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.
Ŭn'der-ling, n. p. 1439An inferior person or agent; a mean, sorry fellow. Yet every one shall make him underling. Milton.Ŭn'der-lip, n. p. 1439The lower lip.Ŭn'der-lŏck, n. p. 1439A lock of wool hanging under the belly of a sheep.Ŭn'der-lȳ'ing, a. p. 1439Lying beneath or inferior in position; as, the underlying strata of a locality;—often applied particularly to granite, because rarely found resting on strata of other rocks.Ŭn'der-mȧst'ed, a. p. 1439(Naut.) Having masts under the usual dimensions;—said of vessels. Totten.Ŭn'der-mȧs'ter, n. p. 1439A master subordinate to the principal master.Ŭn′der-mēal, n. p. 1439The after-part of the day; the afternoon. I think I am furnished with Cattern [Catharine] pears for one under-meal. B. Jonson. 2. Hence, a nap taken in the afternoon; a siesta; doze; sleep. In a…Ŭn'der-mīne', v. t. p. 1439To excavate the earth beneath, especially for the purpose of causing to fall or be overthrown; to form a mine under; to sap; as, to undermine a wall. “A vast rock undermined from one end to the…Ūn'der-mīn'er, n. p. 1439One who undermines, saps, or excavates; one who secretly overthrows; as, an underminer of the church. Nobody is bound to look upon his backbiter or his underminer, as his friend. South.Ŭn'der-mĭn'is-ter, v. t. p. 1439To serve or minister to in an inferior or subordinate position. [Obs.]Ŭn'der-mirth, n. p. 1439Mirth concealed or restrained. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Ūn'der-mōst, a. p. 1439Lowest in place, rank, state, or condition. “The party that is undermost.” Addison.Un'dern, n. p. 1439The third hour of the day, or nine o'clock in the morning, according to ancient reckoning. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] In a bed . . . still he lay Till it was past undern of the day. Chaucer.Ŭn/der-nēath’, adv. p. 1439Beneath; below; in a lower place. “Or sullen Mole that runneth underneath.” Milton. The slate did not lie flat upon it, but left a free passage underneath. Addison.Ūn'der-nēath', prep. p. 1439Under; beneath. Underneath this stone doth lie As much beauty as could die. B. Jonson.Ŭn'der-ŏf-fi-cer, n. p. 1439A subordinate officer.Ŭn/der-pāy', v. t. p. 1439To pay too little.Ŭn/der-peep', v. t. p. 1439To peep under. [Rare.] Shak.Ŭn'der-pēo'pled, a. p. 1439Not fully peopled.Ŭn’der-pĭn’, v. t. p. 1439To lay stones under, as the sills of a building, on which it is to rest. 2. To support by some solid foundation; or to place something underneath for support.Ūn'der-pĭn'ning, n. p. 1439The act of one who underpins; the act of placing stones under sills. 2. That by which a building is underpinned; the stones on which a building immediately rests.Ŭn'der-plŏt, n. p. 1439A series of events in a play, proceeding collaterally with the main story, and subservient to it. Dryden. 2. A clandestine scheme.Ŭn'der-plāy, v. i. p. 1439To play an inferior part. [Obs.]Ŭn'der-poiṣē', v. t. p. 1439To weigh or rate below desert. [Rare.] “His worth being much underpoised by the uneven scale that currents all things by the outward stamp of opinion.” Marston.Ŭn'der-prāise', v. t. p. 1439To praise below desert.Ŭn/der-prīze′, v. t. p. 1439To value at less than the worth; to undervalue.Un'der-prōp', v. t. p. 1439To prop from beneath; to support; to uphold. “Underprop the head that bears the crown.” Fenton.Un'der-pro-pōr'tioned, a. p. 1439Of small or inferior proportions; small; poor. “Scanty and under-proportioned returns of civility.” Collier.Un'der-prôp'per, n. p. 1439One who, or that which, underprops or supports.Ŭn'der-put', v. t. p. 1439To put under or beneath.Un′der-rāte′, v. t. p. 1439To rate too low; to rate below the value; to undervalue.Ŭn'der-rāte, n. p. 1439A price less than the worth; as, to sell a thing at an underrate.Un'der-rĕck'ŏn, v. t. p. 1439To reckon below what is right or proper; to underrate. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Ŭn'der-rŭn', v. t. p. 1439To run or pass under; especially, to pass along and under, as a cable, for the purpose of taking in, or of examining, the condition of it. ☞ The cable passes over the bows and stern of the boat used…Ŭn'der-sāil', adv. p. 1439(Naut.) (a.) With anchor up, and under the influence of sails. (b.) With sails set, though the anchor is down. Totten.Ŭn'der-săt'ū-rā'ted, a. p. 1439Not fully saturated.Ŭn'der-sāy', v. t. p. 1439To say by way of derogation or contradiction. [Obs.] Spencer.Un'der-scōre',, v. t. p. 1439To draw a mark or line under.Un'der-sell', v. t. p. 1439To sell the same articles at a lower price than; to sell cheaper than.Un'der-sêt', v. t. p. 1439To prop or support. [Rare.] Bacon.Ŭn'der-sĕt', n. p. 1439(Naut.) A current of water below the surface, especially when moving in a direction contrary to that of the wind. Mar. Dict.Ŭn'der-sĕt'ter, n. p. 1439One who, or that which, under-sets or supports; hence, a prop; a pedestal; a support.Un'der-sêt'ting, n. p. 1439Something set or built under as a support; the lower part; the pedestal. Wotton.Un'der-shā'p'en, a. p. 1439Under the usual shape or size; small. “His dwarf a vicious undershapen thing.” Tennyson.Un'der-shêr'iff, n. p. 1439A sheriff's deputy.Un-der-shĕr'iff-ry, n. p. 1439The office of an under-sheriff. [Obs.]Un'der-shŏt, a. p. 1439Moved by water passing beneath; —said of a water-wheel, and opposed to overshot; as, an undershot wheel.Ŭn'der-shrīēv'al-ty, n. p. 1439The same as UNDER-SHERIFFRY, q. v.Un'der-shrûb, n. p. 1439(Bot.) A low shrub, permanent and woody at the base, but with branches decaying yearly. Martyn.Ŭn'der-shrūb, a. p. 1439Partly shrub-like. Gray.Un'der-sign', v. t. p. 1439To write one's name at the foot or end of, as a letter or any legal instrument. The undersigned, the person whose name is signed, or the persons whose names are signed, at the end; the subscriber or…Ŭn'der-sized, a. p. 1439Of a size less than is common.Un'der-skin'k'er, n. p. 1439An under-tapster. [Obs.]Ŭn'der-soil, n. p. 1439Soil beneath the surface; sub-soil.Ŭn'der-sŏng, n. p. 1439The burden of a song; the chorus. Menalcas shall sustain his under-song. Dryden. 2. Subordinate and accompanying meaning; accompaniment; under-tone. In the very best [poetry] there is often an…Ŭn'der-spärred, a. p. 1439The same as UNDER-MASTED. See UNDER-MASTED.Un'der-stănd', v. t. p. 1439To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehend the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a…Un'der-stând', v. i. p. 1439To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent and conscious being. Imparadised in you, in whom alone I understand, and grow, and see. Donne. 2. To be informed by another; to…Un'der-ständ'a-ble, a. p. 1440Capable of being understood; intelligible. [Rare.] Chillingworth.Un'der-ständ'er, n. p. 1440One who understands or knows by experience. [Rare.] Beau. & Fl.