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.
Slāve'-cătch'ing, n. p. 1241The business of searching out and arresting fugitive slaves, to return them to their masters.Slāve'-cōast, n. p. 1241A part of the western coast of Africa, from which slaves are carried.Slāve'-cŏf/fle, n. p. 1241A band of slaves to be sold; a coffle.Slāve'-drīv'er, n. p. 1241One who superintends slaves when at their work; a subordinate overseer.Slā've-hōld'er, n. p. 1241One who holds slaves.Slāve'-hōld'ing, a. p. 1241Holding persons in slavery.Slāve'-hūnt, n. p. 1241A search after persons to make slaves of. Barth. 2. A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with blood-hounds.Slāve-ō'cra-cy, n. p. 1241See SLAVOCRACY.Slāv'er, n. p. 1241A vessel engaged in the slave-trade. 2. A person engaged in the purchase and sale of slaves; a slave-merchant, or slave-trader. The slaver's hand was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go.…Slāv'er, n. p. 1241Saliva driveling from the mouth. Of all mad creatures, if the learned are right, It is the slaver kills, and not the bite. Pope.Slăv'er, v. i. p. 1241To suffer the spittle to issue from the mouth. 2. To be besmeared with saliva.Slāv'er, v. t. p. 1241To smear with saliva issuing from the mouth; to defile with drivel.Slāv'er-er, n. p. 1241A driveler; an idiot.Slāv'er-ing-ly, adv. p. 1241In a slavering manner; with slaver.Slāv'er-y, n. p. 1241The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection of one person to the will of another. Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said I, still thou art a bitter draught! Sterne. I wish…slāve'-shĭp, n. p. 1241A ship employed in the slave-trade; a ship used for transporting slaves; a slaver.Slāve'-trāde, n. p. 1241The barbarous and wicked business of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere.Slāve'-trād'er, n. p. 1241One who traffics in slaves.Slāv'ic, a. p. 1241Slavonic. [Written also Sclavic.]Slāv'ish, a. p. 1241Pertaining to slaves; such as becomes a slave; servile; as, a slavish dependence on the great. 2. Servile; laborious; consisting in drudgery; as, a slavish life.Slāv'ish-ly, adv. p. 1241In a slavish manner; servilely; meanly; basely. 2. In the manner of a slave or drudge.Slāv'ish-ness, n. p. 1241The state or quality of being slavish; servility; meanness.Slāv'ism, n. p. 1241The common feeling and interest of the Slavonic race.Slāv-ŏc'ra-cy, n. p. 1241The persons, or interest, representing slavery politically, or wielding political power for the preservation or advancement of slavery. [U. S.]Sla-vō'ni-an, n. p. 1241(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Slavonia. [Written also Sclavonian.]Sla-vō'ni-an or Sla-vōn'ie, a. p. 1241(Geog.) (a.) Of, or pertaining to, Slavonia, or to its inhabitants. (b.) Of, or pertaining to, the Sclavi, a people who anciently inhabited the country between the Rivers Save and Drave; — applied…Slaw, n. p. 1241Sliced cabbage, served cooked, or uncooked, as a salad.Slāy, v. t. p. 1241To put to death by a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; to put an end to; to destroy. I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk. Shak. Syn.—To kill; murder; assassinate; slaughter; butcher.Slāy'er, n. p. 1241One who slays; a killer; a murderer; an assassin; a destroyer of life.Slēave, n. p. 1241The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread; silk or thread untwisted. Sleave silk, untwisted or raw silk in the state in which it is used for weaving.Slēave, v. t. p. 1241To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley;—a term used by weavers.Slēaved, a. p. 1241Raw; not spun or wrought; as, sleaved thread or silk. Holinshed.Slēa'zi-ness, n. p. 1241The state or quality of being sleazy.Slēa'zy, a. p. 1241Wanting firmness of texture or substance; thin; flimsy; as, sleazy silk or muslin.Slēd, n. p. 1241A carriage, or vehicle, moved on runners, used for conveying heavy loads over the snow;—in England, at the present day, called sledge. 2. A light seat mounted on runners, used for sliding on snow and…Slēd, v. t. p. 1241To convey or transport on a sled; as, to sled wood or timber.Slēd'ding, n. p. 1241The act of transporting on a sled. 2. The means of conveying on sleds; snow sufficient for the running of sleds; as, good sledding; the sledding is good.Sledge, n. p. 1241A large, heavy hammer;—called also sledge-hammer.Slĕdge, n. p. 1241A vehicle moved on runners, or on low wheels; as, (a.) A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.] W. Scott. (b.) A sleigh for riding upon snow.Sledge, v. t. or i. p. 1241To travel or convey in sledges. Howitt.Sleek, a. p. 1241Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; whence, glossy; as, sleek hair. “So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make.” Dryden. 2. Not rough or harsh. Those rugged names to our like mouths grow…Sleek, n. p. 1241That which makes smooth; varnish. [R.]Sleek, v. t. p. 1241To make even and smooth; as, to sleek the hair. B. Jonson. 2. To render smooth, soft, and glossy. Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. Shak.Sleek, adv. p. 1241With ease and dexterity; with exactness. [Vulgar.]Sleek'ly, adv. p. 1241In a sleek manner; smoothly; glossily.Sleek'ness, n. p. 1241The state or quality of being sleek; smoothness and glossiness of surface.Sleek'-stōne, n. p. 1241A smoothing stone. Peacham.Sleek'y, a. p. 1241Of a sleek, or smooth, and glossy appearance. [Rare.] Thomson.Sleep, v. i. p. 1241To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to become unconscious. “Watching at the head of those that sleep.”…Sleep, v. t. p. 1242To give sleep to; to furnish with accommodations for sleeping. [Rare.] Blackwood's Mag.Sleep, n. p. 1242A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which the…Sleep'-chärged, a. p. 1242Heavy with sleep. Lamb.Sleep'er, n. p. 1242One who sleeps; also, a drone, or lazy person. 2. That which lies dormant, as a law not executed. [Obs.] Bacon. 3. An animal that lies dormant in winter, as the bear, the marmot, and some others. 4.…Sleep'ful, a. p. 1242Strongly inclined to sleep; very sleepy. [Obs.]Sleep'ful-ness, n. p. 1242The quality of being sleepful; strong inclination to sleep. [Obs.]Sleep'i-ly, adv. p. 1242In a sleepy manner; drowsily; heavily; dully; stupidly.Sleep'i-ness, n. p. 1242The state of being sleepy; drowsiness; inclination to sleep.Sleep'ing, p. a. p. 1242Occupied with sleep; as, sleeping hours. 2. Occupied for sleeping; as, a sleeping-car on a railway, which is fitted with seats transformable into berths.Sleeping partner p. 1242a dormant partner. See DORMANT.Sleep'ing, n. p. 1242The state of resting in sleep. 2. The state of being at rest, or not stirred or agitated. “The sleeping of this business.” Shak.