Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Stēam'-pro-pĕl'ler, n. p. 1292See PROPELLER.Stēam'-rōom, n. p. 1292See STEAM-CHAMBER.Stēam'-shĭp, n. p. 1292A ship propelled by the power of steam.Stēam'-tōe, n. p. 1292See TOE.Stēam'-trăp, n. p. 1292A contrivance to allow the passage of water, and prevent the passage of steam. ☞ When steam and water enter at the top of the vessel shown, the bottom of the float closes the lower aperture, and…Stēam'-tŭg, n. p. 1292A steam-vessel used in towing ships.Stēam'-vĕs'sel, n. p. 1292A vessel propelled by steam; a steam-boat or steam-ship.Stēam'-wāy, n. p. 1292(Steam-eng.) A passage leading from a port to a cylinder.Stēam'-whĭs'tle, n. p. 1292An apparatus attached to a steam-engine or locomotive, through which steam is rapidly discharged, producing a loud, shrill whistle, which serves as a warning or signal. ☞ The steam issues from a…Stēam'-wĭnch, n. p. 1292A steam-engine combined with a winch for the purpose of raising weights.Stēam'y, a. p. 1292Consisting of, or resembling, steam; full of steam; vaporous; misty.Stēan, n. & v. t. p. 1292See STEEN. [Obs.]Stēan'ing, n. p. 1292See STEENING.Stē'a-rate, n. p. 1292(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of stearic acid with a base.Ste-ăr'ic, a. p. 1292(Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, stearine. Stearic acid, an acid produced by the action of alkalies on stearine.Stē'a-rĭne, n. p. 1292(Chem.) (a.) One of the proximate principles of animal fat, to the proportional presence of which the greater or less solidity of fat appears to be due. (b.) Stearic acid; — popularly so called.…Stē'a-rōne, n. p. 1292(Chem.) A substance obtained by the partial decomposition of stearic acid with a fourth part of quick-lime. It is sparingly soluble in ether and alcohol, and is concrete at common temperatures, but…Stē'a-tīte, n. p. 1292(Min.) A soft magnesian rock having a soapy feel, presenting grayish-green, brown, and whitish shades of color. It is a variety of talc, and consists of silica and magnesia. It forms extensive beds…Stē'a-tĭt'ic, a. p. 1292Pertaining to, of the nature of, containing, or resembling, steatite.Ste-ăt'o-çēle, n. p. 1292(Med.) A tumor of the scrotum, containing fat.Stē'a-tō'mȧ, n. p. 1292(Med.) An encysted tumor, containing matter like suet. Coxe.Stē'a-tŏm'a-toŭs, a. p. 1292Of the nature of a steatoma.Stē'a-tŏp'y-gȧ, n. p. 1292A remarkable accretion of fat upon the buttocks in the Africans of certain tribes, especially in the Hottentot female.Stē'a-tŏp'y-goŭs, a. p. 1292Having fat buttocks. They were average specimens of the steatopygous Abyssinian breed. Burton.Stĕd, n. p. 1292See STEAD.Stĕd'fȧst, a. p. 1292See STEADFAST.Stee, n. p. 1292A ladder. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Steed, n. p. 1293A horse, especially a spirited horse for state or war;—used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. “Mounted on a hot and fiery steed.” Shak. Stout are our men, and warlike are our steeds. Waller.Steed'less, a. p. 1293Having no steed; without a horse.Steek, v. t. p. 1293To shut or close; as, to steek the door. [Scot.] Burns. W. Scott.Steek'an, n. p. 1293A wine measure of about four gallons, used in Holland. Simmonds.Steel, n. p. 1293Iron combined with a small portion of carbon. It is used in making instruments, and is especially useful as the material of edged tools. 2. Hence, an instrument made of steel, as a sword, knife, or…Steel, v. t. p. 1293To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel the point of a sword; to steel a razor; to steel an ax. 2. To make hard or extremely hard; to make insensible or obdurate. “Lies well steeled with…Steel'er, n. p. 1293(Ship-building.) The foremost or aftmost plank in a strake, which is dropped short of the stem or stern-post.Steel'-ness, n. p. 1293Great hardness.Steel'-trap, n. p. 1293A trap for catching wild animals, consisting of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring, when the animal disturbs the catch or tongue by which they are kept open.Steel'-wine, n. p. 1293Wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time;—used as a medicine. Simmonds.Steel'y, a. p. 1293Made of steel; consisting of steel. “The steely point of Clifford’s lance.” Shak. Around his shop the steely sparkles flew. Gay. 2. Hence, resembling steel; hard; firm. She would unarm her noble…Steel'yard, n. p. 1293A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce…Steem, n. p. 1293The same as ESTEEM. [Obs.] Spenser.Steen, n. p. 1293A vessel of clay or stone. [Written also stean.]Steen, v. t. p. 1293(Arch.) To line with brick, stone, or other material. [Written also steam and stein.]Steen’bŏk, n. p. 1293The same as STEINBOK.Steen'ing, n. p. 1293A brick or stone wall, or lining of a well. Brande.Steen’kirk, n. p. 1293A kind of neckcloth formerly worn. [Obs.]Steep, a. p. 1293Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending with great inclination; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity. 2.…Steep, n. p. 1293A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice. “Bare steeps, where desolation stalks.” Wordsworth. We…Steep, v. t. p. 1293To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to imbue; to extract the essence by soaking; to cover completely. My sense in Lethe steep. Shak. In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers. Wordsworth.Steep, n. p. 1293Something that is steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid for hastening the germination of seeds. 2. A rennet-bag. [Prov. Eng.]Steep'-down, a. p. 1293Deep and precipitous. “Steep-down gulfs of liquid fire.” Shak.Steep'en, v. i. p. 1293To become steep. As the way steepened, . . . I could detect in the hollow of the hill some traces of the old path. Hugh Miller.Steep'er, n. p. 1293A vessel, vat, or cistern, in which things are steeped.Steep'i-ness, n. p. 1293The state or quality of being steep; steepness.Stee'ple, n. p. 1293A tower or turret of a church, ending in a point; a spire; a pointed belfry. “A weather-cock on a steeple.” Shak. “They, far from steeples and their sacred sound.” Dryden.Stee'ple-bush, n. p. 1293(Bot.) A shrub of the genus Spiræa (S. tomentosa); hardhack.Stee'ple-chāse, n. p. 1293A race between a number of horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object (as a church steeple) in a straight course, or one marked out within narrow limits.Stee'pled, a. p. 1293Furnished with a steeple; adorned with steeples or towers. Fairfax.Stee'ple-house, n. p. 1293A church. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.Steep'ly, adv. p. 1293In a steep manner; with steepness; with precipitous declivity.Steep'ness, n. p. 1293The state of being steep; precipitous declivity; as, the steepness of a hill, a bank, or a roof. 2. Height; loftiness. [Obs.] Your way to town, whose towers you see ascend To such a steepness.…