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.
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.Steer's'măn, n. p. 1293One who steers; the helmsman of a ship. “A ship by skillful steersman wrought.” Milton.Steer's'māte, n. p. 1293One who steers; a steersman; a pilot. [Obs.] Milton.Steeve, v. i. p. 1293(Ship-building.) To make an angle with the horizon, or with the line of a vessel’s keel; — said of the bowsprit.Steeve, v. t. p. 1293(Ship-building.) To elevate at an angle with the horizon; — said of the bowsprit.Steeve, n. p. 1293(Naut.) (a.) The angle which a bowsprit makes with the horizon, or with the line of the vessel's keel. (b.) A long, heavy spar, with a place to fit a block at one end, used in stowing certain kinds…Steev'ing, n. p. 1293(Naut.) The angle of elevation which a ship's bowsprit makes with the horizon.Stĕg, n. p. 1293A gander. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Stĕg'a-nŏg'ra-phist, n. p. 1293One who practices the art of writing in cipher; one skilled in steganography.Stĕg'a-nŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 1293The art of writing in ciphers, or characters which are not intelligible except to the persons who correspond with each other.Ste-găn'ō-pōd, n. p. 1293(Ornith.) One of a family of swimming birds with the four toes connected by the same web.Steg-nôt'ic, a. p. 1293(Med.) Tending to render costive, or to diminish excretions or discharges generally.Steg-nöt'ic, n. p. 1293(Med.) A medicine which tends to produce costiveness; one that diminishes excretions or discharges generally.Stein, n. p. 1293See STEEN.Stein'bok, n. p. 1293(Zoöl.) (a.) A species of African antelope (Calotragus campestris), remarkable as wanting accessory hoofs, and for its color. (b.) The ibex. See IBEX.Stein'heil-ite, n. p. 1293(Min.) A variety of iolite, of a smoky blue color.Stē'lē, n. p. 1293A small column or pillar without base or capital, used as a monument, a mile-stone, and the like.Stēle, n. p. 1293A stale or handle; a stalk. [Obs.] Holland.Stĕl'e-chīte, n. p. 1293A fine kind of storax.Stĕl'ēne, a. p. 1293Resembling, or used as, a stela; columnar.Stĕll, n. p. 1293A partial inclosure made by a wall or trees, to serve as a shelter for sheep or other domestic animals. [Eng.] Stevens.Stĕl'lar or Stĕl'la-ry, a. p. 1293Pertaining to stars; astral; as, a stellar figure. In part shed down Their stellar virtue. Milton. 2. Full of stars; set with stars; starry; as, stellary regions.Stĕl'late or Stĕl'lā-ted, a. p. 1293Resembling a star; pointed or radiated, like the emblem of a star. 2. (Bot.) Arranged in the form of a star; — a term used when several narrow, acute parts are placed in the form of a star round a…Stel-lā'tion, n. p. 1294Radiation of light. [Obs.]Stĕlled, a. p. 1294Starry. [Obs.] “Quenched the stelled fires.” —Milton.