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.
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.Whap, n. p. 1506A blow, or quick, smart stroke. Jamieson. Wright.Whap'per, n. p. 1506Something uncommonly large of the kind;—applied especially to a bold lie. [Scot. Colloq. and vulgar, Eng. and U. S.]Whap'ping, a. p. 1506Very large; monstrous; extraordinary; as, a whapping story. [Colloq. and low.]Wharf, n. p. 1506A perpendicular bank or mound of timber or stone and earth, raised on the shore of a harbor, river, canal, or the like, or extending some distance into the water, for the convenience of lading and…Wharf, v. t. p. 1506To guard or secure by a wharf or firm wall of timber or stone; to furnish with a wharf or wharves. 2. To place upon a wharf; to bring to a wharf.Wharf'age, n. p. 1506The fee or duty paid for the privilege of using a wharf for loading or unloading goods. 2. A wharf, or wharves in general; wharfing.Wharf'-boat, n. p. 1506A kind of boat moored at the side of a river, &c., and used for a wharf, in places where the height of the water is so variable that a fixed wharf would be useless. [U. S.] Bartlett.Wharf'ing, n. p. 1506Wharfs in general.Wharf'in-ger, n. p. 1506A man who has the care of a wharf, or the proprietor of a wharf.Wharl, n. p. 1506Inability to pronounce the letter r, and the sound produced by trying to do so. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] They have all a strange, uncouth wharling in their speech. Fuller.Wharp, n. p. 1506A kind of fine sand from the banks of the Trent, used as a polishing powder. [Eng.]What, pron. p. 1506An interrogative pronoun, employed in asking questions as to things, inanimate objects, or creatures other than man, corresponding thus to who, which is used for persons; as, what is this? what did…