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.
Wheel, n. p. 1506Dan. hvel, hvíl, the axle of a spinning-wheel; allied to Goth. valjan, to roll.] 1. A circular frame turning on an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or composed of an outer rim, spokes, or radii…Wheel, v. t. p. 1507To convey on wheels; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood. 2. To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle. “In many a whistling circle…Wheel, v. i. p. 1507To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to move about; to rotate. The moon . . . always shows the same face to us, not once wheeling upon her own center. Bentley. 2. To change direction, as…Wheel'-ăn'i-mal or Wheel'-ăn'i-māl/ēule, n. p. 1507(Zoöl.) One of a class of animalcules, with arms for taking their prey resembling wheels; a rotifer.Wheel'-ba-ròm'e-ter, n. p. 1507A barometer having its scale on a circular dial, the index of which is moved by a thread passing over a pulley on its axis from an iron float, which rests on the mercury in an open, vertical branch…Wheel'bār-rōw, n. p. 1507A light frame with a box for conveying articles, having two handles and one wheel, and rolled by a single person.Wheel'-bōat, n. p. 1507A boat with wheels, to be used either on water or upon inclined planes or railways.Wheel'-cār'riage, n. p. 1507A carriage moved on wheels.Wheeled, p. a. p. 1507Having wheels; — used chiefly in composition; as, a four-wheeled carriage.Wheel'er, n. p. 1507One who wheels or turns. 2. A maker of wheels; a wheelwright. [Obs.] 3. A wheel-horse. See WHEEL-HORSE. 4. A worker on sewed muslin. [Eng.] Simmonds.Wheel'-hôrse, n. p. 1507One of the hindmost horses in a carriage, or those nearest to the wheels, as opposed to the leaders, or forward horses;—called also wheeler.Wheel'-house, n. p. 1507(Naut.) (a.) A small house or shelter on deck, which contains the steering-wheel. (b.) The paddle-box of steam-vessels.Wheel'ing, n. p. 1507The act of conveying on wheels. 2. Adaptation to wheel-carriages; convenience for passing on wheels; as, it is good wheeling, or bad wheeling, according to the state of the roads. 3. A turning, or…Wheel'-lŏck, n. p. 1507A kind of lock formerly used in some kinds of fire-arms, having a wheel which revolved against a flint fixed in the lock, thus communicating fire to the priming.Wheel'-ōre, n. p. 1507(Min.) An opaque mineral of a steel-gray or black color, and metallic luster, consisting chiefly of sulphur, antimony, lead, and copper. Dana.Wheel'-rāce, n. p. 1507The place in which a water-wheel is fixed.Wheel'-rōpe, n. p. 1507(Naut.) A rope which connects the steering wheel and the rudder.Wheel'-shāped, a. p. 1507Shaped like a wheel. 2. (Bot.) Expanding into a flat border at top, with scarcely any tube; as, a wheel-shaped corol.Wheel'-swarf, n. p. 1507A clayey cement or putty made from the dust obtained from the abrasion of grind-stones, and used, in furnaces for making steel, to cover the layers of iron and charcoal. [Prov. Eng.]Wheel'-work, n. p. 1507A combination of wheels, and their connection in a machine.Wheel'-wōrn, a. p. 1507Worn by the action of wheels.Wheel’wright, n. p. 1507A man whose occupation it is to make wheels and wheel-carriages, as carts and wagons.Wheel'y, a. p. 1507Circular; suitable to rotation. [Obs.]Wheeze, v. i. p. 1507To breathe hard, and with an audible sound, as persons affected with asthma. “Wheezing lungs.” Shak.Wheez'y, a. p. 1507Breathing with difficulty and with a sound; wheezing.Whĕlk, n. p. 1507A wrinkle; an inequality on the surface; a protuberance; a pustule. 2. A stripe or mark; a streak; a wale. 3. [Cf. WHILK and WILK.] (Zool.) A mollusk (the Buccinum undatum) having a univalvular…Whelked, p. a. p. 1507Having whelks or ridges; welked. See WELK.Whelk'y, a. p. 1507Having whelks, ridges, or protuberances; hence, streaked; striated. “Whelky pearls.” Spenser.Whĕlm, v. t. p. 1507To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; to overwhelm. “The whelming billow and the faithless oar.” Gay. She is my prize, or ocean whelm them…Whĕlp, n. p. 1507The young of the canine species, and also of beasts of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a bear robbed of her whelps; lions’ whelps. 2. A child; a youth;—jocosely or contemptuously so called. That awkward…Whĕlp, v. i. p. 1507To bring forth young, as the female of the canine species and some other beasts of prey.Whĕlp, v. t. p. 1507To bring forth, as cubs or young; to give birth to. Unless she had whelped it herself, she could not have loved a thing better. B. Jonson. Did thy foul fancy whelp so foul a scheme? Young.Whĕm'mel, v. t. p. 1507To turn over or upside down; to overturn; to whammel. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Whĕn, adv. p. 1507At what time;—used interrogatively. When shall these things be? Matt. xxiv. 3. 2. At what time; at the time that; at or just after the moment that;—used relatively. Kings may Take their advantage…Whēn'as, conj. p. 1507Whereas; while; when. [Obs. and rare.] “Whenas, if they would inquire into themselves, they would find no such matter.” Barrow.Whēnce, adv. p. 1507From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, and the like; how;—used interrogatively. Whence hath this man this wisdom? Matt. xiii. 54. Whence and what art thou?…Whence-ē'v'er p. 1507relative adv. or conj. The same as Whencesoever, q. v. [Rare.]Whĕnçe-fōrth’, adv. p. 1507From, or forth from, what place; whence. [Obs.]Whēnce/so-ēv'er p. 1507relative adv. or conj. From what place soever; from what cause or source soever. “Any idea, whencesoever we have it.” Locke.When-ē'v'er p. 1507relative adv. or conj. At whatever time. “Whenever that shall be.” Milton.Whēn'so-ē'v'er p. 1507relative adv. or conj. At what time soever; at whatever time; whenever.Whēre, adv. p. 1507At what place; in what situation, position, or circumstances; — used interrogatively. Adam, . . . where art thou? Gen. iii. 9. 2. At which place; at the place in which; — used relatively. Where I…Whêre, n. p. 1507Place; situation. [Obs. and rare.] Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. Spenser. ☞ Where is used in composition with a following preposition in the sense of which or what after the preposition…Whêre'a-bout' or Whêre'a-bouts', adv. p. 1507About where; near what or which place; — used interrogatively and relatively; as, whereabouts did you meet him? ☞ In this sense, the form whereabouts is more commonly used. 2. Concerning which; about…Whê're-ăs', conj. p. 1507Considering that; it being the case that; since;—used to introduce a preamble. 2. When in fact; while on the contrary; the case being in truth that;—implying opposition to something that precedes; or…Where-ăt’, adv. p. 1507At what; — used relatively. Whereat he was no less angry and ashamed than desirous to obey Zelmane. Sidney. 2. At what; — used interrogatively; as, whereat are you offended?Where-by', adv. p. 1507By which; — used relatively. You take my life When you do take the means whereby I live. Shak. 2. By what; — used interrogatively. Whereby shall I know this? Luke i. 18.Where'fōre, adv. p. 1507For which reason; — used relatively. Wherefore, by their fruits, ye shall know them. Matt. vii. 20. 2. For what reason; why; — used interrogatively. Wherefore didst thou doubt? Matt. xiv. 31.Where-īn', adv. p. 1507In which; in which thing, time, respect, book, or the like; — used relatively. There are times wherein a man ought to be cautious as well as innocent. Swift. 2. In what; — used interrogatively. Yet…Where-in-to', adv. p. 1507Into which; — used relatively. Where is the palace whereinto foul things Sometimes intrude not? Shak. 2. Into what; — used interrogatively.Whê're/ness, n. p. 1507Ubiety; situation; position. [Obs. and rare.] A point hath no dimensions, but only a whereness, and is next to nothing. Grew.Where-ŏf', adv. p. 1507Of which; — used relatively. I do not find the certain numbers whereof their armies did consist. Davies. 2. Of what; — used indefinitely. “How this world, when and whereof created.” Milton. 3. Of…Where-ōn', adv. p. 1507On which; — used relatively. “O fair foundations laid, whereon to build.” Milton. 2. On what; — used interrogatively; as, whereon do we stand? [Obs.]Where-out', adv. p. 1507Out of which. [Obs. and rare.] “The cleft whereout the lightning breaketh.” Holland.Where'so, adv. p. 1507Wheresoever. [Obs.]Where'so-ēv'er, adv. p. 1507In what place soever; in whatever place, or in any place indefinitely; wherever; as, seize the thief, wheresoever he may be found.Where-through', adv. p. 1507Through which. [Rare.] There is no weakness left in me wherethrough I may look back. W. Scott.Where-to', adv. p. 1508To which; — used relatively. Whereto we have already attained. Phil. iii. 16. 2. To what; to what end; — used interrogatively.Where'un-to', adv. p. 1508The same as WHERETO, q. v. [Obs.]Where'up-ŏn', adv. p. 1508Upon which; in consequence of which. The townsmen mutinied and sent to Essex, whereupon he came thither. Clarendon.