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.
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…Watch, v. t. p. 1495To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch a rogue; to watch the progress of a bill in the…Watch'-bār'rel, n. p. 1495The brass box in a watch, containing the main-spring. Simmonds.Watch'-bell, n. p. 1495(Naut.) A bell struck when the half-hour glass is run out. Craig.Watch'-bill, n. p. 1495(Naut.) A list of the officers and crew of a ship, with their stations. Totten.Watch'-cāse, n. p. 1495The case or outside covering of a watch; also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept.Watch'-dōg, n. p. 1495A dog kept to watch and guard premises or property, and to give notice of the approach of intruders.Watch'er, n. p. 1495One who watches; one who sits up or continues awake; a diligent observer; especially, one who attends upon the sick during the night.Watch'et, a. p. 1495Pale or light blue. [Obs.] “Watchet mantles.” Spenser. Who stares in Germany at watchet eyes? Dryden.Watch’ful, a. p. 1495Full of watch; vigilant; attentive; careful to observe; observant; cautious; — with of before the thing to be regulated; as, to be watchful of one’s behavior; and against before the thing to be…Watch'ful-ly, adv. p. 1495In a watchful manner; with careful observation of the approach of evil, or attention to duty; vigilantly; heedfully.Watch'ful-ness, n. p. 1495The state or quality of being watchful; wakefulness; indisposition to sleep; hence, careful and diligent observation for the purpose of preventing or escaping danger, or of avoiding mistakes and…Watch'-glass, n. p. 1495A concavo-convex glass for covering the face or dial of a watch. 2. (Naut.) A half-hour glass, used to measure the time of a watch on deck.Watch'-guārd, n. p. 1495A chain or cord by which a watch is attached to the person.Watch'-gŭn, n. p. 1495(Naut.) The gun fired on ship-board when the watch is set at night and relieved in the morning.Watch'-house, n. p. 1495A house in which a watch or guard is placed. 2. A place where persons under temporary arrest by the police of a city are kept; a lock-up.Watch'-light, n. p. 1495A light used for watching or sitting up in the night; especially, a candle formerly used for this purpose, having a rush wick.Watch'-mak'er, n. p. 1495One whose occupation it is to make and repair watches.Watch'man, n. p. 1495One set to watch; a person who keeps guard; a sentinel. 2. One who guards the streets of a city or building by night. Watchman's rattle, an instrument having at the end of a handle a revolving arm…Watch'-pā'per, n. p. 1495An old-fashioned fancy ornament or thin tissue lining for the inside of a watch-case. Simmonds.Watch'-tow'er, n. p. 1495A tower on which a sentinel is placed to watch for enemies or the approach of danger.Watch'-word, n. p. 1495The word given to sentinels, and to such as have occasion to visit the guards, used as a signal by which a friend is known from an enemy, or a person who has a right to pass the watch from one who…Wā'ter, n. p. 1495The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, &c. “We will drink water.” Shak. “Powers of fire, air, water, and earth.” Milton. ☞ When pure, water is…Wa'ter, v. t. p. 1495To wet or overflow with water; as, to water land. “With tears watering the ground.” Milton. 2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses. 3. To wet…Wă'ter, v. i. p. 1496To shed water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water. 2. To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water. The mouth waters, a phrase denoting that a person has a longing desire…Wa'ter-a-ge, n. p. 1496Money paid for transportation of goods, &c., by water. [Eng.] Simmonds.