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'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.Wē'lew, v. t. p. 1503To welk or wither. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Wĕl'fâre, n. p. 1503Well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness: exemption from any evil or calamity. “To study for the people's welfare.”…Wĕlk, v. i. p. 1503To decline; to fade; to decay; to fall. [Obs.] Ruddy Phœbus 'gins to welk in west. Spenser. The church, that before by insensible degrees welked and impaired, now with large steps went down hill…Wĕlk, v. t. p. 1503To contract; to shorten. Now sad winter welked hath the day. Spenser. 2. To cause to wither by exposure to the sun; to wilt; to wither; also, to soak; to beat severely. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wĕlk, v. t. p. 1503To mark with protuberances or ridges. [Obs. or rare.] “Horns welked and waved, like the enridged sea.” Shak.Wĕlk, n. p. 1503(Conch.) A whelk. See WHELK.Wĕl'kin, n. p. 1503The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. “The fair welkin foully overcast.” Spenser. “When storms the welkin rend.” Wordsworth. ☞ Welkin eye, in Shakespeare, is interpreted by…