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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.

  1. Stär'-pro͞of, a.p. 1288Impervious to the light of the stars; as, a star-proof elm. Milton.
  2. Stär'-rēad, n.p. 1288Doctrine of the stars; astronomy. [Obs.] “Who in star-read were wont have best insight.” Spenser.
  3. Stärred, a.p. 1288Adorned or studded with stars. 2. Influenced in fortune by the stars. [Obs.] My third comfort, Starred most unluckily. Shak.
  4. Stär'ri-ness, n.p. 1288The state of being starry; as, the starriness of the heavens.
  5. Stär'ry, a.p. 1288Abounding with stars; adorned with stars. Above the clouds, above the starry sky. Pope. 2. Consisting of, or proceeding from, the stars; stellar; stellary; as, starry light; starry flame. Do not…
  6. Stär'-sho͞ot, n.p. 1288See STAR-JELLY and NOSTOC.
  7. Stär'-spăn'gled, a.p. 1288Spangled or studded with stars. Star-spangled banner, the flag of the United States; the national ensign of the American people.
  8. Stär'-stōne, n.p. 1288(Min.) A variety of sapphire, which, when cut in a certain direction, presents a reflection of light in the form of a star. Brande.
  9. Stärt, v. i.p. 1288To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act. I start as from some dreadful dream. Dryden. A spirit fit to start into an…
  10. Stärt, v. t.p. 1288To cause to move suddenly; to alarm; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly. Upon malicious bravery dost thou come To start my quiet? Shak. 2. To bring into motion; to…
  11. Stärt, n.p. 1288A sudden spring, leap, or motion, occasioned by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion. Now fear I this will give it start again. Shak. 2. A convulsive motion…
  12. Stärt, n.p. 1289A projection; a push; a horn; a tail. 2. The handle or tail of a plow; also, any long handle. [Prov. Eng.]
  13. Stărt'er, n.p. 1289One who starts; one who shrinks from his purpose. 2. One who suddenly moves or suggests a question or an objection. 3. A dog that rouses game. Delany.
  14. Stärt'ful, a.p. 1289Apt to start; skittish. [Rare.]
  15. Stärt'ful-ness, n.p. 1289Aptness to start. [Rare.]
  16. Stär'-thīs'tle, n.p. 1289(Bot.) An annual plant of the genus Centaurea.
  17. Stärt'ing-bär, n.p. 1289(Steam-eng.) A hand-lever for moving the valves for the purpose of starting an engine. [See Illust. of Valve-gear.]
  18. Stärt'ing-hōle, n.p. 1289A loop-hole; evasion. [Obs.]
  19. Stärt'ing-ly, adv.p. 1289By sudden fits or starts.
  20. Stärt'ing-point, n.p. 1289The point from which motion begins, or from which any thing starts.
  21. Stărt'ing-pōst, n.p. 1289A post, stake, barrier, or place, from which competitors in a race start, or begin the race.
  22. Stärt'ish, a.p. 1289Apt to start; skittish; shy;—said especially of a horse. [Colloq.]
  23. Stärt'le, v. i.p. 1289To shrink; to move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling a sudden alarm. Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction? Addison.
  24. Stärt'le, v. t.p. 1289To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to fright suddenly, and not seriously; to shock; to alarm. The supposition that angels assume bodies need not startle us. Locke. 2. To deter; to…
  25. Stărt'le, n.p. 1289A sudden motion or shock occasioned by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger. After having recovered from my first startle, I was well pleased with the accident. Spectator.
  26. Stärt'ling-ly, adv.p. 1289In a startling manner.
  27. Stärt'lish, a.p. 1289Easily startled; apt to start; startish; skittish; — said especially of a horse. [Colloq.]
  28. Stärt'-ŭp, n.p. 1289One who comes suddenly into notice; an upstart. [Obs.] Shak. 2. A kind of high rustic shoe. Drayton.
  29. Stärt'-ŭp, a.p. 1289Suddenly coming into notice. [Obs.]
  30. Star-vā'tion, n.p. 1289The act of starving, or the state of being starved. ☞ This word has been erroneously called an Americanism, and incorrectly said to be of recent origin. It was first used, according to Horace…
  31. Stărve, v. i.p. 1289To perish; to be destroyed. [Obs.] Fairfax. 2. To perish or die with cold. “Starving with cold as well as hunger.” W. Irving. ☞ In this sense, still common in England, but rarely or never used in the…
  32. Stärve, v. t.p. 1289To destroy with cold. [Eng.] From beds of raging fire, to starve in ice Their soft, ethereal warmth. Milton. 2. To kill with hunger; as, maliciously to starve a man is, in law, murder. 3. To distress…
  33. Stärve'ling, a.p. 1289Hungry; lean; pining with want. Philips.
  34. Stärve'ling, n.p. 1289An animal or plant that is made thin, lean, and weak through want of nutriment. “And thy poor starveling bountifully fed.” — Donna.
  35. Star'-wort, n.p. 1289(Bot.) (a.) A shrubby or herbaceous plant of the genus Aster, having flowers which resemble stars. Loudon. (b.) A small plant of the genus Stellaria, having star-shaped flowers; chickweed. Gray.…
  36. Stā'tal, a.p. 1289Of, pertaining to, or existing, with reference to the state, as distinguished from the general government. [Rare.] I have no knowledge of any other kind of political citizenship, higher or lower…
  37. Stā'tant, a.p. 1289(Her.) In a standing position; as, a lion statant.
  38. Sta-tā'ri-an, a.p. 1289Fixed; settled; statary. [Obs.]
  39. Sta-tā'ri-an-ly, adv.p. 1289In a statarian manner; fixedly. [Obs.]
  40. Stä'ta-ry, a.p. 1289Fixed; settled. [Obs.] “The set and statary times of paring nails and cutting of hair.”
  41. Stāte, n.p. 1289The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time. State is a term nearly synonymous with “mode,” but of a meaning more extensive, and is not so exclusively limited to the mutable…
  42. Stāte, v. t.p. 1289To set; to settle; to establish. [Rare.] I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated. Withers. Who calls the council, states the day. Pope. 2. To express the particulars of; to set…
  43. Stāte, a.p. 1289Stately. [Obs.] “Expatiate and confer their state affairs.” Milton.
  44. State, n.p. 1289That which is stated or expressed in words; a statement; also, a document containing a statement. [Rare.] He sat down to examine Mr. Owen's states. W. Scott.
  45. Stāte'-craft, n.p. 1289The art of conducting state affairs; state-management.
  46. State'-crim'i-nal, n.p. 1289One who commits an offense against the dignity or well-being of a state, as treason.
  47. Stāt'ed, a.p. 1289Settled; established; regular; occurring at regular times; not occasional; as, stated hours of business. 2. Fixed; established; as, a stated salary.
  48. Stāt'ed-ly, adv.p. 1289At stated or appointed times.
  49. Stāte'ful, a.p. 1289Full of state; stately. [Obs.] “A stateful silence.” Marston.
  50. Stāte'-house, n.p. 1289The building in which the legislature of a state holds its sessions; a state capitol.
  51. Stāte'less, a.p. 1289Without state or pomp.
  52. Stāte'li-ly, adv.p. 1289In a stately manner.
  53. Stāte'li-ness, n.p. 1289The condition of being stately; loftiness of mien or manner; majestic appearance; dignity; grandeur. For stateliness and majesty, what is comparable to a horse? Moore.
  54. State'ly, a.p. 1289Evincing state or dignity; lofty; majestic; grand; as, stately manners; a stately gait. “Filled with stately temples.” Prescott. Here is a stately style indeed. Shak. Syn.—Lofty; dignified; majestic…
  55. Stāte'ly, adv.p. 1289Majestically; loftily. Milton.
  56. Stāte'ment, n.p. 1289The act of stating, reciting, or presenting, verbally or on paper. 2. A formal embodiment, in language, of facts or opinions; a narrative; a recital.
  57. State'-mōn'ger, n.p. 1289One versed in politics, or one who dabbles in state affairs.
  58. Stāte'-prīz'on, n.p. 1289A public prison or penitentiary;—called also state's prison.
  59. State'-prĭs'on-er, n.p. 1289One in confinement for political offenses.
  60. Stāt'er, n.p. 1289One who states, or makes a statement.