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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Un'der-stănd'ing, p. a. p. 1440Knowing; skillful; as, he is an understanding man.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…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…Ŭn'der-stāte', v. t. p. 1440To state or represent less strongly than the truth will bear.Un'der-stāte/ment, n. p. 1440The act of understating, or that which is understated; a statement below the truth.Ŭn'der-stōōd', imp. & p. p. p. 1440of understand.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.Ŭn’der-strā’tum, n. p. 1440The bed or layer of earth on which the mold or soil rests; sub-soil.Ŭn'der-strōke', v. t. p. 1440To underline or underscore.Ŭn'der-sūit, n. p. 1440A suit worn under another suit.Ŭn'der-tāk'a-ble, a. p. 1440Capable of being undertaken. [Obs.] Chillingworth.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…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…Un'der-tāk'er, n. p. 1440One who undertakes; one who engages in any project or business. 2. One who stipulates or covenants to perform any work for another. “To sign deputations for undertakers to furnish their proportions…Ŭn'der-tāk'ing, n. p. 1440That which is undertaken; any business, work, or project which a person engages in, or attempts to perform; an enterprise. 2. Specifically, the business of an undertaker, as the management of…Un'der-tăxed, a. p. 1440Taxed too little, or at a lower rate than others.Ŭn'der-tēn'an-cy, n. p. 1440Tenancy or tenure under a tenant or lessee; the tenure of an under-tenant.Ŭn'der-tēn'ant, n. p. 1440The tenant of a tenant; one who holds lands or tenements of a tenant.Ŭn'der-tide or Ŭn'der-time, n. p. 1440The under or after part of the day; evening. [Obs.] He, coming home at under-time, there found The fairest creature that he ever saw. Spencer. ☞ It has no connection with undern, which refers to an…Ŭn'der-tōne, n. p. 1440A low or subordinate tone or utterance.Ŭn’der-to͝ok’, imp. p. 1440of undertake. See UNDERTAKE.Ŭn’der-tōw, n. p. 1440A current of water below, in a different direction from that on the surface.Ŭn'der-tûrn', v. t. p. 1440To turn upside down; to subvert. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Un'der-vāl'ū-ā'tion, n. p. 1440The act of valuing below the real worth; rate not equal to the worth.Ŭn'der-vā'lūe, v. t. p. 1440To value, rate, or estimate below the real worth. 2. To esteem lightly; to treat as of little worth; to despise; to hold in mean estimation. In comparison of the discharge of my duties, I undervalued…Ŭn'der-văl'ue, n. p. 1440Low rate or price; a price less than the real worth. Hamilton.Ŭn'der-vāl'ū-er, n. p. 1440One who undervalues or esteems lightly. Walton.Ŭn'der-vērse, n. p. 1440The lower or second verse. [Obs.] Spenser.Ŭn'der-ween', v. t. p. 1440To undervalue. [Obs.]Ŭn'der-wĕnt', imp. p. 1440of undergo. See UNDERGO.Ŭn'der-wo͝od, n. p. 1440Small trees that grow among large trees; coppice.Ŭn'der-work', v. t. p. 1440To do like work at a less price than; as, one mason may underwork another; a shoemaker can not underwork a joiner. 2. To undermine; to destroy by clandestine measures. But thou from loving England…Ŭn’der-work’, v. i. p. 1440To work or labor upon less, or for a less price than is sufficient or proper. 2. To work or operate in secret or clandestinely. [Rare.] B. Jonson.Ŭn'der-work'er, n. p. 1440One who underworks. 2. An inferior or subordinate workman.Ŭn'der-world, n. p. 1440The lower or inferior world. “That over-spreads this under-world.” Daniel. 2. The inferior or subordinate portion of mankind. [Rare.] Atterbury. 3. The portion of the world which is beneath or beyond…Ŭn'der-wrīte', v. t. p. 1440To write under something else; to subscribe. The change I have made I have here underwritten. Saunderson. 2. To subscribe one's name to for insurance; to set one's name to, as a policy of insurance…Un'der-wrīte', v. i. p. 1440To practice insuring.Ŭn'der-writ'er, n. p. 1440One who insures; an insurer; — so called because he underwrites his name to the conditions of the policy.Ŭn-de-sĕrv'er, n. p. 1440One of no merit; one who is not deserving or worthy. [Obs.] Shak.Un/de-sign'ing, p. a. p. 1440Sincere; upright; artless; having no artful or fraudulent purpose; as, it is base to practice on undesigning minds.Un'de-stroy'a-ble, a. p. 1440Indestructible. [Obs.] Boyle.Un'de-tĕr'mi-na-ble, a. p. 1440Indeterminable. [Obs.]Un'de-tēr'mi-nate, a. p. 1440Not determinate; not settled or certain; indeterminate. [Obs.]Un'de-tēr'mi-nate-ness, n. p. 1440Uncertainty; unsettled state; indecision; indeterminateness. [Obs.]Un'de-tēr'mi-nā'tion, n. p. 1440Indecision; uncertainty of mind; indetermination. [Obs.]Un'de-tēr'mined, a. p. 1440Not determined; not settled; not decided. 2. Not limited; not defined; indeterminate; unbounded.Un-dē'vi-ā'ting, a. p. 1440Not deviating; not departing from the way, or from a rule, principle, or purpose; steady; regular; as, an undeviating course of virtue. 2. Not erring; not wandering; not crooked.Un-dē'vi-ā'ting-ly, adv. p. 1440In an undeviating manner; without wandering; steadily; regularly.Un-dēv'il, v. t. p. 1440To free from possession by a devil or evil spirit. [Obs. and rare.] The boy . . . would not be undeviled by all their exorcisms. Fuller.Ŭn/de-vōte'ly, adv. p. 1440Undevoutly. [Obs.]Un-did', imp. p. 1440of undo. See UNDO.Un-dīg'e-nōus, a. p. 1440Generated by water. [Rare.] Kirwan.Un-dight', v. t. p. 1440To put off. [Obs.] Spencer.Un-dig'ni-fied, a. p. 1440Not dignified; occasioning loss of dignity; common; mean.Un-dīne', n. p. 1440One of a class of fabled water-spirits. [Written also ondine.]Un-di'o-cēsed, a. p. 1440Unprovided with a diocese; stripped of a diocese. [Rare.] Milton.