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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. Sweet'wort, n.p. 1338Any plant of a sweet taste.
  2. Swein'mōte, n.p. 1338See SWAINMOTE.
  3. Swĕll, v. i.p. 1338To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a tumor…
  4. Swĕll, v. t.p. 1338To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring, and cause floods. 2. To aggravate; to heighten. It is…
  5. Swĕll, n.p. 1338The act of swelling. 2. Gradual increase; as, (a.) Augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b.) Elevation; rise;—said of height. (c.) Force; intensity; power;—said in reference to sound. Music arose with…
  6. Swĕll'ing, n.p. 1339Protuberance; prominence. The superficies of such plates are not even, but have many cavities and swellings. Newton. 2. (Med.) A tumor or any morbid enlargement of the natural size; as, a swelling on…
  7. Swell'-mōb, n.p. 1339Well-dressed thieves, taken collectively. He is renowned for his acquaintance with the swell-mob. Dickens.
  8. Swĕlt, imp. & p. p.p. 1339of swell. [Obs.] See SWELL.
  9. Swĕlt, v. i.p. 1339To swelter; to faint; to swoon. [Obs.] Nigh she swelt for passing joy. Spenser.
  10. Swĕlt, v. t.p. 1339To overpower, as with heat; to cause to faint; to swelter. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
  11. Swĕlt'er, v. i.p. 1339To be overcome and faint with heat; to be ready to perish with heat. It was so rare a piece of fun To see the sweltered cattle run. Coleridge. 2. To welter. [Obs.] Drayton.
  12. Swĕlt'er, v. t.p. 1339To oppress with heat; to make faint or weak by a heated, close atmosphere. 2. To exude, like sweat. [Rare.] Shak.
  13. Swĕlt'ry, a.p. 1339Suffocating with heat; oppressive with heat; sultry. [Rare.]
  14. Swēpt, imp. & p. p.p. 1339of sweep. See SWEEP.
  15. Swērd, n. & v.p. 1339Sward. [Obs.] See SWARD.
  16. Swērve, v. i.p. 1339To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule of duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty, or custom; to deviate. I swerve not from thy commandments. Com. Prayer. They swerve from…
  17. Swĕt, imp. & p. p.p. 1339of sweat. [Rare.] See SWEAT.
  18. Swē'ven, n.p. 1339A dream. [Obs.] Wycliffe.
  19. Swift, a.p. 1339Moving a great distance, or over a large space, in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy. 2. Ready; prompt. My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear…
  20. Swift, n.p. 1339The current of a stream. [R.] Walton. 2. A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, &c.; — used chiefly in the plural. 3. (Ornith.) A small bird (Cypselus apus), like the swallow, but…
  21. Swift'er, n.p. 1339(Naut.) (a.) A rope used to confine the bars of the capstan in their sockets, while men are turning it. (b.) A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides from the…
  22. Swĭft'er, v. t.p. 1339(Naut.) To stretch, as shrouds by tackles.
  23. Swĭft'-fo͝ot, a.p. 1339Nimble. Mir. for Mag.
  24. Swĭft'ly, adv.p. 1339In a swift manner; with celerity; with quick motion or velocity; fleetly; rapidly.
  25. Swĭft'ness, n.p. 1339The state or quality of being swift; speed; rapid motion; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; — a word of general import, applicable to every kind of motion, and to every thing that moves; as…
  26. Swig, v. t. & i.p. 1339To drink by large draughts; to suck greedily. [Colloq. and vulgar.] The bleating rams Securely swig the dug beneath the dams. Dryden.
  27. Swĭg, n.p. 1339A large draught. [Colloq. and vulgar.] 2. (Naut.) A pulley with ropes which are not parallel.
  28. Swig, v. t.p. 1339To castrate, as a ram, by binding the testicles tight with a string, so that they mortify and slough off. [Local.]
  29. Swĭll, v. t.p. 1339To drink grossly or greedily; as, to swill down great quantities of liquors. 2. To wash; to drench. [Obs.] As fearfully as doth a galled rock O’erhang and jutty his confounded base, Swilled with the…
  30. Swĭll, v. i.p. 1339To drink greedily or swinishly; to drink to excess. South. 2. To be intoxicated. [Obs.]
  31. Swĭll, n.p. 1339Large draughts of liquor; drink taken in excessive quantities. 2. The wash, or mixture of liquid substances, given to swine;— called also swillings.
  32. Swill'er, n.p. 1339One who swills, or drinks voraciously.
  33. Swīl'ley, n.p. 1339An eddy or whirlpool. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. 2. A coal-field of small size or extent. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
  34. Swil'ings, n. pl.p. 1339Swill. See SWILL.
  35. Swim, v. i.p. 1339To be supported in water or other fluid; not to sink; to float; as, any substance will swim, whose specific gravity is less than that of the fluid in which it is immersed. 2. To move progressively in…
  36. Swĭm, v. t.p. 1339To pass or move over, or on, by swimming; as, to swim a stream. Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main. Dryden. 2. To immerse in water that the lighter parts may swim; as, to swim wheat for…
  37. Swim, n.p. 1339The act of swimming; a gliding motion, like that of one swimming. 2. The time or distance one swims, or can swim. 3. The bladder of a fish, by which it is said to be supported in water; the sound.…
  38. Swĭm'mer, n.p. 1339One who swims. 2. (Far.) A protuberance on the leg of a horse. 3. (Ornith.) One of an order of birds that swim, as the duck and goose.
  39. Swim'ming-ly, adv.p. 1339In an easy, gliding manner, as if swimming; smoothly; successfully; prosperously.
  40. Swim'ming-ness, n.p. 1339The act or state of swimming or floating; swimming motion.
  41. Swinck, v. i.p. 1339The same as SWINK.
  42. Swĭnck, n.p. 1339The same as SWINK.
  43. Swĭn'dle, v. t.p. 1339To cheat and defraud grossly, or with deliberate artifice; as, to swindle a man out of his property.
  44. Swin'dle, n.p. 1339The act or process of defrauding by systematic imposition.
  45. Swin'dler, n.p. 1339One who swindles or defrauds grossly, or one who makes a practice of defrauding others by imposition or deliberate artifice; a cheat. Syn. — Sharper; rogue. — SWINDLER, SHARPER. These words agree in…
  46. Swine, n. sing. & pl.p. 1339(Zoöl.) A small-sized pachyderm (Sus scrofa), having four-toed feet, two principal and two lateral toes, a bristly skin, and a nose ending in a flattened cartilaginous disk. It has a keen scent, and…
  47. Swine'-brĕad, n.p. 1339(Bot.) A kind of plant; truffle. Bailey.
  48. Swine'-cāse or Swine'-cōat or Swine'-crue, n.p. 1339A hog-sty; a pen for swine. [Prov. Eng.]
  49. Swine'-grāss, n.p. 1339(Bot.) A certain plant; knotgrass. Ainsworth.
  50. Swīne'-hērd, n.p. 1339A keeper of swine.
  51. Swīne'-ōat, n.p. 1339(Bot.) A kind of oat, cultivated for the use of swine, as in Cornwall; the Avena nuda.
  52. Swīne'-pīpe, n.p. 1339(Ornith.) A species of thrush; the red-wing; Turdus iliacus.
  53. Swīne'-pŏx, n.p. 1339(Med.) A variety of the chicken-pox, with acuminated vesicles containing a watery fluid; the water-pox.
  54. Swīne's'-crēss, n.p. 1339(Bot.) A species of cress of the genus Coronopus or Cochlearia.
  55. Swīne'-stōne, n.p. 1339(Min.) A kind of limestone which, when rubbed, emits a fetid odor, resembling that of naphtha combined with sulphureted hydrogen; — called also stink-stone.
  56. Swine'-stȳ, n.p. 1339A sty or pen for swine.
  57. Swīne'-thīs'tle, n.p. 1339(Bot.) A certain plant; the sow-thistle.
  58. Swing, v. i.p. 1339To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate. I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in our receiver if exhausted. Boyle. 2. To practice…
  59. Swing, v. t.p. 1339To make to play loosely; to cause to swing, wave, or vibrate, as a body suspended in the air. They get on ropes, ... and are swung by their men visitants. Spectator. 2. To wave; to move to and fro…
  60. Swing, n.p. 1339The act of swinging; a waving or vibratory motion; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum. 2. Motion from one side to the other; as, some men walk with a swing. 3. A line, cord, or other thing…