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.
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…Stalk, v. i. p. 1285To walk with high and proud steps; — usually implying the affectation of dignity, and hence the word usually expresses dislike. The poets, however, use the word to express dignity of step. With manly…Stalk, v. t. p. 1285To approach under cover of a screen, or by stealth. As for shooting a man from behind a wall, it is cruelty like to stalking a deer. W. Scott.Stalked, a. p. 1285Having a stalk.Stalk'er, n. p. 1285One who stalks. 2. A kind of fishing-net.Stalk'ing-hōrse, n. p. 1285A horse, or a figure resembling a horse, behind which a fowler conceals himself from the sight of the game which he is aiming to kill. 2. Hence, something used to cover up a secret project; a mask; a…Stalk'less, a. p. 1285Having no stalk.Stalk'y, a. p. 1285Hard as a stalk; resembling a stalk. Mortimer.Stall, n. p. 1285A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox is kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the apartment for one horse or ox. 2. A stable; a place for cattle. At…Stall, v. t. p. 1285To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stable; as, to stall an ox. “Where King Latinus then his oxen stalled.” Dryden. 2. To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install. [Obs.]…Stall, v. i. p. 1285To dwell; to inhabit. [Obs.] We could not stall together in the world. Shak. 2. To kennel, as dogs. Johnson. 3. To be set, as in mire. 4. To be tired of eating, as cattle.Stall'age, n. p. 1285The right of erecting stalls in fairs; rent paid for a stall. 2. Laystall; dung; compost. [Obs.]Stal-lā'tion, n. p. 1285Installation. [Obs.] Cavendish.Stalled, a. p. 1285Put or kept in a stable; hence, fatted.Stall'er, n. p. 1285A standard-bearer. [Obs.] Fuller.Stall'-feed, v. t. p. 1285To feed and fatten in a stable, or on dry fodder; as, to stall-feed an ox.Stall'ion, n. p. 1285A horse not castrated; a stock-horse.