Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Tŏr'ri-çĕl'li-an, a. p. 1395Of, or pertaining to, Torricelli, an Italian philosopher and mathematician, who discovered the principle on which the barometer is constructed. Torricellian tube, a glass tube thirty or more inches…Tŏr'rid, a. p. 1395Parched; dried with heat; as, a torrid plain or desert. “Barca or Cyrene’s torrid soil.” Milton. 2. Violently hot; burning or parching. “Torrid heat.” Milton. Torrid zone (Geog.), that space or broad…Tor-rĭd'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1395Torridness. [Rare.]Tŏr'rid-ness, n. p. 1395The state of being torrid or parched.Tōr'ril, n. p. 1395A worthless woman, or horse. Halliwell.Tŏr'rock, n. p. 1395(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Larus, and of the gull kind. [Prov. Eng.]Tôrse, n. p. 1395(Her.) A wreath.Tôr'sel, n. p. 1395Any thing in a twisted form; as, torsels for mantel-trees. Moxon.Tôr'si-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1395The disposition to untwist after being twisted; as, the torsibility of a rope.Tôr'sion, n. p. 1395The act of turning or twisting; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or…Torsion balance p. 1395an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a very slender wire conveying at its lower extremity an horizontal bar or…Tōr'sion-al, a. p. 1395Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, torsion, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force.Tōrsk, n. p. 1395(Ichth.) A species of cod (Brosmius vulgaris); it is found among the North British islands.Tôr'so, n. p. 1395(Sculp.) The trunk of a statue, mutilated of head and limbs; as, the torso of Hercules.Tōrt, n. p. 1395Mischief: calamity. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. (Law.) Any wrong or injury; a wrongful act, for which an action will lie; a form of action, in some States, for a wrong or injury. Blackstone.Tôr/teau, n. p. 1395(Her.) A roundel of a red color.Tōrt'-fēas'or, n. p. 1395(Law.) A wrong-doer; a trespasser. Wharton.Tôr'ti-cŏl'lis, n. p. 1395(Med.) A rheumatic affection of the muscles of one side of the neck; wry-neck.Tōrt'ile, a. p. 1395Twisted; wreathed; coiled. 2. (Bot.) Coiled like a rope; as, a tortile awn.Tor-tĭl'i-ty, n. p. 1395The state of being tortile, twisted, or wreathed.Tortillā, n. p. 1395A thin, unleavened cake of maize flour, baked on a heated iron or stone. Velasquez.Tōr'tion, n. p. 1395Torment: pain. [Obs.]Tōr'tious, a. p. 1395Injurious; done wrongfully, or by wrong. “Tortious wrong.” Spenser. 2. (Law.) Implying tort, or injury for which the law gives damages.Tôr'tiōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1395In a tortious manner; injuriously.Tōrt'ive, a. p. 1395Twisted; wreathed. Shak.Tōr'toise, n. p. 1395(Zoöl.) A reptile more or less flattened from above, and inclosed in a case formed by two leathery or scaly shields, and having horny jaws in the place of teeth. The upper shield is called the…Tôr'toise-shĕll, n. p. 1395The shell, or horny scutes or plates of the tortoise, used in inlaying and in various manufactures; especially, the shell of a species of sea-turtle, the hawk's-bill turtle (Chelōnia imbricata).…Tōr'trix, n. p. 1395(Zoöl.) A genus of serpents found in the tropical regions of America. Eng. Cyc. 2. (Entom.) A genus of lepidopterous insects, the larvæ of which live in cylindrical tubes, formed by rolling up the…Tōrt'ū-lōŭs, a. p. 1395(Nat. Hist.) Bulged out at intervals, like a cord having knots upon it. Buchanan.Tōrt'ū-ōse', a. p. 1395Wreathed; twisted; winding. London.Tōrt-ū-ōs'i-ty, n. p. 1395The state of being tortuous or twisted.Tôrt'ū-oŭs, a. p. 1395Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted; winding; as, a tortuous train; a tortuous leaf or corolla. The badger made his dark and tortuous hole on the side of every hill where the copse-wood…Tōrt'ū-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1395In a tortuous or winding manner.Tōrt'ū-oŭs-ness, n. p. 1395The state of being tortuous or twisted.Tōrt'ūr-a-ble, a. p. 1395Capable of being tortured.Tōrt'ūre, n. p. 1395Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment. “Ghastly spasm or racking torture.” Milton. 2. Especially, severe pain inflicted judicially, either as a punishment for a crime, or for…Tört'üre, v. t. p. 1396To put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex. 2. To punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture an accused person. He may at pleasure whip, hang, or torture. Shak. 3. To keep…Tört'ür-er, n. p. 1396One who tortures; a tormentor. Bacon.Tôrt'ür-ing-ly, adv. p. 1396In a torturing manner; so as to torture or torment. Beau. & Fl.Tōrt'ūr-oüs, a. p. 1396Involving, or pertaining to, torture. [Rare.] “The spectators who shed tears at the torturous crucifixion.” Disraeli.Tŏr'u-lōse', a. p. 1396(Bot.) Cylindrical and swelling into a series of knobs, like a cord with knots.Tŏr'u-loŭs, a. p. 1396The same as TORULOSE.Tō'rus, n. p. 1396(Arch.) A large molding used in the bases of columns. Its profile is semicircular. Brande. 2. (Bot.) The receptacle, or part of the flower on which the carpels stand.Tôrved, a. p. 1396Stern; grim; torvous. [Obs.] But yesterday his breath Awed Rome, and his least torved frown was death. Webster, 1654.Tôr'vi-ty, n. p. 1396Sourness or severity of countenance. [Obs.]Tôr'voŭs, a. p. 1396Sour of aspect; stern; of a severe countenance. [Obs.] “That torvous, sour look produced by anger and hatred.” Derham.Tō'ry, n. p. 1396(Eng. Politics.) A member of the conservative party, as opposed to the whig or progressive party; an earnest supporter of royal and ecclesiastical authority. ☞ The word tory first occurs in English…Tō'ry, a. p. 1396Of, or pertaining to, the tories.Tō'ry-ism, n. p. 1396The principles of the tories.Tōze, v. t. p. 1396To tease, as wool. [Obs. or local.]Tōsh, n. p. 1396A projecting tooth; a tusk. [Obs.]Tŏss, v. t. p. 1396To throw with the hand; especially, to throw with the palm of the hand upward, or to throw upward; as, to toss a ball. 2. To lift or throw up with a sudden or violent motion; as, to toss the head; or…Tŏss, v. i. p. 1396To roll and tumble; to be in violent commotion; to writhe; to fling. To toss and fling, and to be restless, only frets and enrages our pain. Tillotson. 2. To be tossed. Shak. To toss for, to gamble…Tŏss, n. p. 1396A throwing upward, or with a jerk; the act of tossing; as, the toss of a ball. 2. A throwing up of the head; a particular manner of raising the head with a jerk.Tōs'sel, n. p. 1396See TASSEL.Tōss'er, n. p. 1396One who tosses.Tŏss'i-ly, adv. p. 1396In a tossy manner; contemptuously. [Rare.] C. Kingsley.Tōss'ing, n. p. 1396The act of throwing upward; a rising and falling suddenly; a rolling and tumbling. 2. (Mining.) A process which consists in suspending ores by violent agitation in water, in order to separate the…Tōss'pŏt, n. p. 1396A toper; one habitually given to strong drink; a drunkard. Shak.Tŏss'y, a. p. 1396Tossing the head, as in scorn or pride; hence, proud; contemptuous; affectedly indifferent. [Rare.] C. Kingsley.