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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. 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.
  2. Ūn'der-nēath', prep.p. 1439Under; beneath. Underneath this stone doth lie As much beauty as could die. B. Jonson.
  3. Ŭn'der-ŏf-fi-cer, n.p. 1439A subordinate officer.
  4. Ŭn/der-pāy', v. t.p. 1439To pay too little.
  5. Ŭn/der-peep', v. t.p. 1439To peep under. [Rare.] Shak.
  6. Ŭn'der-pēo'pled, a.p. 1439Not fully peopled.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Ŭn'der-plāy, v. i.p. 1439To play an inferior part. [Obs.]
  11. 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.
  12. Ŭn'der-prāise', v. t.p. 1439To praise below desert.
  13. Ŭn/der-prīze′, v. t.p. 1439To value at less than the worth; to undervalue.
  14. Un'der-prōp', v. t.p. 1439To prop from beneath; to support; to uphold. “Underprop the head that bears the crown.” Fenton.
  15. Un'der-pro-pōr'tioned, a.p. 1439Of small or inferior proportions; small; poor. “Scanty and under-proportioned returns of civility.” Collier.
  16. Un'der-prôp'per, n.p. 1439One who, or that which, underprops or supports.
  17. Ŭn'der-put', v. t.p. 1439To put under or beneath.
  18. Un′der-rāte′, v. t.p. 1439To rate too low; to rate below the value; to undervalue.
  19. Ŭn'der-rāte, n.p. 1439A price less than the worth; as, to sell a thing at an underrate.
  20. Un'der-rĕck'ŏn, v. t.p. 1439To reckon below what is right or proper; to underrate. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
  21. 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…
  22. 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.
  23. Ŭn'der-săt'ū-rā'ted, a.p. 1439Not fully saturated.
  24. Ŭn'der-sāy', v. t.p. 1439To say by way of derogation or contradiction. [Obs.] Spencer.
  25. Un'der-scōre',, v. t.p. 1439To draw a mark or line under.
  26. Un'der-sell', v. t.p. 1439To sell the same articles at a lower price than; to sell cheaper than.
  27. Un'der-sêt', v. t.p. 1439To prop or support. [Rare.] Bacon.
  28. 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.
  29. Ŭn'der-sĕt'ter, n.p. 1439One who, or that which, under-sets or supports; hence, a prop; a pedestal; a support.
  30. Un'der-sêt'ting, n.p. 1439Something set or built under as a support; the lower part; the pedestal. Wotton.
  31. Un'der-shā'p'en, a.p. 1439Under the usual shape or size; small. “His dwarf a vicious undershapen thing.” Tennyson.
  32. Un'der-shêr'iff, n.p. 1439A sheriff's deputy.
  33. Un-der-shĕr'iff-ry, n.p. 1439The office of an under-sheriff. [Obs.]
  34. Un'der-shŏt, a.p. 1439Moved by water passing beneath; —said of a water-wheel, and opposed to overshot; as, an undershot wheel.
  35. Ŭn'der-shrīēv'al-ty, n.p. 1439The same as UNDER-SHERIFFRY, q. v.
  36. Un'der-shrûb, n.p. 1439(Bot.) A low shrub, permanent and woody at the base, but with branches decaying yearly. Martyn.
  37. Ŭn'der-shrūb, a.p. 1439Partly shrub-like. Gray.
  38. 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…
  39. Ŭn'der-sized, a.p. 1439Of a size less than is common.
  40. Un'der-skin'k'er, n.p. 1439An under-tapster. [Obs.]
  41. Ŭn'der-soil, n.p. 1439Soil beneath the surface; sub-soil.
  42. 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…
  43. Ŭn'der-spärred, a.p. 1439The same as UNDER-MASTED. See UNDER-MASTED.
  44. 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…
  45. 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…
  46. Un'der-ständ'a-ble, a.p. 1440Capable of being understood; intelligible. [Rare.] Chillingworth.
  47. Un'der-ständ'er, n.p. 1440One who understands or knows by experience. [Rare.] Beau. & Fl.
  48. Un'der-stănd'ing, p. a.p. 1440Knowing; skillful; as, he is an understanding man.
  49. Un'der-ständ'ing, n.p. 1440The act of a person who understands any thing (in the several senses of the word); knowledge; discernment; interpretation; explanation; belief. 2. An agreement of opinion or feeling; adjustment of…
  50. Ŭn/der-ständ'ing-ly, adv.p. 1440In an understanding manner; intelligibly; with full knowledge or comprehension; as, to vote upon a question understandingly; to act or judge understandingly. The gospel may be neglected, but it can…
  51. Ŭn'der-stāte', v. t.p. 1440To state or represent less strongly than the truth will bear.
  52. Un'der-stāte/ment, n.p. 1440The act of understating, or that which is understated; a statement below the truth.
  53. Ŭn'der-stōōd', imp. & p. p.p. 1440of understand.
  54. Un'der-strāp'per, n.p. 1440A petty fellow; an inferior agent. This was going to the fountain-head at once, not applying to the understrappers. Goldsmith.
  55. Ŭn’der-strā’tum, n.p. 1440The bed or layer of earth on which the mold or soil rests; sub-soil.
  56. Ŭn'der-strōke', v. t.p. 1440To underline or underscore.
  57. Ŭn'der-sūit, n.p. 1440A suit worn under another suit.
  58. Ŭn'der-tāk'a-ble, a.p. 1440Capable of being undertaken. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
  59. Un'der-tāke', v. t.p. 1440To take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt. To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt. Milton. 2. Specifically…
  60. Ŭn-der-tāke’, v. i.p. 1440To take upon or assume any business or province. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. Is. xxxviii. 14. 2. To venture; to hazard. [Obs. or rare.] It is the cowish tenor of his spirit That dare…