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.
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.Wher-èv'er, adv. p. 1508At whatever place. He can not but love virtue wherever it is. Atterbury.Where-with', or Where-with', adv. p. 1508With which; — used relatively. The love wherewith thou hast loved me. John xvii. 26. 2. With what; — used interrogatively. Wherewith shall I save Israel? Judg. vi. 15.Where-with-al',, adv. p. 1508The same as WHEREWITH. The builders of Babel, still with vain design, New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build. Milton.Where·with·al', n. p. 1508The means wherewith to accomplish any purpose. [Colloq.]Whĕr'ret, v. t. p. 1508To hurry; to trouble; to tease. 2. To give a box on the ear to; to strike or box, as the ear; as, to wherret a child.Whĕr'ret, n. p. 1508A box on the ear. [Obs.] B. & Fl.Whĕr'ry, n. p. 1508(Naut.) A shallow, light boat, usually for a single person, built long and narrow, and sharp at both ends, for fast rowing or sailing, especially on tide-rivers. ☞ The term has also been applied to…Whēt, v. t. p. 1508To rub for the purpose of sharpening, as an edge-tool; to sharpen by attrition. The mower whets his scythe. Milton. 2. To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the…Whĕt, n. p. 1508The act of sharpening by friction. 2. Something that provokes or stimulates the appetite. “Sips, drams, and whets.” Spectator.Whēth'er, pron. p. 1508Which of two; which one of two; — used interrogatively and relatively. [Obs. or antiquated.] Whether of them twain did the will of his father? Matt. xxi. 31. One day, in doubt, I cast for to compare…Whēth'er, conj. p. 1508Used to introduce the first of two or more alternative clauses, either conditional or objective, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether: it also frequently introduces each one…Whēth'er-ing, n. p. 1508The retention of the after-birth in cows. Gardner.Whĕt'-slāte, n. p. 1508(Min.) A variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; novaculite;—called also whetstone-slate, and oil-stone.Whet'stōne, n. p. 1508A stone used for sharpening edged instruments by friction. Diligence is to the understanding as the whetstone to the razor. South. The fool is the whetstone of the wits. Shak. To give the whetstone…Whēt'ter, n. p. 1508One who, or that which, whets or sharpens.Whew, v. i. p. 1508To whistle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Whew, n. or interj. p. 1508A sound like that of a half-formed whistle, expressing astonishment, scorn, or dislike.Whew'ell-ite, n. p. 1508(Min.) A brittle, crystalline mineral, consisting chiefly of oxalate of lime. Dana.Whew’er, n. p. 1508The widgeon. [Prov. Eng.]