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.
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.Whif'fle, n. p. 1508A fife, or small fife. [Obs.] Douce.Whif'fler, n. p. 1508One who whiffs, or smokes tobacco. Halliwell. 2. Hence, a trifling fellow. Every whiffler in a laced coat who frequents the chocolate house shall talk of the constitution. Swift.Whĭf'fler, n. p. 1508One who whiffles, or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses shifts and evasions in argument. 2. One who plays on a whiffle, or small fife. [Obs.] 3. An officer who went before…Whĭf'fle-tree, n. p. 1508The bar to which the traces of a carriage are fastened for draught; a whippletree.Whĭg, n. p. 1508Acidulated whey, sometimes mixed with buttermilk and sweet herbs, used as a cooling beverage. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Whĭg, n. p. 1508(Eng. Hist.) One of a political party which had its origin in England in the seventeenth century, in the reign of Charles I. or II., when great contests existed respecting the royal prerogatives and…Whĭg, a. p. 1508Pertaining to, or composed of, whigs; adhering to the principles of the whigs.Whĭg'ga-mōre, n. p. 1508A Scotch Presbyterian;—so called in contempt. W. Scott.Whĭg'gär-chy, n. p. 1508Government by whigs. [Cant.] Swift.Whĭg'ger-y, n. p. 1508The principles of a whig.Whĭg'gish, a. p. 1508Pertaining to whigs; partaking of the principles of whigs.Whĭg'gish-ly, adv. p. 1508In a whiggish manner; after the manner of whigs.Whĭg'gism, n. p. 1508The principles of a whig.Whĭg'ling, n. p. 1508A little or inferior whig; a whig;—so called in contempt. Spectator.Whīle, n. p. 1508Space of time, or continued duration; time; as, one while we thought him innocent. Like some poor, nigh-related guest, That may not rudely be dismissed, Yet hath outstaid his welcome while, And tells…Whīle, adv. p. 1508During the time that; as long as; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep. Use your memory, and you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.…Whīle, v. t. p. 1508To cause to pass away without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass;—usually followed by away. Let us while away this life. Pope.Whīle, v. i. p. 1508To loiter. [Obs. or rare.] Spectator.Whīl'êre, adv. p. 1508A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile. [Obs.] He who, with all heaven's heraldry, whilere Entered the world. Milton.Whīles, adv. p. 1508While. Fuller. 2. Meanwhile; meantime. [Rare.] “The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some enamored troubadour.” W. Scott.Whĭlk, n. p. 1508A kind of shell, or shell-fish; a whelk. See WHELK.Whī'lom, adv. p. 1508Formerly; once; of old. [Obs.] Spenser.Whilst, adv. p. 1509The same as WHILE, q. v.Whĭm, n. p. 1509A sudden turn or start of the mind; a freak; a fancy; a capricious notion; a humor; as, every man has his whims. All the superfluous whims relate. Swift. 2. (Mining.) A large capstan or windlass…Whĭm, v. i. p. 1509To be subject to whims; to indulge in whims; to be whimsical, giddy, or freakish. [Rare.] Congreve.Whĭm'brel, n. p. 1509(Ornith.) A bird closely allied to the curlew, and resembling it in its appearance and habits; Numenius phæopus.Whĭm'-ġĭn, n. p. 1509(Mining.) A whim. See WHIM, 2.Whĭm'ling, n. p. 1509One given to whims; hence, a weak, childish person; a child. Go, whimling, and fetch two or three grating-loaves. Beau. & Fl.Whim'my, a. p. 1509Full of whims; whimsical; humorsome. The study of Rabbinical literature either finds a man whimmy or makes him so. Coleridge.Whim'per, v. i. p. 1509To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; as, a child whimpers. Was there ever yet preacher but there were gainsayers that spurned, that winced, that whimpered against him? Latimer.Whĭm'per, v. t. p. 1509To utter in a low, whining tone.Whĭm'per-er, n. p. 1509One who whimpers, or whines.Whĭm'ple, v. t. p. 1509To draw down, as a vail; to lay in folds or plaits, as a vail; to wimple. “Under a vail that, whimpled, was full low.” Spenser.Whĭm'pled, a. p. 1509Distorted with crying.Whim’sey, n. p. 1509A whim; a freak; a capricious notion; as, the whimseys of poets. “Men’s follies, whimseys, and inconstancy.” Swift. “Mistaking the whimseys of a feverish brain for the calm revelation of truth.”…Whim'seyed, a. p. 1509Filled with whimseys or whims; made fantastic; crazed. [Rare.] “To have a man's brain whimseyed with his wealth.” Beau. & Fl.Whīm'-shaft, n. p. 1509(Mining.) The part of a principal shaft in a mine, used for raising ores to the surface. Tomlinson.Whim'si-cal, a. p. 1509Full of whims; freakish; having odd fancies; capricious. My neighbors call me whimsical. Addison. 2. Hence, singular; curious; odd; fantastic. “A whimsical chair.” Evelyn. Syn.—Quaint; freakish…Whim'si-căl'i-ty, n. p. 1509The state or quality of being whimsical; whimsicalness.Whim'si-cal-ly, adv. p. 1509In a whimsical manner; freakishly.Whĭm'sĭ-cal-ness, n. p. 1509The state or quality of being whimsical; freakishness; whimsical disposition; odd temper.Whĭm'whăm, n. p. 1509A whimsical thing; a trifle; a trinket; a gimcrack. [Rare.] They'll pull you all to pieces for your whimwhams. Beau. & Fl. 2. A whim or whimsey; a freak.Whĭn, n. p. 1509(Bot.) Gorse; furze; — applied also to a leguminous plant, of the genus Genista, having yellow flowers. Lee.Whĭn, n. p. 1509The same as WHIN-STONE, q. v.