Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Tŏp'-knŏt (-nŏt), n. p. 1394A crest or knot of feathers upon the head or top, as of a bird; also, an ornamental knot or bow worn on the top of the head, as by women. “A great, stout servant girl, with cheeks as red as her…Tŏp'-lăn/tern or Tŏp'-light, n. p. 1394(Naut.) A lantern or light in the top of a vessel.Tōp'less, a. p. 1394Having no top; very lofty. “The topless Apennines.” Beau. & Fl.Tŏp'man, n. p. 1394The man who stands above in sawing; a topsman. 2. (Naut.) A man standing in the top.Tŏp'māst, n. p. 1394(Naut.) The second mast, or that which is next above the lower mast, and above which is the top-gallant-mast.Tŏp'mōst, a. p. 1394Highest; uppermost; as, the topmost cliff; the topmost branch of a tree.To-pōg'ra-pher, n. p. 1394One who is skilled in the science of topography; one who describes a particular place, town, city, or tract of land. Dante is the one authorized topographer of the medieval hell. Milman.Tōp/o-grāph'ie or Tōp/o-grāph'ie-al, a. p. 1394Of, or pertaining to, topography; descriptive of a place. Topographical surveying, that branch of surveying which pertains to the process of ascertaining and representing upon a plane surface the…Tōp/o-grāph'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1394In a topographical manner; in the manner of topography.To-pŏg'ra-phist, n. p. 1394A topographer.To-pŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 1394The description of a particular place, city, town, manor, parish, or tract of land; especially, the exact and scientific delineation and description in minute detail of any place or region; the…To-pōl'o-gy, n. p. 1394The art of, or a method for, assisting the memory by associating the thing or subject to be remembered with some place. [Rare.]Tōp'ping, p. a. p. 1394Rising above; surpassing. 2. Hence, assuming superiority; proud. “The great and flourishing condition of some of the topping sinners of the world.” South. 3. Fine; gallant. Johnson.Tōp'ping, n. p. 1394The act of one who tops; the act of cutting off the top. 2. (Naut.) The act of pulling one extremity of a yard higher than the other. 3. (pl.) That which comes from the hemp in the act of hatcheling.…Tŏp'ping-lĭft, n. p. 1394(Naut.) A large, strong tackle employed to suspend or top the outer end of a gaff, or of the boom of a mainsail, in a brig or schooner.Tŏp'ping-ly, adv. p. 1394In a topping or proud manner.Tŏp'ping-ly, a. p. 1394Same as TOPPING. [Obs.] Tusser.Tŏp'ple, v. i. p. 1394To fall forward; to pitch or tumble down. “Though castles topple on their warders’ heads.” Shak.Tōp'-proud, a. p. 1394Proud to the highest degree. [Rare.] Shak.Tōp'-rōpe, n. p. 1394(Naut.) A rope to sway up a top-mast, &c.Tōp'-sāil, n. p. 1394(Naut.) A sail extended across the topmast, above which is the top-gallant-sail.Tōps'-and-bōt'toms, n. pl. p. 1394Small rolls of dough, baked, cut in halves, and then browned in an oven, used as food for infants. Simmonds. ’Tis said that her tops-and-bottoms were gilt. Hood.Tōp'-shāped, a. p. 1394Having the shape of a top. 2. (Bot.) Cone-shaped, with the apex downward; turbinate. Henslow.Tŏps'man, n. p. 1394The chief drover of those who drive a herd of cattle. P. Cyc. 2. The uppermost sawyer in a sawpit; a top-man. Simmonds.Tōp'-soil, n. p. 1394The upper part or surface of the soil.Tōp'-soil'ing, n. p. 1394The act or art of taking off the top-soil of land, before a canal is begun.Tōp'-stōne, n. p. 1394A stone that is placed on the top, or which forms the top.Tŏp'sy-tŭr'vy, adv. p. 1394In an inverted posture; with the top or head downward; as, to turn a carriage topsy-turvy.Tōp'-tăck/le, n. p. 1394(Naut.) A tackle used in swaying up a topmast. Totten.Tōp'-tim'bers, n. pl. p. 1394(Naut.) The highest timbers on the side of a vessel, being those above the futtocks. Dana.Tōque or To-quet', n. p. 1394A kind of bonnet or head-dress. His velvet toque stuck as airily as ever upon the side of his head. Motley.Tōre, n. p. 1394The same as TORQUE, q. v.Tōrch, n. p. 1394A light or luminary formed of some combustible substance, as of resinous wood; a large candle or flambeau. They light the nuptial torch. Milton.Tōrch'-beār'er, n. p. 1394One whose office it is to carry a torch.Tōrch'er, n. p. 1394One who gives light with a torch, or as if with a torch. [Obs.] Shak.Tōrch'-light, n. p. 1394The light of a torch, or of torches. 2. A light kindled to supply the want of the sun.Tōrch'-thīs'tle, n. p. 1394(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cereus, and of the order Cactaceæ;—so called from the resemblance of the stem to a wax candle, or from the prickly stems, used by the Indians for torches. Lee.Tōrch'wort, n. p. 1394A certain plant. More.Tōre, imp. p. 1394of tear. See TEAR.Tōre, n. p. 1394The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.Tōre, n. p. 1394(Arch.) A large, round molding on the base of a column; torus. Oxf. Gloss.To-reu'ma-tōg'ra-phy, n. p. 1394A description of sculptures and bass-relief.To-reu'ma-tōl'o-gy, n. p. 1394The art or description of sculpture and bass-relief; toreumatography.To-reu'tic, a. p. 1394(Sculp.) Highly finished or polished;—applied properly to figures in hard wood, ivory, and the like.Tō'rin-ēge', a. p. 1394(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Turin, or to the people of Turin.Tō'rin-ēge', n. p. 1394(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Turin; in the plural, the people of Turin.Tōr'ment, n. p. 1394(Antiq.) An engine for casting stones. [Obs.] 2. Extreme pain; anguish; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind. The more I see Pleasure about me, so much I feel Torment within me.…Tor-mĕnt’, v. t. p. 1394To put to extreme pain or anguish; to inflict excruciating misery upon, either of body or mind. Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Matt. viii. 29. 2. To pain; to distress; to…Tor-mĕnt'er, n. p. 1395One who, or that which, torments; a tormentor.Tor-mĕnt'ful, a. p. 1395Full of torment; causing, or accompanied by, torment; excruciating. [Rare.]Tōr'men-tĭl, n. p. 1395(Bot.) A medical plant (Potentilla tormentilla), the root of which is used as a powerful astringent, and for alleviating gripes or tormina in cases of diarrhea,—whence its name.Tor-mènt'ing-ly, adv. p. 1395In a tormenting manner; in a manner tending to produce distress or anguish.Tor-mēnt'or, n. p. 1395One who, or that which, torments; one who inflicts penal anguish or tortures. “Thoughts my tormentors, armed with deadly stings.” Milton. 2. (Agric.) An instrument for reducing a stiff soil…Tor-mĕnt'ress, n. p. 1395A female who torments. Fortune ordinarily cometh after to whip and punish them, as the scourge and tormentress of honor. Holland.Tôr'mi-nȧ, n. pl. p. 1395(Med.) Acute, colicky pain; gripes.Tôr'mi-noŭs, a. p. 1395Affected with tormina; griping.Tōrn, p. p. p. 1395of tear. See TEAR.Tor-nā'do, n. p. 1395A violent gust of wind, or a tempest distinguished by a whirling, progressive motion, usually accompanied with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and…To-rōse', a. p. 1395(Bot.) Swelling in knobs, like the veins and muscles; protuberant; as, a torose pericarp.To-rŏs'i-ty, n. p. 1395The state or quality of being torose.