Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.]Whey, n. p. 1508The serum or watery part of milk, separated from the more thick or coagulable part, particularly in the process of making cheese. In this process, the thick part is called curd, and the thin part…Whey'ey, a. p. 1508Partaking of whey; resembling whey. Bacon.Whey'ish, a. p. 1508Having the qualities of whey; resembling whey; wheyey. Philips.Whey'ish-ness, n. p. 1508The state or quality of being wheyey.Which, pron. p. 1508An interrogative pronoun, used both substantively and adjectively, to ask for an individual person or thing among several of a class, being more demonstrative than who or what;—in this use signifying…Which-ē'v'er or Which/so-ē'v'er, pron. p. 1508Whether one or the other; which; as, whichever road you take, it will conduct you to town.Whid'ah-finch, n. p. 1508(Ornith.) See WIDOW-BIRD.Whĭff, n. p. 1508A sudden expulsion of air from the mouth; a quick puff or slight gust of air. “Seasons his whiffs with impertinent jokes.” Pope. With the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls.…Whiff, v. t. p. 1508To throw out in whiffs; to consume in whiffs; to puff. 2. To carry or convey by a puff; to blow. Old Empedocles, . . . who, when he leaped into Etna, having a dry, sear body, and light, the smoke…Whiff, v. i. p. 1508To emit whiffs, as of smoke; to puff; to smoke.Whiff'et, n. p. 1508A little whiff or puff; a whiff.Whiff'ing, n. p. 1508The act of one who, or that which whiffs. 2. A mode of hand-line fishing for pollack, mackerel, and the like. Simmonds.Whiff'fle, v. i. p. 1508To waver or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to start, shift, and turn; to change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle and unsteady. A person of…Whif'fle, v. t. p. 1508To disperse with a puff; to scatter. [Obs.] More.