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.
Sur-pâss'a-ble, a. p. 1333Capable of being surpassed.Sur-pâss'ing, p. a. p. 1333Excellent in an eminent degree; exceeding others. “With surpassing glory crowned.” Milton.Sur-pâss'ing-ly, adv. p. 1333In a surpassing manner or degree.Sur-pâss'ing-ness, n. p. 1333The state of surpassing.Sûr'phul, v. t. p. 1333The same as SURFEL. [Obs.] “A muddy inside, though a surphuled face.” Marston.Sûr'plicę, n. p. 1333(Eccl.) A white garment worn over another dress by the clergy of the Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and certain other churches in some of their ministrations.Sûr'pliced, a. p. 1333Wearing a surplice.Sûr'plicę-fees, n. pl. p. 1333(Eccl.) Fees paid to the English clergy for occasional duties.Sûr'plus, n. p. 1333That which remains when use is satisfied; excess beyond what is prescribed or wanted; overplus. 2. (Law.) The residuum of an estate after certain deductions are made.Sûr'plus-age, n. p. 1333Surplus; excess; as, surplusage of grain or goods beyond what is wanted. 2. (Law.) Matter in pleading not necessary or relevant to the case, and which may be rejected. 3. (Accounts.) A greater…Sur-pris'al, n. p. 1333The act of surprising, or coming upon suddenly and unexpectedly; or the state of being surprised. “How to secure the lady from surprisal.” Milton. Because death is uncertain, let us prevent its…Sur-prîze', v. t. p. 1333To come or fall upon suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares. The castle of Macduff I will surprise. Shak. Who can speak The mingled passions that surprised his heart? Thomson. 2. To hold…Sur-prîze', n. p. 1333The act of coming upon unawares, or of taking suddenly and without preparation; as, the fort was taken by surprise. 2. (Law.) The state of being surprised, or taken unexpectedly;—sometimes used, in a…Surprise party p. 1333a party of persons who assemble by agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a common friend. [U. S.] Bartlett. Syn.—Wonder; astonishment; amazement.Sur-pris'er, n. p. 1333One who surprises.Sur-pris'ing, p. a. p. 1333Exciting surprise; extraordinary; of a nature to excite wonder and astonishment; as, surprising bravery; surprising patience; a surprising escape from danger. Syn.—Wonderful; extraordinary…Sur-pris'ing-ly, adv. p. 1333In a surprising manner or degree.Sur-pris'ing-ness, n. p. 1333The state of being surprising.Sûr'que-doûs or Sûr'que-drouïs, a. p. 1333Proud; arrogant. [Obs.] Remember the confuting champion more surquedrous than Anaxius. James II. of Scotland.Sûr'que-dry, n. p. 1333Overweening pride; arrogance; outrecu idance. [Obs.] Then pay you the price of your surquedry. Spenser.Sûr're-bût, v. i. p. 1333(Law.) To reply, as a plaintiff to a defendant’s rebutter.Sûr're-bût'ter, n. p. 1333(Law.) The plaintiff's reply in matters of fact to a defendant's rebutter.Sûr're-join', v. i. p. 1333(Law.) To reply, as a plaintiff, to a defendant's rejoinder.Sûr're-join'der, n. p. 1333(Law.) The answer of a plaintiff in matters of fact to a defendant's rejoinder.Sur-rê'nal, a. p. 1333(Anat.) Lying above the kidney. Dunglison.Sur-rên'der, v. t. p. 1333To yield to the power of another; to give or deliver up possession of upon compulsion or demand; as, to surrender one's person to an enemy, or to commissioners of bankruptcy; to surrender a fort or a…Sur-rĕn'der, v. i. p. 1333To give up one's self into the power of another; to yield; as, the enemy, seeing no way of escape, surrendered at the first summons.Sur-rĕn'der, n. p. 1333The act of surrendering; the act of yielding or resigning one's person, or the possession of something, into the power of another; as, the surrender of a castle to an enemy; the surrender of a right.…Sur-rĕn'der-ee', n. p. 1333(Law.) The person to whom a surrender is made.Sur-rên'der-or, n. p. 1333(Law.) One who makes a surrender. Bouvier.Sur-rĕn'der, n. p. 1333The same as SURRENDER. [Obs.]Sur-rĕp'tion, n. p. 1333The act or process of getting in a surreptitious manner, or by craft or stealth. Fame by surreption got May stead us for the time, but lasteth not. B. Jonson. 2. A coming unperceived; a stealing upon…Sŭr'rep-tĭ'tiŏŭs, a. p. 1333Done by stealth, or without proper authority; made or introduced fraudulently; as, a surreptitious passage in a manuscript.Sûr'rep-tĭ'tiōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1333In a surreptitious manner; by stealth; without authority; fraudulently.Sūr'ro-gāte, n. p. 1333A deputy; a delegate; a substitute. 2. The deputy of an ecclesiastical judge, most commonly of a bishop or his chancellor. [Eng.] 3. In some of the States of the Union, an officer who presides over…Sŭr'ro-gāte, v. t. p. 1333To put in the place of another. [Rare.] More.Sûr'ro-gâte-ship, n. p. 1333The office of a surrogate.Sūr'ro-gā'tion, n. p. 1333The act of substituting one person in the place of another. [Rare.] Killingbeck.Sur-round', v. t. p. 1333To inclose on all sides; to encompass; to environ; as, to surround a city. 2. To lie or be on all sides of; as, a wall or ditch surrounds the city. 3. To pass around; to travel about; to…Sur-round', n. p. 1333A method of hunting some animals, as the buffalo, by surrounding a herd of them, and driving them over a precipice, or into a ravine, or other place from which they can not escape. S. F. Baird.Sur-round'ing, n. p. 1333An encompassing. 2. (pl.) The things which surround; external or attending circumstances. [Recent.] Did the sensitive, shy genius feel that in the production dated from each scene there would be some…Sur-sŏl'id, n. p. 1333(Math.) The fifth power of a number; as, a⁵ is the sursolid of a, or 32 that of 2. Math. Dict.Sur-sōl'id, a. p. 1333Of, pertaining to, or involving, the fifth power. Sursolid problem (Math.), a problem which can not be resolved but by curves of a higher kind than the conic sections.Sur-tout', n. p. 1333A man's coat worn over his other garments; an overcoat, especially when long and fitting closely.Sâr'tur-bränd, n. p. 1333Fibrous brown coal or bituminous wood; — so called in Iceland. Ure.Sur-veil'lançe, n. p. 1333Watch; inspection.Sur-veil'lant, n. p. 1333One who watches over another; an overseer; a spy. In the following passage, the word is erroneously used to signify the person watched over, thus giving it a passive sense: “John Walker . . .…Sur-vēne', v. t. p. 1333To supervene upon; to come as an addition to. [Obs.] “A suppuration that survenes lethargies.” Harvey.Sûr've-nüe, n. p. 1333A sudden or unexpected coming or stepping in. [Obs.] N. Bacon.Sur-vey', v. t. p. 1333To inspect or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surrounding country. 2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine. With such…Sûr'vey, n. p. 1333A general view, as from an elevated place. Under his proud survey the city lies. Denham. 2. A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of all the parts or particulars of a…Sur-vey'al or Sur-vey'ance, n. p. 1334Survey; a viewing. [Obs.]Sur-vey'ing, n. p. 1334That branch of applied mathematics which teaches the art of determining the area of any portion of the earth's surface, the lengths and directions of the bounding lines, the contour of the surface…Sur-vey'or, n. p. 1334An overseer; one placed to superintend others. You were the duke's surveyor. Shak. 2. One who views and examines for the purpose of ascertaining the condition, quantity, or quality of any thing; as…Sur-vey'or-gĕn'er-al, n. p. 1334A principal surveyor; as, the surveyor-general of the king’s manors, or of woods and parks in England. 2. In the United States, the chief surveyor of lands; as, the surveyor-general of the United…Sur-vey'or-shĭp, n. p. 1334The office of a surveyor.Sur-view’, v. t. p. 1334To survey; to make a survey of. [Obs.] “To sur-view his ground.” Spenser.Sur-view', n. p. 1334Survey. [Obs.]Sur-vīse', v. t. p. 1334To look over; to supervise. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Sur-vīv'al, n. p. 1334A living longer than, beyond the life of, another person, thing, or event; an outliving.