Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Slĕn'der-ness, n. p. 1242The state or quality of being slender; thinness; as, the slenderness of a hair; want of bulk or strength; as, the slenderness of a cord or chain; weakness; slightness; as, the slenderness of a…Slĕnt, v. i. p. 1242To make an oblique remark; to jest. [Obs.] See SLANT. North.Slĕnt, v. t. p. 1242To turn aside; to ward off. [Obs.]Slēpt, imp. & p. p. p. 1242of sleep. See SLEEP.Sleüth, n. p. 1242The track of man or beast, as followed by the scent. Halliwell.Sleüth'-hound, n. p. 1242A hound that tracks its prey by the scent; a blood-hound. Halliwell.Slew, imp. p. 1242of slay. See SLAY.Slew, v. t. p. 1242To turn round; to slue. See SLUE.Slewed, a. p. 1242Somewhat drunk. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. U. S.] Bartlett.Sley, n. p. 1242A weaver’s reed. See SLEAVE and SLEID.Sley, v. t. p. 1242To separate; to part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed;—a term used by weavers.Slib'ber, a. p. 1242Slippery; smooth. [Obs.] Holland.Slice, v. t. p. 1242To cut into thin pieces, or to cut off a thin, broad piece from; to divide. 2. To cut into parts.Slice, n. p. 1242A thin, broad piece cut off; as, a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a slice of bread. 2. That which is thin and broad, like a slice; as, (a.) A broad, thin piece of plaster. Pope. (b.) A broad…Sli′cer, n. p. 1242One who, or that which, slices. 2. Specifically, the slitting-mill or circular saw of the lapidary. Simmonds.Slich or Slick, n. p. 1242The ore of a metal, particularly of gold, pounded and prepared for further working. [Written also schlick.]Slick, a. p. 1242Sleek; smooth. “Both slick and dainty.” Chapman.Slick, v. t. p. 1242To make sleek or smooth. “Slicked all with sweet oil.” Chapman.Slick'en-sides, n. p. 1242The smooth striated or partially polished surfaces of a fissure, or seam, supposed to be produced by the sliding of one surface on another. Dana. 2. A variety of galena in Derbyshire;—so called by…Slick'ing, n. p. 1242A narrow vein of ore.Slick'ness, n. p. 1242The state or quality of being slick; smoothness; sleekness.Slīd, imp. & p. p. p. 1242of slide. See SLIDE.Slĭd'den, p. p. p. 1242of slide. See SLIDE.Slĭd'der, v. i. p. 1242To slide with interruption. [Obs.] Dryden.Slĭd'der or Slĭd'der-ly or Slĭd'der-y, a. p. 1242Slippery. [Obs.] Chaucer.Slīde, v. i. p. 1242To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling: to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain’s side. 2. Especially, to move over snow or ice with a glib…Slīde, v. t. p. 1242To thrust along; or to thrust by slipping; as, to slide along a piece of timber. 2. To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.Slide, n. p. 1242A smooth and easy passage. 2. One who, or that which, slides; a slider. 3. Flow; even course. [Obs.] 4. The descent of a detached mass of earth or rock down a declivity. Dana. 5. A place on the side…Slide'-grōat, n. p. 1242The same as SHOVE-GROAT, or SHOVEL-BOARD. [Obs.]Slid'er, n. p. 1242One who, or that which, slides. 2. The part of an instrument or machine that slides.Slide'-rĕst, n. p. 1242(Turning-lathes.) A rest or tool-support made to slide on fixed ways or bearings by screws or otherwise, and having compound motion.Slīd’er-pūmp, n. p. 1242A kind of pump in which the piston revolves continuously, forcing the water through a pipe by means of a slide regulated by a spring, which prevents it from passing in any other direction.Slide'-valve, n. p. 1243(Steam-eng.) A cup-shaped piece of metal arranged to slide over and alternately cover and uncover the openings or ports through which steam is distributed to the cylinder;—called also D-valve and…Sli'd'ing-keel, n. p. 1243(Naut.) A narrow frame or platform let down through the bottom of a small vessel, like a deepening of the keel. It serves, like a lee-board, to sustain the vessel against the lateral force of the…Sli'ding-rule, n. p. 1243A mathematical instrument consisting of two parts, one of which slides upon the other, for the mechanical performance of addition and subtraction, and, by means of logarithmic scales, of…Slid'ing-scale, n. p. 1243A scale for raising or lowering imposts in proportion to the fall or rise of prices. 2. A sliding-rule.Slit'tered, a. p. 1243Cracked; opened. [Obs.] Marston.Slight, a. p. 1243Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; weak; gentle;—applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable)…Slight, n. p. 1243A moderate degree of contempt, manifested chiefly by neglect or oversight; neglect; disregard; scorn. 2. The same as SLEIGHT. See SLEIGHT. Spenser. Syn.—Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt…Slight, adv. p. 1243Slightly. [Obs. or Poet.] Think not so slight of glory. Milton.Slight, v. t. p. 1243To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; as, to slight the divine commands, or the offers of mercy. 2. [L. Ger. sligten, D. slechten, to level, to demolish; O. H. Ger. slihtan, N. H.…Slight'en, v. t. p. 1243To slight or disregard. [Obs.] Spenser.Slight'er, n. p. 1243One who neglects.Slight'ing-ly, adv. p. 1243In a slighting manner; with neglect.Slight'ly, adv. p. 1243In a slight manner; weakly; superficially; negligently.Slight'ness, n. p. 1243The quality or state of being slight; weakness; want of force or strength; superficialness; as, the slightness of a wound or an impression. 2. Want of attention; want of vehemence; negligence. How…Slight'y, a. p. 1243Superficial; slight. 2. Trifling; inconsiderable.Silk'-en-sides, n. p. 1243The same as SLICKENSIDES. See SLICKENSIDES.Sil'ly, adv. p. 1243See SLYLY.Slim, a. p. 1243Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height; slender; as, a slim person; a slim tree. Grose. 2. Weak; slight; unsubstantial. “A slim excuse.” Barrow. 3. Worthless; bad. [Scot. and…Slīme, n. p. 1243Soft, moist earth, or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud. They had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. Gen. xi. 3. 2. (Mining.) Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the…Slīme'-pit, n. p. 1243A pit of slime or adhesive mire.Slim'i-ness, n. p. 1243The quality of being slimy.Slim'ness, n. p. 1243State of being slim; slenderness.Slim'zy, a. p. 1243Flimsy; frail. [Low.]Slim´y, a. p. 1243Abounding with slime; consisting of slime. 2. Overspread with slime; as, a slimy eel. 3. Resembling slime; viscous; glutinous. Slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. Coleridge.Slī'ness, n. p. 1243See SLYNESS.Sling, n. p. 1243An instrument for throwing stones, consisting of a strap and two strings. The stone, being lodged in the strap, is thrown by loosing one of the strings as the whole is whirled rapidly round. 2. A…Sling, n. p. 1243A drink composed of equal parts of spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened. Simmonds.Sling, v. t. p. 1243To throw with a sling. Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss. Judg. xx. 16. 2. To throw; to hurl; to cast. “Slings a broken rock aloft in air.” Addison. 3. To hang so as to…