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.
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…Sling'-cärt, n. p. 1243(Mil.) A kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages short distances, the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axle-tree.Slĭng'er, n. p. 1243One who slings, or uses a sling.Slĭnk, v. i. p. 1243To creep away meanly; to steal away; to sneak. Back to the thicket slunk The guilty serpent. Milton. There were some few who slank obliquely from them as they passed. Landor. 2. To miscarry, as a…Slĭnk, v. t. p. 1243To cast prematurely; to abort or miscarry of, as the female of a beast.Slĭnk, a. p. 1243Produced prematurely; as a slink calf.Slĭnk, n. p. 1243The young of a beast brought forth prematurely; especially, a calf brought forth before its time. 2. A sneaking, thievish fellow; a sneak. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Slĭnk'y, a. p. 1243Thin; lank; lean. [Low.] Bartlett.Slĭp, v. i. p. 1243To move along the surface of a thing without bounding, rolling, or stepping; to slide; to glide. 2. To slide; not to tread firmly; as, it is necessary to walk carefully lest the foot should slip. 3.…Slip, v. t. p. 1243To convey secretly. He tried to slip a powder into her drink. Arbuthnot. 2. To omit; to lose by negligence. And slip no advantage That may secure you. B. Jonson. 3. To part from the branches or stem…Slĭp, n. p. 1243The act of slipping. 2. An unintentional error or fault. The good man's slip mended his pace to martyrdom. Fuller. 3. A twig separated from the main stock; as, the slip of a vine. “A native slip to…Slĭp'-bōard, n. p. 1243A board sliding in grooves.Slip’coat-cheese, n. p. 1243A rich variety of new-made cheese, resembling butter, but white. Simmonds.Slip'-knŏt, n. p. 1243A knot which slips along the rope or line around which it is made.Slĭp'-lĭnk, n. p. 1243(Mach.) A connecting link so arranged as to allow some play of the parts, to avoid concussion.Slip'-ōn, n. p. 1243A kind of great over-coat worn upon the shoulders in the manner of a cloak. [Scot.]Slip'per, n. p. 1243One who, or that which, slips. 2. One who makes slips. [Obs.] Halliwell. 3. A kind of light shoe, which may be slipped on with ease, and worn in undress; a slip-shoe. 4. A kind of apron for children…Slip'per, a. p. 1243Slippery. [Obs.] O, slipper hope of mortal men. Spenser.Slip'pered, a. p. 1243Wearing slippers. Shak.Slip'per-i-ly, adv. p. 1243In a slippery manner.Slip'per-i-ness, n. p. 1243The state or quality of being slippery; lubricity; smoothness; glibness; as, the slipperiness of ice; the slipperiness of the tongue. 2. Uncertainty; want of firm footing. 3. Lubricity of character.Slip'per-ness, n. p. 1243Slipperiness. [Obs.]Slip'per-y, a. p. 1243Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing any thing to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery. 2.…Slip'pi-ness, n. p. 1244Slipperiness. [Rare.] “The slippiness of the way.” W. Scott.Slĭp'py, a. p. 1244Slippery. [Obs.]Slip'-rōpe, n. p. 1244(Naut.) A rope by which a cable is secured preparatory to slipping the cable. Totten.Slip’shŏd, a. p. 1244Wearing shoes like slippers, without pulling up the quarters or heels. The shivering urchin bending as he goes, With slipshod heels. Cowper. 2. Hence, appearing or moving like one in slippers…Slip'shoe, n. p. 1244A very loose shoe, so worn as to hang loosely about the foot. Halliwell.Slĭp′slŏp, n. p. 1244Bad liquor.Slip′string, n. p. 1244One who has shaken off restraint; a prodigal;—called also slipthrift. [Obs.] Cotgr.Slip’thrift, n. p. 1244A spendthrift. [Obs.] Granger.Slish, n. p. 1244A cut;—a low word, formed by corruption from slash; as, slish and slash. Nash.Slit, v. t. p. 1244To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as, to slit iron bars into nail-rods. 2. To cut or make a long fissure in or upon; as, to slit the ear or tongue, or the nose. 3. To rend; to…Slit, n. p. 1244A long cut; or a narrow opening; as, a slit in the ear. 2. A cleft or crack in the breast of cattle.Slĭth'er, v. i. p. 1244To slide; to glide. [Prov. Eng.]Slit'ter, n. p. 1244One who slits.Slit'ting-mill, n. p. 1244A mill where iron bars, or plates, are slit into narrow strips, as nail-rods, and the like. 2. A machine used by lapidaries for slicing stones, usually by means of a revolving wheel called a slicer…Slit'ting-rōll'er, n. p. 1244One of a pair of rollers furnished with alternate ribs entering between each other, and cutting in the manner of shears, used in slitting-mills for metals, &c.Slīve, v. i. p. 1244To sneak. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Slīve, v. t. p. 1244To cut; to separate. [Obs.] Holland.Sliv'er or Slī'ver, v. t. p. 1244To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; as, to sliver wood. They'll sliver thee like a turnip. W. Scott.Slīv'er or Slī'ver, n. p. 1244A long piece cut or rent off, or a piece cut or rent lengthwise. Shak. 2. A light ribbon, or twist of cotton, wool, &c., to be formed into a thread. Simmonds.Slōak'an, n. p. 1244(Bot.) A species of sea-weed; sloke. See LAVER.Slōam, n. p. 1244A layer of earth between coal-seams.Slōat, n. p. 1244A narrow piece of timber which holds together large pieces; a slat; as, the sloats of a cart.