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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Sō'fett, n. p. 1253A small sofa. [Rare.]Sō'fī, n. p. 1253One of a certain religious order in Persia; a dervish.Sō'fism, n. p. 1253The doctrine or principles of the Sofis.Sŏf'fit, n. p. 1253(Arch.) A ceiling; especially, the under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. Oxf. Gloss.Sŏft, a. p. 1253Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; — opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal. 2. Not rough…Sŏft, adv. p. 1254Softly; gently; quietly. “A knight soft riding toward them.” Spenser.Sŏft, interj. p. 1254Be soft; hold; stop; not so fast. Soft, you! a word or two before you go. Shak.Sŏft’en, v. t. p. 1254To make soft or more soft; as, (a.) To render less hard, as matter. “Their arrow’s point they soften in the flame.” Gay. (b.) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable; as, to soften a hard…Sŏft’en, v. i. p. 1254To become soft; as, (a.) To become more pliable and yielding to pressure; as, iron or wax softens in heat; fruits soften as they ripen. (b.) To become less rude, harsh, or cruel; as, savage natures…Sŏft’en-er, n. p. 1254One who, or that which, softens. [Written also, less properly, softner.]Sŏft’-hēad’ed, a. p. 1254Having a weak intellect.Sŏft’-heārt’ed, a. p. 1254Having softness or tenderness of heart; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection; gentle; meek.Sŏft’-heārt’ed-ness, n. p. 1254The quality of being soft-hearted. “A sort of soft-heartedness toward the sufferings of individuals.” Jeffrey.Sŏft’ish, a. p. 1254Somewhat soft. D. Clinton.Sŏft’ling, n. p. 1254An effeminate person; one viciously nice. [Rare.] Wootton.Sŏft’ly, adv. p. 1254In a soft manner; not hard; gently; quietly; mildly.Sŏft’man, n. p. 1254A workman employed in a steam flour-mill. [Eng.] Simmonds.Sŏft’ner, n. p. 1254One who, or that which, softens. 2. One who palliates. Swift.Sŏft’ness, n. p. 1254The quality of being soft; — opposed to hardness; as, (a.) Impressibility, smoothness, fineness, delicacy, and the like; — said of material objects; as, the softness of wax, of lead, of silk or…Sŏft’-spōk’en, a. p. 1254Speaking softly; having a mild or gentle voice; hence, mild; affable.Sŏg'gy, a. p. 1254Filled with water; soft with moisture; wet; as, soggy land or timber. 2. Steaming with damp. B. Jonson.So-hō’, interj. p. 1254Ho!—a word used in calling from a distant place; a sportsman’s halloo. Shak.Soi-disant, a. p. 1254Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; would-be.Soil, v. t. p. 1254To make dirty on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to stain; to defile; to tarnish; to sully; as, to soil a garment with dust. “Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.” Milton. 2. To cover or…Soil, v. t. p. 1254To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture, such food having the effect to purge them; hence, to…Soil, n. p. 1254Any foul matter upon another substance; dirt; foulness; spot. 2. Stain; tarnish. A lady’s honor . . . will not bear a soil. Dryden.Soil, n. p. 1254The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them. 2. Land; country. Fame is no…Soil, n. p. 1254A mashy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, wet places, streams or water sought for by other game, as deer. As deer, being struck, fly through many soils, Yet still the…Soil'i-ness, n. p. 1254Stain; foulness. [Rare.] Bacon.Soil'less, a. p. 1254Destitute of soil. — Bigsby.Soil'ure, n. p. 1254Stain; pollution. [Rare.] Then fearing rust or soilure, fashioned for it A case of silk. Tennyson.Soil'y, a. p. 1254Dirty; soiled. [Obs.]Soirée, n. p. 1254An evening party.Sō'journ, v. i. p. 1254To dwell for a time; to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident, or as a stranger, not considering the place as a permanent habitation. The soldiers assembled at Newcastle, and there…Sō'journ, n. p. 1254A temporary residence, as that of a traveler in a foreign land. Scarce viewed the Galilean towns, And once a year Jerusalem, few days' Short sojourn. Milton. Thee I revisit now, . . . though long…Sō'journ-er, n. p. 1254A temporary resident; a stranger or traveler who dwells in a place for a time. We are strangers before thee, and sojourners. 1 Chron. xxix. 15.Sō'journ-ing, n. p. 1254The act of dwelling in a place for a time; also, the time of abode.Sō'journ-ment, n. p. 1254Temporary residence, as that of a stranger or traveler.Sōke, n. p. 1254A district in which a particular privilege or power is exercised. [Eng.] 2. (Eng. Law.) The same as Soc. See Soc.Sōke'man, n. p. 1254The same as SOCMAN, q. v.Sō'le'man-ry, n. p. 1254The same as SOCMANRY, q. v.Sŏl, n. p. 1254The sun. 2. (Chem.) Gold. [Obs.] 3. (Her.) The color of gold in the coats of sovereign princes.Sōl, n. p. 1254A small French copper coin; a penny;—usually written sou. 2. A copper coin and money of account in Switzerland.Sōl, n. p. 1254(Mus.) (a.) A syllable applied in solmization to the fifth tone of the diatonic scale. (b.) The tone itself.Sōl'ace, v. t. p. 1254To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction; to console;—applied to persons; as, to solace one's self with the hope of future reward. 2. To allay; to assuage; as, to…Sōl'ace, v. i. p. 1254To take comfort; to be cheered or relieved in grief. [Obs.] Shak.Sŏl'ace, n. p. 1254Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; recreation. The proper solaces of age are not music and compliments, but wisdom and devotion. Hamler.…Sōl'ace-ment, n. p. 1254The act of solacing or comforting; the state of being solaced.So-lā'cioūs, a. p. 1254Affording comfort or amusement. [Obs.]Sŏl'a-nā'ceoŭs, a. p. 1254(Bŏt.) Of, or pertaining to, plants of the genus Solanum, or nightshade family.So-lăn'der, n. p. 1254A disease in horses; sallenders.Sō'lan-gōose, n. p. 1254(Ornith.) The gannet, a web-footed sea-fowl, found on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, Labrador, &c. See GANNET.Sō-lā'nĭn-ē or Sōl'a-nī'nă, n. p. 1254(Chem.) A vegetableSōl'a-nīne p. 1254an alkaloid, obtained from various species of Solanum, as S. dulcamara, S. nigrum, S. tuberosum, &c. It forms a crystalline powder, very bitter and acid, and highly poisonous. Gregory.So-lā'no, n. p. 1254A hot, oppressive wind in the Mediterranean, particularly on the eastern coast of Spain. It is a modification of the sirocco. Brande.Sōl'a-noid, a. p. 1254(Med.) Resembling a potato; — said of a kind of cancer. Dunglison.So-lā'num, n. p. 1254(Bot.) A genus of plants comprehending the potato; S. tuberosum, the egg plant; S. melongena, nightshade, &c.Sō'lar, a. p. 1254Pertaining to the sun; as, the solar system; proceeding from the sun; as, solar light; solar rays; solar influence. 2. (Astrol.) Born under the predominant influence of the sun. [Obs.] And proud…Sō'lar, n. p. 1255A loft or upper chamber; a garret room. [Written also soler, solere, sollar.] Oxf. Gloss.Sō'lar-ī-zā'tion, n. p. 1255(Photog.) Injury of a photographic picture caused by exposing it for too long a time to the sun's light in the camera; burning; excessive insolation. R. Hunt.