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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Wee'sel, n. p. 1502See WEASEL.Weet, v. i. p. 1502To know; to wit. [Obs.] Tyndale. Spenser.Weet'ing-ly, adv. p. 1502With knowledge; knowingly. [Obs.] Spenser.Wee'tless, a. p. 1502Unknowing. [Obs.] Spenser.Wee'ver, n. p. 1502(Ichth.) A kind of fish belonging to the perch family, and of the genus Trachinus, of which about four species are well known. They inflict wounds with the spines of their first dorsal fin, which are…Wee'vil, n. p. 1502(Entom.) A small insect of the beetle tribe, with a long, beaked head. See CURCULIO.Wee'viled, a. p. 1502Infested by weevils; as, weeviled grain.Wee'vil-y, a. p. 1502Having weevils. [Also weevilly.]Wee'zel, n. p. 1502See WEASEL.Wee'zel, a. p. 1502Thin; sharp; as, a weezel face. [Prov. Eng.] See WEASEL. Smart.Wĕft, imp. & p. p. p. 1503of wave. [Obs.] See WAVE.Weft, n. p. 1503The woof of cloth; the threads that cross the warp from selvage to selvage. 2. A web; a thing woven.Wēft, n. p. 1503A thing waved, waived, or cast away; a waif. [Obs.] “At wild adventure, like a forlorn weft.” Spenser.Wēft'age, n. p. 1503Texture. [Obs.] Grew.Wē'go-tism, n. p. 1503Excessive use of the pronoun we; — called also weism. [Colloq. or cant.]Wehr'-wolf, n. p. 1503The same as WERE-WOLF, q. v.Weigh, v. t. p. 1503To bear up; to raise; to lift so that it hangs in the air; to swing up; as, to weigh anchor. 2. To examine by the balance; to ascertain the weight of, that is, the force with which a thing tends to…Weigh, v. i. p. 1503To have weight; to be heavy; as, to weigh lighter or heavier. 2. Hence, to be considered as important; to have weight in the intellectual balance. This objection ought to weigh with those whose…Weigh, n. p. 1503A certain quantity estimated by weight; an English measure of weight; a wey. See WEY.Weigh'a-ble, a. p. 1503Capable of being weighed.Weigh'age, n. p. 1503A duty or toll paid for weighing merchandise. Bouvier.Weigh'-board, n. p. 1503(Mining.) Clay intersecting a vein. Weale.Weigh'-bridge, n. p. 1503A weighing machine, on which carts and their loads are driven to be weighed; platform scales.Weighed, p. a. p. 1503Experienced. [Obs. and rare.] “A young man not weighed in state affairs.” Bacon.Weigh'er, n. p. 1503One who weighs. 2. An officer whose duty it is to weigh commodities.Weigh'-house, n. p. 1503A building at or within which the weight of things is ascertained by suitable apparatus. Simmonds.Weigh'ing-cāge, n. p. 1503A cage in which small living animals may be conveniently weighed.Weigh'ing-house, n. p. 1503A weigh-house. See WEIGH-HOUSE.Weigh'-lock, n. p. 1503A lock, as on a canal, at which boats are weighed and their tonnage is settled.Weigh'ing-ma-chine', n. p. 1503Any large machine or apparatus for weighing; especially, platform scales, arranged for weighing heavy bodies, as wagons, with their loads, and the like.Weight, n. p. 1503The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; gravity. Weight differs from gravity in being the effect of gravity, or the downward pressure of…Weight, v. t. p. 1503To load with a weight or weights; to load down; to make heavy; to attach weights to; as, to weight a horse or jockey at a race; to weight a whip-handle. “The arrows of satire, feathered with wit…Weight'i-ly, adv. p. 1503In a weighty manner; heavily; ponderously. 2. With force or impressiveness; with moral power.Weight'i-ness, n. p. 1503State or quality of being weighty; ponderousness; gravity; heaviness. 2. Solidity; force; impressiveness; power of convincing; importance; as, the weightiness of an argument.Weight'less, a. p. 1503Having no weight; imponderable; light.Weight'y, a. p. 1503Having weight; heavy; ponderous; as, a weighty body. 2. Hence, important; forcible; momentous; adapted to turn the balance in the mind, or to convince. “Weighty reasons.” Shak. Let me have your…Wēir, n. p. 1503A dam in a river to stop and raise the water, for conducting it to a mill, for taking fish, and the like. 2. A fence of stakes or twigs set in a stream for taking fish; a wear. [See WEAR.]Wëird, n. p. 1503A spell or charm. W. Scott. 2. Fate; destiny; also, a prediction. W. Scott.Wëird, a. p. 1503Skilled in witchcraft. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land. Shak. 2. Relating to, or partaking of, witchcraft; caused by, or suggesting, magical influence; tainted with…Wëird, v. t. p. 1503To foretell the fate of; to predict; to destine to. [Scot.] Jamieson.Wē'ism, n. p. 1503The same as WEGOTISM, q. v.Weiss'ite, n. p. 1503(Min.) A blue or green variety of iolite, occurring in small masses in chlorite slate. Dana.Weive, v. t. p. 1503To waive. See WAIVE. [Obs.] Gower.Wĕl'a-wāy, interj. p. 1503Alas! [Obs.] Spenser.Wĕlch, a. p. 1503(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Wales; Welsh. [Rare.] See WELSH.Wĕlch’man, n. p. 1503n. pl. WĕLCH’MEN. (Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Wales; a Welshman.Wĕl'come, a. p. 1503Received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, and company; as, a welcome guest. 2. Producing gladness in its reception; grateful; pleasing; as, a welcome present; welcome…Wĕl'cŏme, n. p. 1503Salutation of a new comer. “Welcome ever smiles.” Shak. 2. Kind reception of a guest or new comer; as, we entered the house and found a ready welcome. Truth finds an entrance and a welcome too. South.Wĕl'cŏme, v. t. p. 1503To salute with kindness, as a new comer; to receive and entertain hospitably and cheerfully. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. Milton.Wĕl'côme-ly, adv. p. 1503In a welcome manner.Wĕl'côme-ness, n. p. 1503The state or quality of being welcome; gratefulness; agreeableness; kind reception.Wĕl'côm-er, n. p. 1503One who welcomes; one who salutes or receives kindly a new comer.Wēld, n. p. 1503(Bot.) A plant of the genus Reseda (R. luteola), growing in England and various European countries; dyer's weed; woad; — used by dyers to give a yellow color. [Written also woad, would, wold, and…Wĕld, v. t. p. 1503To wield. [Obs.] Spenser.Wēld, v. t. p. 1503To press or beat into intimate and permanent union, as two pieces of iron when heated almost to fusion. Ure. ☞ Very few of the metals, besides iron, are capable of being welded; but tortoise-shell…Wĕld, n. p. 1503The state of being welded; the joint made by welding.Wĕld'a-ble, a. p. 1503Capable of being welded.Wĕld'er, n. p. 1503One who welds, or unites by welding.Wēld'er, n. p. 1503One who welds, or wields; a manager; an actual occupant. [Obs.] Swift.Wĕld'ing-hēat, n. p. 1503The heat necessary for welding iron bars.