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.
Slăck'ly, adv. p. 1240In a slack manner; loosely; remissly.Slăck'ness, n. p. 1240The state of being slack; a condition opposite to tension; want of tightness or rigidity; as, the slackness of a cord or rope; remissness; negligence; inattention; as, the slackness of men in…Slāde, n. p. 1240A little dell or valley; also, a flat piece of low, moist ground. [Obs.] Drayton.Slāg, n. p. 1240The dross or recrement of a metal; also, vitrified cinders. 2. The scoria of a volcano. Dana.Slāg'gy, a. p. 1240Pertaining to, or resembling, slag.Slāie, n. p. 1240A weaver's reed; a sley.Slāke, v. t. p. 1240To quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. “And slake the heavenly fire.” Spenser. It would not slake mine ire nor ease my heart. Shak. 2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination…Slāke, v. i. p. 1240To go out; to become extinct. “His flame did slake.” Browne. 2. To abate; to become less decided. [Rare.] He overfloweth Mesopotamia when the sun is in the 20th degree of Cancer, and begins again to…Slāke'less, a. p. 1240Not capable of being slaked; unextinguishable.Slāk'lin, n. p. 1240See SLACKEN, n.Slăm, v. t. p. 1240To strike with force and noise; to shut with violence; as, to slam a door. 2. To beat; to cuff. [Prov. Eng.] Grose. 3. To strike down; to slaughter. [Prov. Eng.] 4. To win all the tricks in a hand at…Slăm, v. i. p. 1240To strike violently and noisily; as, a door slams. 2. (Mech.) To strike hard, as a moving part upon its seat; as, a puppet-valve slams.Slām, n. p. 1240A violent driving and dashing against; a violent shutting of a door. 2. The winning of all the tricks at whist, so defeating the other party. 3. The refuse of alum-works;—used in Yorkshire as a…Slăm'-băng', adv. p. 1240With great violence; with a slamming or banging noise. [Colloq.]Slām'kin or Slām'mer-kin, n. p. 1240A slut; a slatternly woman. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Slān'der, n. p. 1240A false tale or report maliciously uttered, and tending to injure the reputation of another. Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the…Slăn'der, v. t. p. 1240To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate. O, do not slander him, for he is…Slān'der-er, n. p. 1240One who injures another by maliciously reporting something to his prejudice; a defamer; a calumniator.Slăn'der-oŭs, a. p. 1240Given or disposed to slander. “Slanderous tongues.” Shak. 2. Embodying or containing slander or defamation; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports, falsely and maliciously uttered.Slăn'der-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1240In a slanderous manner; calumniously.Slăn'der-ous-ness, n. p. 1240The state or quality of being slanderous or defamatory.Slāng, imp. p. 1240of sling. Slung. [Obs.] See SLING.Slāng, n. p. 1240Low, vulgar, unauthorized language; a colloquial mode of expression;—especially, such as is in vogue with some class in society; as, the slang of the theater, of college, of boatmen, &c.Slāng'goās, a. p. 1240Of the nature of slang; using slang. [Rare.] John Bee.Slāng'-whăng'er, n. p. 1240A noisy demagogue; a turbulent partisan. [Colloq. or humorous.] W. Irving.Slānk, imp. & p. p. p. 1240from slink. Slunk. See SLINK.Slānk, n. p. 1240(Bot.) A plant; a species of Alga. Ainsworth.Slȧnt, a. p. 1240Inclined from a direct line, whether horizontal or perpendicular; sloping; oblique. “The slant lightning.” Milton.Slȧnt, v. t. p. 1240To turn from a direct line; to give an oblique or sloping direction to.Slȧnt, v. i. p. 1240To be turned or inclined from a right line; to lie obliquely; to slope. “On the side of yonder slanting hill.” Dodsley.Slȧnt, n. p. 1240A slanting direction or plane; a slope. “It lies on a slant.” Richardson. 2. An oblique reflection or gibe; a sarcastic remark. 3. A copper coin of Sweden, of which 196 pass for one rix-dollar. Slant…Slānt'ing-ly, adv. p. 1240In a slanting manner or direction; with a slope or inclination; also, with an oblique hint or remark.Slānt'ly or Slānt'wise, adv. p. 1240In an inclined direction; obliquely.Slăp, n. p. 1240A blow given with the open hand, or with something broad.Slāp, v. t. p. 1240To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.Slāp, adv. p. 1240With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly.Slāp'dāsh, adv. p. 1240In a bold, careless manner; at random. 2. With a slap; all at once; slap. [Colloq.]Slāp'dāsh, v. t. p. 1240To apply, or apply to, in a hasty, careless, or rough manner; to roughcast; as, to slapdash mortar or paint on a wall, or to slapdash a wall. [Colloq.] Halliwell.Slāpe, a. p. 1240Slippery; smooth; hence, crafty. Slape-ale, plain ale, as opposed to medicated or mixed ale.—Slape-face, as oft-spoken, crafty hypocrite. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Slăp'jăck, n. p. 1240A sort of flat cake baked upon a griddle; a flapjack. [Local, U. S.]Slăp'per, n. p. 1240One who, or that which, slaps. 2. A person or thing of great size; a whopper. [Colloq. or Prov.] Grose.Slăp'per or Slăp'ping, a. p. 1240Very large; big; great; of great size. [Vulgar.]Slăsh, v. t. p. 1240To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long cuts. 2. To lash. [Illegitimate and rare.] King. 3. To crack or snap, as a whip. [Rare.]Slăsh, v. i. p. 1240To strike violently and at random with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows. “Hewing and slashing at their idle shades.” Spenser.Slāsh, n. p. 1240A long cut; a cut made at random. 2. A large slit in the thighs and arms of old costumes, made to show a brilliant color through the openings.Slāshed, p. a. p. 1240Marked or cut with a slash, or slashes; deeply gashed; especially, having long, narrow openings, as a sleeve, &c., to show cloth of a brighter color beneath. “A gray jerkin, with scarlet cuffs and…Slăsh'es, n. pl. p. 1240A place in woods, which has been slashed or cut over. [U. S.]Slăsh'y, a. p. 1240Wet and dirty; slushy. Halliwell.Slāt, n. p. 1240A narrow piece of board or timber used to fasten together larger pieces, or to support something; as, the slats of a cart or a chair; also, a flat step or rung of a ladder. 2. A blow; a slat; as, a…Slāt, v. t. p. 1240To slap; to strike; to beat; to throw down violently. How did you kill him? Slatted his brains out. Marston. 2. To split; to crack. Halliwell. 3. To set on; to incite. Halliwell.Slātech, n. p. 1240(Naut.) (a.) The period of a transitory breeze. (b.) An interval of fair weather. (c.) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack. See SLACK.Slāte, n. p. 1240(Min.) An argillaceous stone which readily splits into plates; argillite; argillaceous schist. 2. Any rock or stone having a slaty structure. 3. A prepared piece of such stone; especially, (a.) A…Slāte, v. t. p. 1241To cover with slate, or plates of stone; as, to slate a roof.Slāte, v. t. p. 1241To set loose, as a dog, at any thing. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also slete.] Ray.Slāte'-āx or Slāte'-āxe, n. p. 1241A mattock with an ax-end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails.Slāt'er, n. p. 1241One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.Slāt'ing, n. p. 1241The act of covering with slates. 2. The covering thus put on. 3. Slates taken collectively; as, the whole slating of a house; also, the material for slating.Slāt'ter, v. i. p. 1241To be careless of dress, and dirty. Ray. 2. To be careless, negligent, or awkward; to spill carelessly.Slăt'tern, n. p. 1241A woman who is negligent of her dress or house; one who is not neat and nice.Slāt'tern, v. t. p. 1241To consume carelessly or wastefully; to waste; — with away. [Rare.] Chesterfield.