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.
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.…Steep'y, a. p. 1293Having a steep or precipitous declivity; steep. [Poet.] No more, my goats, shall I behold you climb The steepy cliffs. Dryden.Steer, n. p. 1293A young male of the ox kind, or common ox; especially, a castrated taurine male from two to four years old.Steer, v. t. p. 1293To control the career of; to direct; to guide; to govern; — applied especially to a vessel in the water. “That with a staff his feeble steps did steer.” Spenser.Steer, v. i. p. 1293To direct and govern a ship or other vessel in its course; to direct one’s course. A ship . . . where the wind Veers oft, as oft so steers and shifts her sail. Milton. 2. To be directed and governed…Steer, n. p. 1293A rudder or helm. [Obs.]Steer'age, n. p. 1293The act or practice of directing and governing in a course; as, the steerage of a ship. He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the commonwealth. Milton.…Steer'age-wāy, n. p. 1293(Naut.) That degree of forward movement of a ship which renders her governable by the helm.Steer'er, n. p. 1293One who steers; a pilot. [Rare.]Steer'ing-wheel, n. p. 1293(Naut.) The wheel by which the rudder of a ship is turned and the ship is steered.Steer'less, a. p. 1293Having no steer or rudder. [Obs.]Steer'ling, n. p. 1293A young or small steer.