low, dejected state, As erst in highest…Sig'nal, v. t. p. 1229To communicate by signals; as, to signal intelligence.Sig'nal-fire, n. p. 1229A fire intended for a signal.Sig'nal-ist, n. p. 1229One who makes signals; one who communicates intelligence by means of signals.Sig-năl'i-ty, n. p. 1229The state or quality of being signal or remarkable. [Obs.] Browne.Sig'nal-ize, v. t. p. 1229To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common. It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use of signalizing themselves. Burke. 2. To communicate with by…Sig'nal-ly, adv. p. 1229In a signal manner; eminently; remarkably.Sig'nal-ment, n. p. 1229The act of giving a signal, or of communicating by signals; the act of signalizing; hence, description by peculiar, appropriate, or characteristic marks. E. B. Browning.Sig-nā'tion, n. p. 1229Sign given; act of betokening. [Obs.]Sig'na-to-ry, a. p. 1229Relating to a seal; used in sealing. [Obs.]Sig'na-türe, n. p. 1229A sign, stamp, or mark impressed. “The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and images.” Watts. “The natural and indelible signature of God, stamped on the human soul.”…Sig'na-tīve, v. t. p. 1229To mark; to distinguish. [Obs.]Sig'na-tīr/ist, n. p. 1229One who holds to the doctrine of signatures impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.] Browne.Sign'-board, n. p. 1229A board on which a man sets a notice of his occupation, or of articles for sale.Sign'er, n. p. 1229One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial with a hundred signers.Sig'net, n. p. 1229A seal; especially, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters, and grants that pass by bill under the sign-manual;—called also privy signet. [Eng.] I have my father's signet in my…Sig'net-ed, a. p. 1229Stamped or marked with a signet.Sig'net-ring, n. p. 1229A ring containing a signet or private seal.Sig'ni-fer, a. p. 1229Bearing signs. [Obs. and rare.] “The signifer sphere, or zodiac.” Holland.Sig-nĭf'i-cance or Sig-nĭf'i-can-cy, n. p. 1229The state of being significant. 2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, or of a motion of the hand, or of a word or expression. 3. Importance; moment; weight…Sig-nĭf'i-cant, a. p. 1229Fitted or designed to signify or make known something; embodying or expressing a meaning; standing as a sign or token; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look. It was well said of…Sig-nĭf'i-cant, n. p. 1229That which has significance; a token. [Obs.] “Dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.” Shak.Sig-nif'i-cant-ly, adv. p. 1229In a significant manner; with meaning.Sig-nif'i-cate, n. p. 1229(Logic.) One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.Sig′/ni-fi-cā′tion, n. p. 1229The act of signifying or making known. “A signification of being pleased, a testimonial of being served.” Landor. All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or address of one man to…Sig-nif'i-ca-tive, a. p. 1229Betokening or representing by an external sign. “The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative.” Brerewood. 2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose. Neither in…Sig-nĭf'i-ca-tĭve-ly, adv. p. 1229In a significative manner; so as to represent or express by an external sign.Sig-nĭf'i-ca-tĭve-ness, n. p. 1229The quality of being significative.Sĭg’nĭ-fī-cā’tor, n. p. 1229One who, or that which, signifies. In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably upon our astrologer’s attention. F. Scott.Sig-nīf'i-ca-to-ry, n. p. 1229That which betokens, signifies, or represents. Bp. Taylor.Sĭg'nĭ-fĭ-cā'vĭt, n. p. 1229(Eng. Eccl. Law.) A writ issuing out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit…Sĭg'ni-fy, v. t. p. 1229To make known by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like. I'll signify so much unto him straight. Shak. The government should signify to the…Sig'ni-fy, v. i. p. 1229To express meaning with force.Sign'ior, n. p. 1229Sir; Mr.;—a title of respect or of address among the Italians. See SEIGNIOR.Sign'ior-ize, v. t. p. 1229To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] “As proud as he that signiorizeth hell.” Fairfax.Sign'ior-ize, v. i. p. 1229To exercise dominion; to lord it. [Obs.]Sĭgn'ior-shĭp, n. p. 1229The state or position of being a signior. Massinger.Sĭgn'ior-y, n. p. 1229Same as SEIGNIORY.