Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Wĕll, n. p. 1503An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well. Milton. 2. Hence, a source. “Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled.” Spenser. 3. A pit or hole sunk…Well, v. i. p. 1504To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring. From his two springs in Gojam’s sunny realm, Pure welling out, he through the lucid lake Of fair Dambea rolls his infant streams. Thomson.Wĕll, v. t. p. 1504To pour forth, as from a well.Well, a. p. 1504Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for us that we are so far removed from the rest of the…Well, adv. p. 1504In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly. If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Gen. iv. 7. 2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or…Wēl'a-dāy, interj. p. 1504Alas! welaway!Wĕll'-bē'ing, n. p. 1504Welfare; happiness; prosperity; as, virtue is essential to the well-being of men or of society.Wĕll'-bōat, n. p. 1504A fishing-boat with a well to keep fish in, in order to bring them alive to market.Wĕll'-bōr'er, n. p. 1504One who digs or bores for water; one who makes wells. Simmonds.Wēll'-bōrn, a. p. 1504Born of a noble or respectable family; not of mean birth.Wēll'-brēd, a. p. 1504Educated to polished manners; polite; cultivated; refined. I am as well-bred as the earl's granddaughter. Thackeray.Wēll'-dō'er, n. p. 1504One who does well; one who does good to another; a benefactor.Wĕll'-dō'ing, n. p. 1504A doing well; performance of duties.Wĕll'-drāin, n. p. 1504A drain or vent for water, somewhat like a well or pit, serving to discharge the water of wet land. 2. A drain conducting to a well or pit.Well'-drāin, v. t. p. 1504To drain, as land, by means of wells or pits, which receive the water, and from which it is discharged by machinery.Wēll'fāre, n. p. 1504Welfare. [Obs.] See WELFARE.Wĕll'-fā'vored, a. p. 1504Handsome; well formed; beautiful; pleasing to the eye. Rachel was beautiful and well-favored. Gen. xxix. 17.Wēll'-hēad, n. p. 1504A source, spring, or fountain.Wĕll'-hōle, n. p. 1504(Arch.) The open space in the middle of a staircase, beyond the ends of the stairs; — called also well, and sometimes limited to the open space in the middle of a winding staircase, or to the opening…Wēll'-in-fōrmed', a. p. 1504Correctly informed; provided with information; well furnished with authentic knowledge; intelligent.Wēl'ling-tons, n. pl. p. 1504A kind of long boots for men. Simmonds.Wĕll'-in-tĕn'/tioned, a. p. 1504Having upright intentions or honorable purposes. “Dutchmen who had sold themselves to France, as the well-intentioned party.” Macaulay.Wĕll'-knōwn, a. p. 1504Fully known; generally known or acknowledged.Wĕll'-măn'nered, a. p. 1504Polite; well-bred; complaisant. Dryden.Wĕll'-mēan'er, n. p. 1504One whose intention is good. Dryden.Wĕll'-mēan'ing, a. p. 1504Having a good intention.Wĕll'-mēant, a. p. 1504Rightly intended; kind; friendly.