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.
Swĭv'el-ēy'ed, a. p. 1340Squint-eyed. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Swĭv'el-hoōk, n. p. 1340A hook that turns in the end of an iron block-strap, for readily taking the turns out of a tackle.Swiz'zie, v. t. p. 1340To drink; to swill. Halliwell.Swīz'zle, n. p. 1340Ale and beer mixed. [Prov. Eng.]Swŏb, n. p. 1340The same as SWAB. See SWAB.Swōb, v. t. p. 1340The same as SWAB. See SWAB.Swŏb'ber, n. p. 1340The same as SWABBER, q. v. 2. (pl.) Four privileged cards, only used incidentally in betting at the game of whist. Swift.Swōllen or Swōln, p. p. p. 1340of swell; — irregular and obsolescent.Swŏm, imp. p. 1340of swim. [Obs.] See SWIM.Swōōn, v. i. p. 1340To sink into a fainting fit, in which there is an apparent suspension of the vital functions and mental powers; to faint. The most in years swooned first away for pain. Dryden. He seemed ready to…Swōon, n. p. 1340A fainting fit; syncope.Swōōn'ing-ly, adv. p. 1340In a swooning manner.Swōōp, v. t. p. 1340To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken; a kite swoops up a mouse. 2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep. The physician looks with another eye…Swŏŏp, v. i. p. 1340To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.] Drayton. 2. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to stoop.Swŏŏp, n. p. 1340A falling on and seizing, as of a rapacious fowl on his prey. The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. L’Estrange.Swŏp, v. t. p. 1340The same as SWAP. See SWAP.Swōrd, n. p. 1340An offensive weapon, having a long, strong, and usually sharp-pointed blade, either straight and sharp upon both edges, for thrusting, or somewhat curved, and sharp on the convex edge, for cutting at…Swōrd'-ärm, n. p. 1340The right arm.Swōrd'-bāy'o-net, n. p. 1340A bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which can be used as a sword.Swōrd'-beâr'er, n. p. 1340An officer in the city of London, who carries a sword as an emblem of justice before the lord mayor when he goes abroad.Swōrd'-bĕlt, n. p. 1340A belt by which a sword is suspended and borne by the side.Swōrd'-blāde, n. p. 1340The blade or cutting part of a sword.Swōrd'-cāne, n. p. 1340A cane containing a sword.Swōrd'-cŭt'ler, n. p. 1340A worker in metal who makes swords. Simmonds.Swōrd'-dȧnçe, n. p. 1340A dance in which swords are held and clashed together by the male dancers. W. Scott.Swōrd'ed, a. p. 1340Girded with a sword. “The sworded seraphim.” Milton.Swōrd'er, n. p. 1340One who uses, or fights with, a sword; a swordsman; a soldier; a cut-throat. [Obs.] Shak.Swōrd'-fīght, n. p. 1340Fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords.Swōrd'-fish, n. p. 1340(Ichth.) A large fish (Xiphias gladius), allied to the mackerel, and having the upper jaw elongated into a sword-shaped process. It is found in the Atlantic, and its flesh is often eaten.Swōrd'-grȧss, n. p. 1340(Bot.) A kind of sedge; glader; the sweet rush, a species of Acorus. Ainsworth.Swōrd'-knŏt, n. p. 1340A ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword.Swōrd'-law, n. p. 1340Government by the sword, or by force; violence. Milton.Swōrd'less, a. p. 1340Destitute of a sword.Swōrd'man, n. p. 1340A swordsman.Swōrd'-plāy'er, n. p. 1340A fencer; a gladiator; one who exhibits his skill in the use of the sword.Swōrd'-shāped, a. p. 1341(Bot.) Shaped like a sword; ensiform; as, a sword-shaped leaf. Martyn.Swōrds'man, n. p. 1341A soldier; a fighting man. Shak. 2. One skilled in the use of the sword; a professor of the science of fencing. Beau. & Fl.Swōrds'man-ship, n. p. 1341The state of being a swordsman; skill in the use of the sword.Swōrd'-stick, n. p. 1341A sword-cane. Simmonds.Swōre, imp. p. 1341of swear. See SWEAR.Swōrn, p. p. or p. a. p. 1341from swear. See SWEAR. Sworn enemies, determined or irreconcilable enemies. — Sworn friends, close or firm friends.Swough, n. p. 1341Loss of feeling or sensation; a stupor; stupefaction. [Obs.] Chaucer.Swound, v. i. p. 1341To swoon. [Rare.] Shak.Swound, n. p. 1341A swoon. [Rare.] Coleridge.Swŭm, imp. & p. p. p. 1341of swim. See SWIM.Swŭng, imp. & p. p. p. 1341of swing. See SWING.Sy̆b, a. p. 1341Related by blood; sib. [Obs.]Sy̆b'a-rīte, n. p. 1341A person devoted to luxury and pleasure.Sy̆b'a-rĭt'ic or Sy̆b'a-rĭt'ic-al, a. p. 1341Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the Sybarites; luxurious; wanton. Bp. Hall.Sy̆b'a-rit-ism, n. p. 1341The habit of extreme luxury.Sy̆c'a-mīne, n. p. 1341The mulberry-tree. Luke xvii. 6. ☞ It has often been confounded by ancient and modern writers with the sycamore, as, for example, by Dioscorides.Sy̆c'a-mōre, n. p. 1341(Bot.) A large tree (Ficus sycamorus), allied to the common fig. It is found in Egypt and Syria, and is the sycamore of Scripture. ☞ In America, the plane-tree, or buttonwood, is often called by this…Sy̆-çee' or Sy̆-çee'-sĭl'ver, n. p. 1341Silver in the form of small masses, lumps, or ingots, bearing the stamp of the office that issues it, and used as a currency. [China.] Oliphant. Brande.Sy̆ch'no-cär'poŭs, a. p. 1341Having the capacity of bearing frequent crops of fruit without perishing; as, sychnocarpous plants. Henslow.Sy̆ç'īte, n. p. 1341(Min.) Fig-stone;—a name which some authors give to nodules of flint or pebbles which resemble a fig. [Obs.]Sȳ-cō'mȧ, n. p. 1341(Med.) A tumor shaped like a fig.Sy̆c'o-phan-çy, n. p. 1341The character or characteristic of a sycophant; hence, mean tale-bearing; obsequious flattery; servility.Sy̆c'o-phant, n. p. 1341Originally, an informer in Athens, who sought favor by denouncing those who stole figs, or exported them contrary to law, &c. 2. Hence, a tale-bearer or informer in general. [Obs.] The poor man that…Sy̆c'o-phant, v. t. p. 1341To play the sycophant toward; to flatter meanly and officiously; to gain favor from by informing or telling tales; also, to calumniate.Sy̆c'o-phant, v. i. p. 1341To play the sycophant.