Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
War'-wōrn, a. p. 1493Worn with military service; as, a war-worn coat; a war-worn soldier.Wā'ry, a. p. 1493Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; scrupulous; timorously prudent; circumspect. 2. Cautious; guarded; careful. [Rare.] We should be wary…Was p. 1494The past tense of the substantive verb to be; as, I was; he was.Wāse, n. p. 1494A bundle or wreath of straw, or other material, to relieve the pressure of burdens carried upon the head. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wash, v. t. p. 1494To cleanse by ablution, or by dipping or rubbing in water; to apply water or liquid to for the purpose of cleansing; to scrub with water, &c.; as, to wash the hands or body; to wash garments; to wash…Wash, v. i. p. 1494To perform the act of ablution. Wash in Jordan seven times. 2 Kings v. 10. 2. To perform the business of cleansing clothes in water. She can wash and scour. Shak. 3. To bear the operation of being…Wash, n. p. 1494The act of washing, or ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, the quantity of clothes washed at once. 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes…Wash, a. p. 1494Washy; weak. [Obs.] “Their bodies of so weak and wash a temper.” Beau. & Fl.Wash'a-ble, a. p. 1494Capable of being washed.Wash'-ball, n. p. 1494A ball of soap, to be used in washing the hands or face.Wash'-bōard, n. p. 1494A board with a fluted or ribbed surface on which clothes are rubbed in being washed. 2. A board running round and facing the walls of a room, next to the floor; mop-board. 3. (Naut.) A broad, thin…Wash'er, n. p. 1494One who, or that which, washes. 2. A ring of metal, leather, or other material, used to relieve friction, to secure tightness of joints, or for other purposes, as between the hub of a wheel and the…Wash'er-măn, n. p. 1494A man who washes clothes, especially for hire, or for others.Wash'er-wom-an, n. p. 1494A woman who washes clothes for others, or for hire.Wash'-gild'ing, n. p. 1494See WATER-GILDING.Wash'i-ness, n. p. 1494The state or quality of being washy, watery, or weak.Wash'ing, n. p. 1494The act of one who washes; the act of cleansing with water; abLution. 2. The clothes washed, especially those washed at one time; wash.Wash'ing-ma-chīne′, n. p. 1494A machine for washing clothes.Wash'ing-stŭff, n. p. 1494Any earthy deposit containing gold enough to pay for digging and washing it; — a term in use among gold-miners.Wash'-lĕath'er, n. p. 1494Split sheep-skin dressed with oil, in imitation of chamois or shammy, and used for various household purposes, as for dusting, cleaning glass or plate, and the like; also, alumed or buff leather for…Wash'-ŏff, a. p. 1494(Calico Printing.) Capable of being washed off; not permanent or durable; — said of fugitive colors not fixed by steaming or by other means.Wash'-pŏt, n. p. 1494A pot or vessel in which any thing is washed.Wash'-stănd, n. p. 1494A piece of furniture holding the ewer or pitcher, basin, and other requisites for washing the person. Simmonds.Wash'-tŭb, n. p. 1494A tub in which clothes are washed.Wash'y, a. p. 1494Watery; damp; soft. “Washy ooze.” Milton. 2. Lacking substance or solidity; watery; weak; thin; as, washy tea. “A polish . . . not over thin and washy.” Wotton. 3. Not firm or hardy; liable to sweat…Wasp, n. p. 1494(Entom.) An hymenopterous insect of the genus Vespa, allied to the hornet, and capable of stinging severely. The common wasp is V. vulgaris. The mouth is horny, the upper wings plicated, the abdomen…Wasp'-fly, n. p. 1494A species of fly resembling a wasp, but without a sting. Ogilvie.Wasp'ish, a. p. 1494Resembling a wasp in form; having a slender waist, like a wasp. 2. Quick to resent a trifling affront; irritable; irascible; petulant; snappish. Much do I suffer, much, to keep in peace This jealous…Wasp'ish-ly, adv. p. 1494In a waspish or snappish manner; irritably; petulantly.Wasp'ish-ness, n. p. 1494State or quality of being waspish; irritability; irascibility; snappishness.Wăs'sail, n. p. 1494An ancient expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to one. Geoffrey of Monmouth relates, on the authority of Walter Catenius, that this lady [Rowena], the daughter of…Was'sail, v. i. p. 1494To hold a festive occasion, especially one at which there was much drinking of healths; to carouse. “Spending all the day and a good part of the night in dancing, caroling, and wassailing.” Sidney.Was'sail or Wassail-bowl or Wassail-cup, a. p. 1494Of, pertaining to, or used for, wassail. “A wassail candle, my lord.” Shak. Wassail-bowl, a bowl in which the beverage called wassail was mixed and contained. “Spiced wassail-bowl.” Beau. & Fl. “When…Was'sail-er, n. p. 1494One who drinks wassail; one who engages in festivity, especially in drinking; a reveler. The rudeness, and swilled insolence Of such late wassailers Milton.Wast, imp. p. 1494of the substantive verb to be, in the second person singular, indicative.Wāst'aġe, n. p. 1494Loss by use, decay, and the like; waste.Wāste, v. t. p. 1494To bring to ruin; to devastate; to desolate; to destroy. “An hideous storm, that threatens to waste all the world.” Spencer. The Tiber Insults our walls, and wastes our fruitful grounds. Dryden. 2.…Wāste, v. i. p. 1494To be diminished; to lose bulk or substance gradually; to be consumed by any cause; to dwindle. The barrel of meal shall not waste. 1 Kings xvii. 14. But man dieth, and wasteth away. Job xiv. 10. 2.…Wāste, a. p. 1494Desolate; devastated; stripped; bare; hence, dreary; dismal. “The dismal situation, waste and wild.” Milton. His heart became appalled as he gazed forward into the waste darkness of futurity. W.…Waste, n. p. 1494The act of wasting, devastating, desolating, squandering, lavishing, expending unnecessarily, carelessly, and the like; devastation; consumption; needless destruction; loss without equivalent gain…Wāste'-bās'ket, n. p. 1495A small, light basket used in offices, libraries, and the like, for holding loose waste papers, and other refuse.Wāste'-bōard, n. p. 1495(Naut.) See WASH-BOARD, 3.Wāste'-bōok, n. p. 1495(Com.) A book in which rough entries of transactions are made, previous to their being carried into the journal.Wāste'ful, a. p. 1495Full of waste; destructive to property; ruinous; as, wasteful practices or negligence; wasteful expenses. 2. Expending property, or that which is valuable, without necessity or use; lavish; prodigal…Wāste'ful-ly, adv. p. 1495In a wasteful manner; with prodigality; lavishly. Her lavish hand is wastefully profuse. Dryden.Wāste'ful-ness, n. p. 1495The quality of being wasteful; the act or practice of expending what is valuable, without necessity or use; lavishness; prodigality.Wāste'-gāte, n. p. 1495A gate to let the water of a pond pass off when it is not wanted.Was'tel, n. p. 1495A kind of white and fine bread or cake. [Obs.]Was'tel-cāke, n. p. 1495A kind of fine white bread or cake; wastel. [Obs.] “The simnel bread and wastel-cakes, which were only used at the tables of the highest nobility.” W. Scott.Wāste'ness, n. p. 1495The state of being waste; a desolate state; solitude. [Obs.] That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness. Zeph. i. 15.Wāste'-pīpe, n. p. 1495A pipe for conveying off waste water, and the like.Wāst'er, n. p. 1495One who wastes; one who squanders property; one who consumes extravagantly or without use. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him who is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. Sconces are…Wāste'thrĭft, n. p. 1495A spendthrift. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Wāste'-wēir, n. p. 1495An overfall or weir for the superfluous water of a canal. [Written also waste-weir.]Wāst'ing, p. a. p. 1495Diminishing by dissipation, or by great destruction; as, a wasting disease.Wāst’or, n. p. 1495A waster; a thief. [Obs. or rare.] Knights are not more needed now to protect the husbandman against wastours and wicked men, than mighty hunters and hawkers are for ridding them of wild fowl.…Wāst'o-rel, n. p. 1495The same as WASTREL. [Obs.]Wāst'rel, n. p. 1495A state of waste or common; waste or common ground. [Obs.] 2. Waste substances; any thing cast away as bad or imperfect. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Watch, n. p. 1495The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or…Watch, v. i. p. 1495To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil. I have two nights watched with you. Shak. 2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to…