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.
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.Wēll'-mind'ed, a. p. 1504Well disposed; having a good mind.Wēll'-mōr'al-ized, a. p. 1504Regulated or characterized by good morals. Milner.Well'-nāt'ūred, a. p. 1504Good-natured; kind. Dryden.Wēll'-nīgh, adv. p. 1504Almost; nearly.Wēll'-plight/ed, a. p. 1504Well folded. [Obs.] “Her well-plighted frock.” Spenser.Wēll'-rēad, a. p. 1504Of extensive reading; deeply versed; — followed by the preposition in.Wĕll'-rōom, n. p. 1504A room where a well or spring is situated; especially, one built over a mineral spring, &c. Simmonds. 2. (Naut.) A depression in the bottom of a boat, &c., into which water may run, and whence it is…Wēll'-seen, a. p. 1504Having seen many things or places; hence, accomplished; experienced. [Obs.] B. & Fl.Wēll'-sĕt, a. p. 1504Having good symmetry of parts.Wĕll'-sĭnk'er, n. p. 1504One who sinks or digs wells.Wĕll'-sĭnk'ing, n. p. 1504The art or process of sinking or digging a well or wells.Wēll'-spēd, a. p. 1504Having good success.Wēll'-spōk'en, a. p. 1504Speaking well; speaking with fitness or grace; or speaking kindly. 2. Spoken with propriety; as, well-spoken words.Wēll'-spring, n. p. 1504A fountain; a spring; a source of continual supply. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly. Prov. xvi. 22.Wĕll'-stâir/cāse, n. p. 1504(Archl.) A winding stairway inclosed within walls; a stairway with a well-hole.Wēll'-sweep, n. p. 1504A long pole balanced upon a high post and used in drawing water by means of a bucket from a well; a sweep. See SWEEP.Wĕll'-wa/ter, n. p. 1504The water that flows into a well from subterraneous springs; water drawn from a well.Wēll'-will'er, n. p. 1504One who wishes well or means kindly. [Rare.] “A well-will'er of yours.” Brydges.Wĕll'-wĭsh, n. p. 1504A wish of happiness. Addison.Wēll'-wīsh'er, n. p. 1504One who wishes another well; a person benevolently or friendly inclined.Wēlsh, a. p. 1504(Geog.) Belonging or relating to Wales, or its inhabitants. [Rarely written also Welch.] Welsh flannel, the finest kind of flannel, made from the fleeces of the flocks of the Welsh mountains, and…Wĕlsh, n. sing. or pl. p. 1504(sing.) The language of Wales, or of the Welsh. 2. (pl.) (Geog.) The natives or inhabitants of Wales. ☞ The Welsh call themselves Cymry, in the plural, and a Welshman Cymro, and their country Cymru…Wĕlsh'man, n. p. 1504A native or inhabitant of Wales; one of the Welsh.Wĕl'sȯme, a. p. 1504Prosperous; well. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Wĕl'sȯme-ly, adv. p. 1504In a welsome manner; prosperously; well. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Wĕlt or Welt-joint, n. p. 1504That which, being folded or brought round, serves to guard, strengthen, or adorn something; as, (a.) A small cord covered with cloth and sewed on a seam or border to strengthen it; an edge of cloth…Wëlt, v. t. p. 1504To furnish with a welt; to sew a welt on.Wëlt, v. t. p. 1504To welter or wither; to wilt. [Rare.]Wĕl'ter, v. i. p. 1504To roll, as the body of an animal; to wallow; to tumble about, especially in any thing foul or defiling. “The priests at the altar . . . weltering in their blood.” Landor. When we welter in pleasures…Wēl'ter, v. t. p. 1504To wither; to wilt. [Rare.] “Weltered hearts and blighted memories.” I. Taylor.Wĕl'ter, n. p. 1504That in which one welters or wallows; filth; mire; slough. “The foul welter of our so-called religious or other controversies.” Carlyle.Wĕm, n. p. 1504A spot; a scar. [Obs.] Brerewood.Wēm, v. t. p. 1504To corrupt; to vitiate. [Obs.]Wĕm, n. p. 1504The abdomen; the uterus; the womb. [Rare.] Dunglison.Wĕm'less, a. p. 1504Without a wem or blemish; spotless; unspotted. [Obs.] Chaucer.Wĕn, n. p. 1504(Med.) A circumscribed, indolent tumor, without inflammation or change of color of the skin;—sometimes applied also to an encysted tumor, and to bronchocele. Dunglison.Wĕnch, n. p. 1504A young woman; a girl; a maiden. [Obs.] That they may send again, My most sweet wench, and gifts to boot. Chapman. 2. A low, vicious, coarse young woman; a drab; a strumpet. It is not a digression to…Wĕnch, v. i. p. 1504To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame.Wĕnch'er, n. p. 1504One who wenches; a lewd man.Wēnch'less, a. p. 1505Without a wench. Shak.Wēnd, v. i. p. 1505To go; to pass; to betake one's self. To Athens shall the lovers wend. Shak. 2. To turn round. [Obs.]Wēnd, v. t. p. 1505To direct; to betake;—used chiefly reflexively, or in the phrase to wend one's way. Wend thee to Branksome home on foot. W. Scott.Wēnd, n. p. 1505(O. Law.) A large extent of ground; a perambulation; a circuit. [Obs.] Burrill.Wēn'nel, n. p. 1505A weanel. See WEANEL. [Obs.]Wĕn'nish or Wĕn'ny, a. p. 1505Having the nature of a wen; resembling a wen.Wēnt, imp. p. 1505of wend;— now used as the preterit of go, but in origin having no connection with it.