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.
Spüt'ter, v. i. p. 1280To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small or scattered portions, as in rapid speaking. 2. To throw out moisture in small, detached parts. “Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame.”…Congreve p. 1280Spŭt'ter, v. t. p. 1280To throw out with haste and noise; to utter with indistinctness. “In the midst of caresses, and without the least pretended incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations.” Swift.Spăt'ter, n. p. 1280Moist matter thrown out in small particles.Spŭt'ter-er, n. p. 1280One who sputters.Spū'tum, n. p. 1280That which is expectorated; a salival discharge from the mouth, with mucus from the nose, and sometimes with secretions from the larynx and bronchia; spittle; saliva.Spÿ, n. p. 1280One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. “These wretched spies of wit.” Dryden. 2. (Mil.) A person sent into an enemy’s camp to inspect their works, ascertain their strength or their…Spy, v. t. p. 1280To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift. 2. To discover by…Spy, v. i. p. 1280To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuse. Shak.Spÿ'-bōat, n. p. 1280A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence. Arbuthnot.Spy'-glass, n. p. 1280A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.Spy'ism, n. p. 1280The act or business of spying. [Rare.]Spy'-mŏn'ey, n. p. 1280Money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence.Squab, a. p. 1280Fat; thick; plump; bulky. Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton. 2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon.Squab, n. p. 1280A young pigeon or dove. 2. A person of a short, fat figure. Gorgonius sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper. 3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially one used for the…Squab, adv. p. 1280Striking at once; with a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar.] The eagle dropped the tortoise squab upon a rock. L'Estrange.Squab, v. i. p. 1280To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]Squa-bāsh’, v. t. p. 1280To crush; to quash. [Rare.] His [Gifford’s] satire of the Baviad and Mæviad squabashed, at one blow, a set of coxcombs who might have humbugged the world long enough. W. Scott.Squab'bish, a. p. 1280Thick; fat; heavy. Harvey.Squab'ble, v. i. p. 1280To contend for superiority; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel. 2. To debate peevishly; to dispute. The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole…Squab'ble, v. t. p. 1280(Print.) To put awry; to disarrange or mix, so that the letters of one line get into any of the adjacent lines;—said of lines or a page or form of type. Stower. Savage.Squab'ble, n. p. 1280A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl; a petty quarrel.Squab'bler, n. p. 1280One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.Squab'by, a. p. 1280Short and thick; squabbish.Squab'-chick, n. p. 1280A young chicken before it is fully fledged.Squab'-pie, n. p. 1280A pie made of squabs or young pigeons.Squāe'co, n. p. 1280A bird of the genus Ardea (A. comata); a species of heron.Squad, n. p. 1280(Mil.) A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes. 2. Hence, any small party.Squad'ron, n. p. 1280Primarily, a square or square form; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [Rare.] Those half-rounding guards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined. Milton.…Squad'roned, a. p. 1280Formed into squadrons or squares. [Rare.] Milton.Squal'id, a. p. 1280Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty. “Uncombed his locks, and squalid his attire.” Dryden. “These squalid dens, which are the reproach of large capitals.” Macaulay.Squa-lid'i-ty, n. p. 1280The state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.Squal'id-ly, adv. p. 1280In a squalid, filthy manner.Squal'id-ness, n. p. 1280The state or quality of being squalid; squalidity.Squall, v. i. p. 1280To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.Squall, n. p. 1280A loud scream; a harsh cry. There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, — The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall. Pope. 2. A sudden and violent gust of wind, often attended with rain…Squall'er, n. p. 1280One who squalls or cries aloud; a screamer.Squall'y, a. p. 1280Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; as, squally weather. 2. (Agric.) Broken into detached pieces; interrupted by unproductive spots; — said of a field of…Squā'loid, a. p. 1281Like a shark; resembling a shark.Squal'dor, n. p. 1281Foulness; filthiness; squalidity; squalidness. “The heterogeneous multitude, every where wearing nearly the same aspect of squalor.” I. Taylor. Sir Leicester's gallantry concedes the point, though he…Squa-mā'ceoŭs or Squā'māte or Squā'mā-ted, a. p. 1281The same as SQUAMOSE. See SQUAMOSE.Squāme, n. p. 1281A scale. [Obs.]Squa-mĕl'late, a. p. 1281(Bot.) Furnished or covered with little scales. Gray.Squā'mī-fōrm, a. p. 1281Having the form or shape of a scale.Squa-mĭg'er-ōŭs, a. p. 1281Bearing or having scales.Squām'i-pēn, n. p. 1281(Ichth.) A fish whose dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales.Squā'moid, a. p. 1281Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.Squa-mōse' or Squā'mōus, a. p. 1281Covered with, or consisting of, scales; scaly; as, the squamose cones of the pine.Squām'ū-late or Squām'ū-lōse', a. p. 1281(Bot.) Having little scales; squamellate. Gray.Squan'der, v. t. p. 1281To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally; to waste without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate. They often squandered, but they never gave. Savage. The crime of…Squan'der-er, n. p. 1281One who squanders; a spend-thrift; a prodigal; a waster; a lavisher.Squan'der-ing-ly, adv. p. 1281By squandering.Square, a. p. 1281Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square room; a square figure. 2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner. 3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular…Squâre, n. p. 1281(Geom.) (a.) The corner or angle of a figure. [Obs.] (b.) A rectilineal figure having four equal sides and four right angles. 2. Hence, that which is square, or nearly so, or is reckoned by squares…Squâre, v. t. p. 1281To form with four equal sides and four right angles. 2. To reduce to a square; to form to right angles; as, to square masons’ work. 3. To turn squarely, or completely, as in dislike, anger, &c.; to…Squāre, v. i. p. 1281To accord or agree exactly; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit. 2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.] Are you such fools To…Squāre'ly, adv. p. 1281In a square form or manner.Squāre'ness, n. p. 1281The state of being square; as, an instrument to try the squareness of work.Squār'er, n. p. 1281One who, or that which, squares. 2. One who squares or quarrels; a hot-headed, contentious fellow. [Obs.] Is there no squarer here? Shak.Squāre'-rigged, a. p. 1281(Naut.) Having the chief sails extended by yards, suspended by the middle, and not by stays, gaffs, booms, and lateen yards; thus, a ship and a brig are square-rigged vessels.