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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Stāg'gard, n. p. 1284A stag of four years of age. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Stăg'ger, v. i. p. 1284To move to one side and the other in standing or walking; not to stand or walk with steadiness; to reel; to vacillate. Deep was the wound; he staggered with the blow. Dryden. 2. To cease to stand…Stäg'ger, v. t. p. 1284To cause to reel. 2. To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to shock. Whoever will read the story of this war will find himself much staggered. Howell.…Stăg'ger-bush, n. p. 1284(Bot.) An American plant of the genus Andromeda (A. mariana), growing in low, sandy places, having clusters of large nodding flowers. Gray.Stāg'ger-ing-ly, adv. p. 1284In a staggering manner; doubtingly.Stāg'gers, n. pl. p. 1284(Far.) A disease of horses and other animals, by which they fall down suddenly without sense or motion; apoplexy. 2. Madness; wild, irregular conduct. [Obs.]Stāg'ger-wort, n. p. 1284A plant; ragwort.Stāg'hound, n. p. 1284A hound employed in hunting the stag or deer.Stā'ging, n. p. 1284A structure of posts and boards for supporting workmen, &c., in building, and the like. 2. The business of running, managing, or of journeying in, stage-coaches.Stăg'i-rīte, n. p. 1284One who is native to or resident in Stagira, in ancient Macedonia; especially, Aristotle.Stäg'mā, n. p. 1284Any distilled liquor. [Very rare.] Crabb.Stăg'nan-çy, n. p. 1284The state of being stagnant.Stăg'nant, a. p. 1284Inclined to stagnate; not flowing; not running in a current or stream; motionless; impure from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in the veins. 2. Not active; dull; not…Stăg'nant-ly, adv. p. 1284In a stagnant manner.Stăg'nāte, v. i. p. 1284To cease to flow; to be motionless; as, blood stagnates in the veins of an animal; to become impure by want of motion; air stagnates in a close room. 2. To cease to be brisk or active; to become…Stāg'nate, a. p. 1284Stagnant. [Obs.] “A stagnate mass of vapors.” Young.Stag-nā'tion, n. p. 1284The condition of being stagnant; cessation of flowing or circulation, as of a fluid; the state of being motionless; as, the stagnation of the blood; the stagnation of water or air; the stagnation of…Stăg'-worm, n. p. 1284An insect that is troublesome to deer.Stähl'ian, n. p. 1284A believer in, or advocate of, Stahlianism.Stähl'ism or Stähl'ian-ĭsm, n. p. 1284The theory of a German physician, named Stahl, that every vital action is under the direction and presidency of the soul. Dunglison.Stāid, imp. & p. p. p. 1284of stay. See STAY.Stāid, a. p. 1284Sober; grave; steady; composed; regular; not wild, volatile, flighty, or fanciful. “O’erlaid with black, staid Wisdom’s hue.” Milton. To ride out with staid guides. Milton. Syn.—Sober; grave; steady…Stäid'ly, adv. p. 1284In a staid manner.Stāid'ness, n. p. 1284The state or quality of being staid; seriousness; steadiness; regularity; — the opposite of wildness or levity. If he sometimes appears too gay, yet a secret gracefulness of youth accompanies his…Stāin, v. t. p. 1284To discolor by the application of foreign matter; to make foul; to spot; as, to stain the hand with dye; to stain clothes with vegetable juice; to stain paper; armor stained with blood. 2. To color…Stāin, n. p. 1284A discoloration from foreign matter; a spot; as, a stain on a garment or cloth. 2. A natural spot of a color different from the ground. “Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains.” Pope. 3. Taint…Stāin'er, n. p. 1284One who stains, blots, or tarnishes; a dyer.Stāin'less, a. p. 1284Free from any stain. 2. Free from the reproach of guilt; free from sin. The very care he took to keep his name Stainless, with some, was evidence of shame. Crabbe. Syn. — Blameless; spotless…Stāin'less-ly, adv. p. 1284In a stainless manner; with freedom from stain.Stair, n. p. 1284One step of a series, for ascending or descending to a different level; — commonly applied to those within a building, and not to such as ascend outside to the entrance. 2. A series of steps, as for…Stâir'cāse, n. p. 1284A flight of stairs with their supporting framework, casing, balusters, &c. To make a complete staircase is a curious piece of architecture. Wotton.Stâir'-head, n. p. 1284The head or top of a staircase.Stâir'-rŏd, n. p. 1284A metallic rod for holding a stair-carpet to its place.Stair'-wāy, n. p. 1284A flight of stairs or steps; a staircase. “A rude and narrow stair-way.” T. Moore.Staith, n. p. 1284The line of rails forming the extremity of a railway, and generally occurring next to navigable waters, being laid on platforms for discharging coals, &c., into vessels. [Eng.] Buchanan. 2. A…Stāith'-man, n. p. 1284A man employed in weighing and shipping coals at a staith. [Eng.] Simmonds.Stāke, n. p. 1284A stick, usually of wood, pointed at one end so as easily to be pushed into the ground as a support or stay; as, a stake to support vines, to support fences, hedges, and the like. A sharpened stake…Stāke, v. t. p. 1284To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake vines or plants. 2. To mark the limits by stakes; — with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road, or the ground for a canal. 3. To…Stāke'-hĕad, n. p. 1284(Rōpe-making.) A stake with wooden pins in the upper side to keep the strands apart.Stake'-hōld'er, n. p. 1284One with whom the bets are deposited when a wager is laid. 2. (Law.) One with whom a deposit is made by two or more who lay claim to it; any person having in his hands money or other property claimed…Stăk-tŏm'e-ter, n. p. 1284A drop-measurer; a glass tube tapering to a small orifice at the point, and having a bulb in the middle, used for finding the number of drops in equal quantities of different liquids. Brewster.Sta-lăc'tic or Sta-lăc'tic-al, a. p. 1284Pertaining to stalactite; resembling a stalactite; stalactitic.Sta-lăc'ti-fôrm, a. p. 1284Like a stalactite; resembling a stalactite.Sta-lăc'tīte, n. p. 1284(Min.) A pendent cone or cylinder of carbonate of lime, resembling an icicle in form, and attached, like an icicle, to the roof or side of a cavern, produced by the percolation through the rock above…Stăl'ac-tĭ'tēs, n. sing. p. 1285A stalactite; — formerly used instead of stalactite. [Obs.] Stalactites is only spar in the shape of an icicle, accidentally formed in the perpendicular fissures of the stone. Woodward.Stāl'ac-tīt'ic or Stāl'ac-tīt'ic-al, a. p. 1285Having the form of a stalactite; having the characters of a stalactite. Dana.Stāl'ac-tīt'i-fōrm, a. p. 1285Having the form of a stalactite; stalactiform.Sta-lăg’mīte, n. p. 1285A deposit of earthy or calcareous matter, made by calcareous water dropping on the floors of caverns. [See Illust. of Stalactite.]Stāl'ag-mīt'ic or Stāl'ag-mīt'ic-al, a. p. 1285Having the form of stalagmites.Stål'ag-mīt'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 1285In the form or manner of stalagmites.Stal'der, n. p. 1285A wooden frame to set casks on. [Prov. Eng.]Stāle, a. p. 1285Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer. 2. Not new; not freshly made; as, stale bread. 3. Having lost the life or graces of youth…Stāle, n. p. 1285Something set or offered to view as an allurement to draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool-fowl. [Obs.] Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay. Spencer. 2. A stalking horse.…Stāle, v. t. p. 1285To make vapid or useless; to destroy the life, beauty, or use of; to wear out. [Obs.] Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shak.Stāle, v. i. p. 1285To make water; to discharge urine;— said especially of horses and cattle.Stāle'ly, adv. p. 1285Of old; long since. [Obs.]Stāle'-māte, n. p. 1285(Chess-playing.) The position of the king, when, being required to move though not in check, he can not move without being placed in check.Stāle'ness, n. p. 1285The state of being stale; vapidness; as, the staleness of beer or other liquors; the staleness of provisions. 2. The state of being worn out; triteness; commonness; as, the staleness of an…Stālk, n. p. 1285A high, proud, stately step or walk. [Obs.] Spencer.Stalk, n. p. 1285The stem or main axis of a plant; as, a stalk of wheat, rye, or oats; the stalks of maize or hemp. 2. The petiole, pedicel, or peduncle of a plant. 3. The stem of a quill. Grew. 4. (Arch.) An…