Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
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.
Wā'ter-shĕd, n. p. 1497A range of high land lying between two river-basins, and discharging its waters into them from opposite directions.Wa'ter-shield, n. p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant having floating shield-shaped leaves.Wa'ter-shoot, n. p. 1497A sprig or shoot from the root or stock of a tree. [Prov. Eng.] 2. (Arch.) That which serves to guard from falling water, as over a door; a drip-stone. 3. A trough for discharging water.Wa'ter-shrew, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) An animal of the genus Sorex (S. fodiens), which feeds upon insects obtained from the water; a species of shrew-mouse. Bell.Wa'ter-snäil, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) A group of gasteropods found in water. 2. (Mech.) The Archimedes screw. [Rare.]Wa'ter-snäke, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) One of a family of snakes that are found in water, and are unable to exist out of it.Water-sōak, v. t. p. 1497To soak in water; to fill the interstices of with water.Wā'ter-sōl'dier, n. p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Stratiotes, with long, sword-like leaves, and flowers resembling plumes of white feathers; — called also water-aloe. London.Wa'ter-spăn'iel, n. p. 1497A dog so called from its aquatic habits.Wă'ter-speed'well, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A plant of the genus Veronica; a species of speedwell.Wa'ter-spī'der, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) The same as WATER-TICK, q. v.Wā'ter-spout,, n. p. 1497A remarkable meteorological phenomenon, of the nature of a tornado or whirlwind, usually observed over the sea, but sometimes over the land. ☞ Tall columns, apparently of cloud, and reaching from the…Wa'ter-sprite, n. p. 1497A sprite or spirit inhabiting the water. Drake.Wa’ter-ständ’ing, a. p. 1497Wet with water. [Rare.] “An orphan’s water-standing eye.” Shak.Wa'ter-tăb'by, n. p. 1497A kind of waved or watered tabby.Wa'ter-tā'ble, n. p. 1497(Arch.) A molding, or other projection, in the wall of a building, to throw off the water. 2. (Steam-boilers.) A thin space for water, communicating with the other water-spaces, and inclosed by…Wa'ter-tāp, n. p. 1497A tap or cock at which water is or may be drawn.Waʹter-tāth, n. p. 1497A species of coarse grass growing in wet grounds, and supposed to be injurious to sheep. [Prov. Eng.]Wa'ter-ther-mōm'e-ter, n. p. 1497A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which water attains its maximum density. This is about 39° Fahrenheit; and from that point down to 32°…Waʹter-thief, n. p. 1497A pirate. [Rare.] “Water-thieves and land-thieves; I mean pirates.” Shak.Wa'ter-tick, n. p. 1497(Zoöl.) One of a numerous family of minute animals belonging to the ticks, or mites, found in water;—called also water-spider. Baird.Wa'ter-tight, a. p. 1497So tight as to retain or not to admit water, or to suffer it to escape; not leaky.Wa'ter-trē'foil, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A plant (Menyanthes trifoliata); marsh-trefoil; bog-bean or buck-bean.Wa'ter-trŭnk, n. p. 1497A deal cistern lined with lead to hold water. Simmonds.Wa'ter-tū'pe-lo, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A large species of tupelo, growing in swamps in the southern parts of the United States, the fruit of which is sometimes used for a preserve.Wa'ter-twīst, n. p. 1497A kind of cotton twist. Simmonds.Wā'ter-vīne, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A plant of the genus Phytocrene, found in Martaban, the stalk of which abounds with a tasteless fluid resembling water, used by the natives as a drink. Lindley.Wā'ter-vī'o-let, n. p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Hottonia.Wa'ter-wāy, n. p. 1497(Naut.) A piece of timber serving to connect the sides of a vessel to the deck, and through which the scuppers are carried. Totten.Wa'ter-weed, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A plant of the genus Anacharis, growing under water, and having elongated, branching stems, thickly set with leaves. Gray.Wā'ter-wheel, n. p. 1497Any wheel for propelling machinery or other purposes, that is made to rotate by the direct action of water; — called an over-shot-wheel when the water is applied at the top, an undershot-wheel when…Wă'ter-wĭl'low, n. p. 1497(Bot.) An aquatic plant of the genus Dianthera, having purplish flowers. Gray.Wa'ter-wings, n. pl. p. 1497(Arch.) Walls erected on the banks of rivers, next to bridges, to secure the foundation from the action of the current. Francis.Wă'ter-with, n. p. 1497(Bot.) A vine-like plant growing in parched districts in the West Indies, and containing a great amount of sap; — said to be used as a means of quenching thirst, by sucking the sap from the sections…Wā'ter-work, n. p. 1497An hydraulic machine; a work, or collection of works, or fixtures, by which a supply of water is furnished for useful or ornamental purposes, including dams, sluices, pumps, aqueducts, distributing…Wă'ter-wort, n. p. 1498(Bot.) (a.) An aquatic plant of the genus Elatine. (b.) One of an order of herbaceous plants growing in Australia, China, and Cochin-China. Lindley.Wā'ter-y, a. p. 1498Resembling water; thin or transparent, as a liquid; as, watery humors. “The oily and watery parts of the element.” Arbuthnot. 2. Hence, abounding in thin, tasteless, or insipid fluid; tasteless…Wat'tle, n. p. 1498A twig or flexible rod; hence, a hurdle made of such rods. 2. A rod laid on a roof to support the thatch. 3. The fleshy excrescence that grows under the throat of a cock or turkey, or a like…Wăt'tle, v. t. p. 1498To bind with twigs. 2. To twist or interweave, as twigs, one with another; to form a kind of net-work with; to plat; as, to wattle branches. 3. To form of platted twigs. “The thick-fleeced sheep from…Wăt'tle-bird, n. p. 1498(Ornith.) An Australian bird of the genus Anthochæra, which feeds on honey and insects. It has wattles, and the male is remarkable for his harsh note, which resembles the sound of a person vomiting.…Wăt'tling, n. p. 1498The act or process of binding or platting with twigs; also, the platting itself. "Made with a wattling of canes or sticks." Dampier.Waucht or Waught, n. p. 1498A large draught of any liquid. Burns.Wāul, v. i. p. 1498To cry as a cat; to squall. [Written also wawl.] The helpless infant, coming wawling and crying into the world. W. Scott.Waur, a. p. 1498Worse. [Scot.] “Murder and waur than murder.” W. Scott.Wāve, n. p. 1498An advancing ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid, resulting from the oscillatory motion of the particles composing it, when disturbed by any force from their position of rest; an undulation.…Wāve, v. i. p. 1498To play loosely; to move like a wave, one way and the other; to float; to undulate. His purple robes waved careless to the winds. Trumbull. 2. To be moved, as a signal. 3. To fluctuate; to waver; to…Wāve, v. t. p. 1498To raise into inequalities of surface; to give an undulating form or surface to. Horns whelked and waved like the enridged sea. Shak. 2. To move one way and the other; to brandish. Aeneas waved his…Wāve, v. t. p. 1498To put off; to cast off; to cast away; to reject; as, to waive goods stolen. “Waving all our arguments except the last.” J. S. Mill. These observations are rather implied than expressed in the words.…Wāved, p. a. p. 1498Exhibiting a wave-like form or outline; undulating; indented; variegated; as, a waved edge; waved silk. 2. (Her.) Indented. 3. (Nat. Hist.) Alternately convex and concave; sinuous or undulate in…Wāve'less, a. p. 1498Free from waves; undisturbed; unagitated; as, the waveless sea.Wāve'let, n. p. 1498A little wave; a ripple.Wāve'-līne, n. p. 1498(Geol.) The faint outline left by a wave or wavelet, where it dies out on a beach. Dana.Wā'vel-lite, n. p. 1498(Min.) A phosphate of alumina, occurring usually in hemispherical concretions, consisting of fine, radiated fibers, and rarely in distinct crystals, secondaries to a rhombic prism. Dana.Wāve'-lōaf, n. p. 1498A loaf for a wave-offering.Wāve'-ōf'fer-ing, n. p. 1498An offering made in the Jewish services by waving the object, as a loaf of bread, toward the four cardinal points. Num. xviii. 11.Wā'ver, v. i. p. 1498To play or move to and fro; to move one way and the other; hence, to totter; to reel. Thou would waver on one of these trees as a terror to all evil speakers against dignities. W. Scott. 2. To be…Wā'ver, n. p. 1498A sapling or young timber-tree left standing in a fallen wood. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wā'ver-er, n. p. 1498One who wavers; one who is unsettled in doctrine, faith, or opinion.Wā'ver-ing-ly, adv. p. 1498In a wavering, fluctuating, doubtful manner.Wā'ver-ing-ness, n. p. 1498The state or quality of being wavering. Montaigne.