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.
Wer-nē'ri-an, a. p. 1505Of, pertaining to, or according to the system of Werner, the German mineralogist and geologist, who arranged minerals in classes, &c., according to their external characters, and advocated the theory…Wĕr'ner-ite, n. p. 1505(Min.) The common grayish or white variety of scapolite.Wēŕst, n. p. 1505A certain Russian measure of length; a verst. See VERST.Wērt p. 1505The second person singular of were, used as the subjunctive imperfect tense of be. See WERE.Wē'sand or Wē'sil, n. p. 1505See WEASAND. [Obs.]Wēs'ley-an, a. p. 1505Of, or pertaining to, Wesley or Wesleyanism.Wēs'ley-an, n. p. 1505(Eccl.) One who adopts the principles of Wesleyanism; a Methodist.Wēs'ley-an-ism, n. p. 1505(Eccl.) The system of doctrines and church polity inculcated by John Wesley, the founder of the sect of Methodists; Methodism.Wēst, n. p. 1505The direction or quarter of the heavens where the sun sets; that one of the cardinal points which is midway between north and south, and on the left side of a person facing north; the point…Wēst, a. p. 1505Situated toward the west, or in the direction of the setting sun; relating to the west. This shall be your west border. Num. xxxiv. 6. 2. Coming or moving from the west, or western region; as, a west…Wēst, adv. p. 1505To the western region; at the westward; more westward; as, Ireland lies west of England.Wēst, v. i. p. 1505To pass to the west; to set, as the sun. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. To turn or move toward the west; to veer from the north or south toward the west.Wēst'er-ing, a. p. 1505Passing to the west. Toward heaven's descent had sloped his westering wheel. Milton. The glow of autumn's westering day. Whittier.Wēst'er-ly, a. p. 1505Being toward the west; situated in the western region; as, the westerly parts of England. 2. Moving from the westward; as, a westerly wind.Wĕst'er-ly, adv. p. 1505Tending, going, or moving, toward the west; as, a man traveling westerly.Wēst'ern, a. p. 1505Situated in the west, or in the region nearly in the direction of west; being in that quarter where the sun sets; as, the western shore of France; the western ocean. 2. Moving toward the west; as…Wēst'ern-er, n. p. 1505A native or inhabitant of the west.Wēst'ing, n. p. 1505Space or distance westward; distance toward the west; as, the westing and southing of a ship. 2. (Naut. & Surv.) The distance, reckoned toward the west, between the two meridians passing through the…Wĕst'ling, n. p. 1505One who lives in the west; one who inhabits a western country; a westerner. [Rare.]Wĕst'ward, adv. p. 1505Toward the west; as, to ride or sail westward. “Some star that's westward from the pole.” Shak.Wēst'ward-ly, adv. p. 1505In a direction toward the west; as, to pass westwardly.Wēst'y, a. p. 1505Dizzy; giddy. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wĕt, a. p. 1505Containing water; full of moisture; as, wet land, or a wet cloth; or having water or other liquid upon the surface; as, a wet table. “Wet cheeks.” Shak. 2. Very damp; rainy; as, wet weather; a wet…Wĕt, n. p. 1505Water or wetness; moisture or humidity in considerable degree. Now the sun, with more effectual beams, Had cheered the face of earth, and dried the wet From drooping plant. Milton. 2. Rainy weather…Wĕt, v. t. p. 1505To fill or moisten with water or other liquid; to sprinkle or humectate; to cause to have water or other fluid adherent to the surface; to dip or soak in liquor; as, to wet a sponge; to wet the…Wēt'-dŏck, n. p. 1505A dock where the water is shut in and kept at a given level. See DOCK.Wēth'er, n. p. 1505A castrated ram.Wĕt'ness, n. p. 1505The state of being wet; moisture; humidity; as, the wetness of land; the wetness of a cloth. 2. A watery or moist state of the atmosphere; a state of being rainy, foggy, or misty; as, the wetness of…Wĕt'-nûrse, n. p. 1505A nurse who suckles a child, especially the child of another woman;—opposed to dry-nurse.Wĕt'-shōd, a. p. 1505Having the feet wet with the shoes or boots on.Wĕt'tish, a. p. 1505Somewhat wet; moist; humid. [Rare.]Wē'vil, n. p. 1505The same as WEEVIL, q. v.Wēx, v. t. or i. p. 1505To grow; to wax. See WAX. [Obs.]Wēy, n. p. 1505A certain measure of weight. [Eng.] ☞ A wey is 6½ tods of 28 pounds of wool; a load or 5 quarters of wheat; 40 bushels of salt, each weighing 56 pounds; 32 cloves of cheese, each weighing 7 pounds…Wē'zand, n. p. 1505The same as WEASAND, q. v. [Obs.]Whăck, v. t. p. 1505To strike; to beat; to give a heavy or resounding blow to; to thrash. [Colloq. or vulgar.]Whăck, v. i. p. 1505To strike any thing with a smart blow. To whack away, to continue striking heavy blows; as, to whack away at a log. [Colloq. or vulgar.]Whăck, n. p. 1505A smart, resounding blow.Whāck'er, n. p. 1505Any thing very large; a great lie; a whopper. [Colloq. and vulgar.] Halliwell.Whāck'ing, a. p. 1505Very large. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. and vulgar, U. S.] Halliwell.Whāle, n. p. 1505(Zoöl.) An animal inhabiting the ocean, of the class of Mammals, tribe of Mutilates, and family of Cetacea. ☞ The Greenland whale, or right whale, is of the genus Balæna (B. mysticetus). When fully…Whale, v. t. p. 1505To lash with stripes; to wale; to thrash. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. and vulgar, U. S.] Bartlett. Halliwell.Whāle'-bōat, n. p. 1505(Naut.) A long, narrow boat, sharp at both ends, used by whalemen.Whāle'bōne, n. p. 1505A firm, elastic substance resembling bone, taken from the upper jaw of the right whale, used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes; baleen. ☞ The whalebone occurs in…Whāle'-fin, n. p. 1505(Com.) Whalebone. Simmonds.Whāle'-fish'er-y, n. p. 1505The fishery or occupation of taking whales.Whāle'man, n. p. 1505A man employed in the whale-fishery.Whāl'er, n. p. 1505A ship or a person employed in the whale-fishery.Whā'l'er, n. p. 1505One who whales or beats; a big, strong fellow; hence, any thing of great or unusual size. [Colloq. and vulgar, U. S.] Bartlett.Whāle'-shōt, n. p. 1505The spermaceti or matter from the head of the whale;—so called by Dutch and English whalers. Simmonds.Whāl'ing, a. p. 1505Connected with, or pertaining to, the pursuit of whales; as, a whaling voyage.Whall, n. p. 1505(Med.) A light color of the iris in horses; wall-eye. [Written also whaull.]Whall'y, a. p. 1505Having the iris of light color;—said of horses. “Whally eyes.” Spenser.Whāme, n. p. 1505(Entom.) A species of fly of the genus Tabānus; the burrel-fly or gad-fly.Whām'mel, v. t. p. 1505To turn over; to whemmel. [Prov. Eng.]Whăng, n. p. 1505A leather thong. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Whāng, v. t. p. 1505To beat. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Grose.Whān-gee' or Whān-ghee', n. p. 1505See WANGHEE.Whap, v. i. p. 1506To throw one's self quickly, or by an abrupt motion; to turn suddenly; as, she whapped down on the floor; the fish whapped over. [Written also whop.] Bartlett. ☞ The word is used adverbially in the…Whap, v. t. p. 1506To beat or strike.