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.
Sŏl'i-tūde, n. p. 1257A state of being alone; a lonely life; loneliness. Whoever is delighted with solitude is either a wild beast or a god. Bacon. 2. Remoteness from society; destitution of company;—said in reference to…So-līv'a-gant or So-līv'a-goūs, a. p. 1257Wandering alone. [Rare.]Sōl'lar, n. p. 1257The same as SOLAR, n. [Obs.] See SOLAR. 2. (Mining.) The entrance to a mine; especially, an entrance of boards, or one lined with boards. [Prov. Eng.]Sōl'mi-zā'tion, n. p. 1257(Mus.) The act of sol-faing. ☞ This art was practiced by the Greeks; but the six syllables now in use are generally attributed to Guido d’Arezzo. These he selected on account of their furnishing all…Sō'lō, n. p. 1257(Mus.) A tune, air, or strain, played by a single instrument, or sung by a single voice.Sōl'o-mon’s-sēal, n. p. 1257(Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Polygonatum, having simple erect or curving stems rising from thick and knotted root-stocks, and with greenish nodding flowers. Gray. ☞ The false Solomon's-seal…Sōl'stīce, n. p. 1257A stopping or standing still, of the sun. [Obs.] The Jews, that can believe the supernatural solstice of the sun in the days of Joshua, have yet the impudence to deny the eclipse, which every pagan…Sol-stĭ'tial, a. p. 1257Of, or pertaining to, a solstice; as, a solstitial point. 2. Happening at a solstice; especially (with reference to the northern hemisphere), happening at the summer solstice, or midsummer.…Sŏl'ū-bĭl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1257The quality of a body which renders it susceptible of solution; susceptibility of being dissolved in a fluid. 2. (Bot.) Capability of separating easily into parts, as that of certain legumes to…Sŏl'ū-ble, a. p. 1257Susceptible of being dissolved in a fluid; capable of solution.Sōl'ū-ble-ness, n. p. 1257Solubility.Sō'land-gōose, n. p. 1257See SOLAN-GOOSE.Sō'lus, a. p. 1257Alone;—chiefly used in the directions of plays, and the like.So-lūte', a. p. 1257Soluble; as, a solute salt. 2. Loose; free; liberal; as, a solute interpretation. [Obs.] • Bacon. 3. Relaxed; hence, merry; cheerful. [Rare.] Bacchus, purple god of joyous wit, A brow solute, and…So-lūte', v. t. p. 1257To dissolve. Bacon. 2. To absolve.So-lū'tion, n. p. 1257The act of separating the parts of any body; disruption; breach. In all bodies there is an appetite of union and evitation of solution of continuity. Bacon. 2. The disentanglement of any intricate…Sŏl'ū·tīve, a. p. 1258Tending to dissolve; loosening; laxative.Sŏl'v'a-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1258Ability to pay all just debts.Sŏl'v'a-ble, a. p. 1258Capable of being solved, resolved, or explained. 2. Capable of being paid. Tooke. 3. Solvent. [Obs. and rare.] Fuller.Sŏlv'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1258Solvability.Sŏlve, v. t. p. 1258To loosen or separate the parts of; to dissipate. 2. To explain; to resolve; to eclaircise; to unfold; to clear up, as what is obscure, or difficult to be understood; as, to solve questions; to solve…Sŏl'v'en-cy, n. p. 1258The state of being solvent; ability to pay all debts or just claims; as, the solvency of a merchant is undoubted.Solv-ĕnd', n. p. 1258A substance to be dissolved. [Rare.]Sŏl'vent, a. p. 1258Having the power of dissolving; as, a solvent fluid. 2. Able to pay all just debts; as, the merchant is solvent. 3. Sufficient to pay all just debts; as, the estate is solvent.Sŏl'v'ent, n. p. 1258A fluid that dissolves any substance; a menstruum.Sŏl'v'er, n. p. 1258One who solves, or explains.Sŏl'vĭ-ble, a. p. 1258Solvable. See SOLVABLE.Sŏl'y, adv. p. 1258Solely. [Obs.] “Seeing herself all soly comfortless.” Spenser.So-măt'ic or So-măt'ic-al, a. p. 1258Corporal; pertaining to a body. “Somatic, in distinction from molecular, death.” Dunglison.So-măt'ics, n. sing. p. 1258The science, or branch of science, which treats of the general properties of matter; somatology. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Sō'ma-tist, n. p. 1258One who admits the existence of corporeal or material beings only; one who denies the existence of spiritual substances. Glanville.Sō'ma-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 1258The doctrine of the general properties of bodies or material substances.Sō'ma-tōt'o-my, n. p. 1258The science of the dissection of animal bodies; anatomy.Sŏm'ber or Sŏm'bre, a. p. 1258Dull; dusky; cloudy; gloomy; melancholy; sad; grave. “Where nature nor too somber nor too gay.” Byron.Sŏm'ber or Sŏm'bre, v. t. p. 1258To make somber or dark; to make shady.Sŏm'ber or Sŏm'bre, n. p. 1258Gloom; obscurity; duskiness; somberness. [Obs.]Sŏm'ber-ly or Sŏm'bre-ly, adv. p. 1258In a somber manner; sombrously.Sŏm'ber-ness or Sŏm'bre-ness, n. p. 1258The state of being somber; darkness; gloominess.Sombrero, n. p. 1258A kind of broad-brimmed hat. Marryatt.Sŏm'broŭs, a. p. 1258Gloomy; somber. Stephens.Sŏm'broŭs-ly, adv. p. 1258In a somber manner; gloomily; somberly.Sŏm'broŭs-ness, n. p. 1258The state of being sombrous.Sȯme p. 1258A termination of certain adjectives, as in handsome, mettlesome, blithesome, fulsome, lonesome, gladsome, gamesome. In these words, some has primarily the sense of like or same, and, in usage, it…Sȯme, a. p. 1258Consisting of a greater or less portion or sum; composed of a quantity or number, which is not stated; — used to express an indefinite quantity; as, some wine; some water; some persons; — used also…Sȯme'bod-y, n. p. 1258A person unknown or uncertain; a person indeterminate. Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me. Luke viii. 46. We must draw in somebody that may stand ’Twixt us and danger. Denham. 2. A person of…Sȯme'dēal, adv. p. 1258In some degree. [Obs.] Thou lackest somedeal their delight. Spenser.Sȯme'how, adv. p. 1258In one way or another; in some way not yet known; as, the thing must be done somehow.Sȯm'er-sault or Sȯm'er-sĕt, n. p. 1258A leap in which a person turns with his heels over his head, and lights upon his feet.Sȯme'thing, n. p. 1258Any thing unknown or undetermined; an indeterminate or unknown event. There is something in the wind. Shak. 2. A part; a portion, more or less; an indefinite quantity or degree; a little. Something…Sȯme'thing, adv. p. 1258In some degree; somewhat. “Something too much of this.” Byron. We have something fairer play than a reasoner could have expected formerly. Burke. My old dame Joan is something dunny, and will scarce…Sȯme'tīme, adv. p. 1258At a past time indefinitely referred to; once; formerly. “Robert Scott, M. A., Prebendary of Exeter, sometime student of Christ-church, and late fellow of Baliol College.” Liddell & Scott's Gr.…Sôme'time, a. p. 1258Having been formerly; former. “Our sometime sister, now our queen.” Shak. Ion, our sometime darling, whom we prized As a stray gift, by bounteous Heaven dismissed. Talfourd.Sōme'times, adv. p. 1258At times; at intervals; not always; now and then. It is good that we be sometimes contradicted. Taylor. 2. At one time;—opposed to another time.Sōme'what, n. p. 1258More or less; a certain quantity or degree, indeterminate; a part, more or less; something. These salts have somewhat of a nitrous taste. Grew. Somewhat of his good sense will suffer in this…Sōme'what, adv. p. 1258In some degree or quantity. See SOME. His giantship is gone, somewhat crestfallen. Milton.Sôme'whêre, adv. p. 1258In some place unknown or not specified; in one place or another. “Somewhere nigh at hand.” Milton. By the vulgar often corrupted into somewheres.Sōme'while, adv. p. 1258Once; for a time. [Obs.]Sōme'whith-er, adv. p. 1258To some indeterminate place; to some place. “Driven by the winds of temptation somewhither.” Burrow.Sommeil, n. p. 1258Slumber; sleep. 2. (Mus.) An air of the old serious operas of the French;—so called because these airs were calculated to tranquilize the feelings, and lull, even to drowsiness. Moore.Sôm'mer-sêt, n. p. 1258See SOMERSAULT.