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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
War'rant-er, n. p. 1493One who warrants, gives authority, or legally empowers. 2. One who assures, or covenants to assure; one who contracts to secure another in a right, or to make good any defect of title or quality; as…War'ran-tise, n. p. 1493Authority; security; warranty. [Obs.] Shak.War'ran'tize, v. t. p. 1493To warrant. [Obs.]Warrant-or, n. p. 1493One who warrants.War'ran-ty, n. p. 1493(Anc. Law.) A covenant real, whereby the grantor of an estate of freehold and his heirs were bound to warrant and defend the title, and, in case of eviction by title paramount, to yield other lands…War'ran-ty, v. t. p. 1493To warrant; to guaranty.Wăr'rāy, v. t. p. 1493To make war upon. [Obs.] Six years were run since first, in martial guise, The Christian lords warrayed the eastern land. Fairfax.Warre, a. p. 1493Worse. [Obs.] They argue the world is much warre than it wont. Spenser.War'ren, n. p. 1493(Eng. Law.) (a.) A place privileged, by prescription or grant from the king, for keeping certain beasts and fowls called beasts and fowls of warren. (b.) A privilege which one has in his lands, by…Wăr'ren-er, n. p. 1493The keeper of a warren.War'ri-āng'gle, n. p. 1493A hawk. [Obs.] Ainsworth.War'rior, n. p. 1493A man engaged in war or military life; a soldier; a man noted for valor and prowess; a champion. “Warriors old with ordered spear and shield.” Milton.War'rior-ess, n. p. 1493A female warrior. [Obs.] Spencer.War'ry, v. t. p. 1493To curse, execrate, or condemn; to damn; also, to vex or worry. [Obs.]War'-sōng, n. p. 1493A song exciting to war; especially, among the American Indians, a song at the war-dance, full of incitements to military ardor.Wart, n. p. 1493A small, hard tumor on the skin formed by an enlargement of its vascular papillae, and a thickening of the epidermis which covers them. Good. 2. (Bot.) A glandular excrescence or hardened…Wart'-crĕss, n. p. 1493(Bot.) A low, dwarfish, annual plant of the genus Senebiera, having small, whitish flowers. Gray.Wart'ed, a. p. 1493(Bot.) Having little knobs on the surface; verrucose; as, a warted capsule.Wart'-hŏg, n. p. 1493(Zoöl.) A pachyderm of the genus Phacocherus, having a large head, tusks of remarkable size inclining laterally upward, and a thick, fleshy lobe on each cheek, resembling a large wart, whence the…Wārt'less, a. p. 1493Having no wart.Wart'wort, n. p. 1493(Bot.) (a.) A plant of the genus Euphorbia, the capsule of which is studded with hard, warty knobs. (b.) A plant of the genus Heliotropium. (c.) A plant of the genus Lapsana.Wart'y, a. p. 1493Having warts; full of warts; overgrown with warts; as, a warty leaf. Lee. 2. Of the nature of warts.War'-whōop, n. p. 1493The cry or shout uttered by Indians in war.War'wick-ite, n. p. 1493(Min.) A dark-brown or black mineral, consisting chiefly of boracic acid, titanic acid, magnesia, and oxide of iron. Dana.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.