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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.

  1. Whith'er-so-ēv'er, adv.p. 1511To whatever place; as, I will go whithersoever you lead.
  2. Whith'er-ward, adv.p. 1511In what direction; toward what place. Whitherward to turn for a good course of life was by no means apparent. W. Scott.
  3. Whit'ing, n.p. 1511(Ichth.) A sea-fish, allied to the cod; the Merlangus vulgaris, valued on account of its delicacy and lightness as an article of food. 2. Ground chalk, carefully cleaned from all stony matter…
  4. Whît'ing-mŏp, n.p. 1511A young whiting. 2. A fair lass; a nice young woman. “This pretty whiting-mop.” Massinger.
  5. Whit'ing-pout, n.p. 1511(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Morrhua (M. fusca), allied to the cod.
  6. Whit'ish, a.p. 1511Somewhat white; white in a moderate degree. 2. (Bot.) (a.) Having a color like white somewhat soiled. (b.) Covered with an opaque white powder. Lindley.
  7. Whit'ish-ness, n.p. 1511The quality of being whitish or somewhat white.
  8. Whit'leath-er, n.p. 1512Leather dressed with alum, salt, &c., remarkable for its pliability and toughness. 2. A broad, tough, white ligament on the neck of quadrupeds, which supports the weight of the head; pax-wax.
  9. Whit'ling, n.p. 1512The young of the bull-trout in its first year. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  10. Whit'lōw, n.p. 1512(Med.) An inflammation of the fingers or toes, generally of the last phalanx, terminating usually in suppuration. The inflammation may occupy any seat between the skin and the bone. 2. (Far.) A…
  11. Whit'lōw-grāss, n.p. 1512(Bot.) (a.) Mountain knot-grass, a species of Illecebrum (I. paronychia). (b.) A certain herbaceous plant of the genus Draba. Rue-leaved whitlow-grass, a species of Saxifraga. Lee.
  12. Whit’sour, n.p. 1512A sort of apple.
  13. Whit’ster, n.p. 1512A whitener; a bleacher; a whitester. [Obs.] “The whitsters at Datchet mead.” Shak.
  14. Whit’sul, n.p. 1512A dish of milk; sour milk, cheese, curds, and butter. [Prov. Eng.] Carew.
  15. Whit’sun, a.p. 1512Of, pertaining to, or observed at, Whitsuntide.
  16. Whit’sun-day or Whit’sun-tide, n.p. 1512(Eccl.) The seventh Sunday after Easter; a festival of the church in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost;—so called, it is said, because, in the primitive church…
  17. Whit'ten-tree, n.p. 1512A sort of tree. Ainsworth.
  18. Whit'tle, n.p. 1512A knife; a pocket, sheath, or clasp-knife. “A butcher's whittle.” Dryden. A Sheffield whittle in his hose. Betterton. 2. [A-S. hwitel, a cloak.] A grayish, coarse double blanket worn by west…
  19. Whit'tle, v. t.p. 1512To pare or cut off the surface of with a small knife; to cut or shape, as a piece of wood held in the hand, with a clasp or pocket-knife. 2. To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited…
  20. Whit'tle, v. i.p. 1512To cut or shape a piece of wood with a small knife. Dexterity with the pocket-knife is a part of a Nantucket education; but I am inclined to think the propensity is national. Americans must and will…
  21. Whĭt'tle-shawl, n.p. 1512A kind of fine kerseymere fringed at the edge.
  22. Whit'tret, n.p. 1512A weasel. [Scot.] Jamieson.
  23. Whit'worth Ballp. 1512A peculiar projectile for rifled fire-arms, invented by Mr. Whitworth, of Manchester, England. ☞ In Mr. Whitworth's system, the bore of the gun has an hexagonal section, and the twist is much more…
  24. Whit'y-brown, a.p. 1512Of a color between white and brown. Pegge.
  25. Whĭz, v. i.p. 1512To make a humming or hissing sound, like an arrow or ball flying through the air. It flew, and, whizzing, cut the liquid way. Dryden.
  26. Whĭz, n.p. 1512A hissing and humming sound. “Like the whiz of my cross-bow.” Coleridge.
  27. Whizz'ing-ly, adv.p. 1512With a whizzing sound.
  28. Who (hōō), pron.p. 1512A relative or interrogative pronoun, used always substantively, and either as singular or plural; what or which person or persons. The nominative and objective refer only to persons. The possessive…
  29. Whōa, interj.p. 1512See Ho.
  30. Who'bub, n.p. 1512An uproar; hubbub. [Obs.]
  31. Who-ev'er, pron.p. 1512Whatever person; any person who; he or she who; any one who; as, he shall be punished, whoever he may be. “At this whoever envies or repines.” Milton.
  32. Whōle, a.p. 1512Containing the total amount, number, and the like; all; total; entire; without deficiency or diminution; as, the whole earth; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation. “The whole race…
  33. Whōle, n.p. 1512The entire thing; the entire assemblage of parts; totality; all of a thing, without defect or exception. 2. A regular combination of parts; a system. Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.…
  34. Whōle'-hoofed, a.p. 1512Having an undivided hoof.
  35. Whōle'-lēngth, a.p. 1512Representing the whole figure;—said of a picture or statue.
  36. Whŏle'-lēngth, n.p. 1512A portrait or statue representing the whole figure.
  37. Whōle'ness, n.p. 1512State of being whole, entire, or sound; entireness; totality; completeness.
  38. Whōle'sāle, n.p. 1512Sale of goods by the piece or large quantity, as distinguished from retail. By wholesale, in the mass; without distinction or discrimination. Some, from vanity or envy, despise a valuable book, and…
  39. Whōle'sāle, a.p. 1512Buying and selling by the piece or quantity; as, a wholesale merchant. 2. Of, or pertaining to, the trade by the piece or quantity; as, the wholesale price.
  40. Whōle'sōme, a.p. 1512Tending to promote health; favoring health; salubrious; salutary. “Wholesome thirst and appetite.” Milton. 2. Contributing to the health of the mind; favorable to morals, religion, or prosperity…
  41. Whōle'sōme-ly, adv.p. 1512In a wholesome or salutary manner; salubriously.
  42. Whole'sōme-ness, n.p. 1512The state or quality of being wholesome, or contributing to health; salubrity. It is a custom there that every host who entertains a guest shall assure him of the wholesomeness of his food by…
  43. Whōl'ly, adv.p. 1512In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly. Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield. Dryden. 2. To the exclusion of other things; totally. They employed themselves wholly in…
  44. Whom, pron.p. 1512The objective of who. See WHO.
  45. Whom'so-ēv'er, pron.p. 1512The objective of whosoever. See WHOSOEVER.
  46. Whōō'bub, n.p. 1512Hubbub. [Obs.] See HUBBUB. Shak.
  47. Whōōp, n.p. 1512A shout of pursuit, or of war; a cry of eagerness, enthusiasm, or enjoyment; a halloo; a hoot, as of an owl. A fox, crossing the road, drew off a considerable portion of the detachment, who clapped…
  48. Whōōp, n.p. 1512(Ornith.) A certain bird; the hoopoe, or upupa.
  49. Whōōp, v. i.p. 1512To utter a loud cry of eagerness, enthusiasm, or enjoyment; to cry out; to shout; to hoot, as an owl. “Each whooping with a merry shout.” Wordsworth. Satyrs, that in glades and gloomy dingles dwell…
  50. Whōōp, v. t.p. 1512To insult with shouts; to chase with derision. And suffered me, by the voice of slaves, to be Whooped out of Rome. Shak.
  51. Whoop'ing-cough, n.p. 1512(Med.) A violent, convulsive cough, returning at longer or shorter intervals, and consisting of several expirations, followed by a sonorous inspiration or whoop; chin-cough; hooping-cough. Dunglison.
  52. Whōōp'ing-crāne, n.p. 1512One of the family of Gruidæ, with long necks and bills. This variety is so named from its peculiar note.
  53. Whōōt, v. i.p. 1512To hoot. [Obs.] See HOOT.
  54. Whōp, v. t.p. 1512To beat severely. See WHAP. Forby. 2. To turn over suddenly. See WHAP.
  55. Whŏp, n.p. 1512A sudden fall, or the suddenness of striking in a fall.
  56. Whōp'per, n.p. 1512One who whoops. 2. Any thing uncommonly large; — applied especially to a monstrous lie. [Colloq.]
  57. Whōre, n.p. 1512A woman who practices unlawful sexual commerce with men, especially one who does it for hire; a harlot. Syn. — Harlot; courtesan; prostitute; strumpet; punk; wench; concubine.
  58. Whōre, v. i.p. 1512To have unlawful sexual commerce; to practice lewdness.
  59. Whōre, v. t.p. 1512To corrupt by lewd intercourse. [Rare.] Congreve.
  60. Whōre'dōm, n.p. 1512The practice of unlawful commerce with the other sex; fornication; lewdness. 2. (Script.) The desertion of the worship of the true God for the worship of idols; idolatry. O Ephraim, thou committest…