Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Whorl’er, n. p. 1513A potter’s wheel. Simmonds.Whort, n. p. 1513The fruit of the whortleberry; also, the shrub itself.Whort'le, n. p. 1513A whortleberry. “A sweet berry in shape like the whortle.” St. John.Whort'le-bĕr'ry, n. p. 1513(Bot.) A plant or shrub of the genus Vaccinium (Gaylussacia of Gray), and its small, round edible berry, which is highly valued for food; the huckleberry. See HUCKLEBERRY. The name huckleberry is now…Whose, pron. p. 1513The possessive or genitive case of who or which. See WHO and WHICH.Whose-so-èv'er, pron. p. 1513The possessive of whosoever. See WHOSOEVER.Whō'sō, pron. p. 1513Whosoever. [Obs. or poet.] Whoso shrinks or falters now, . . . Brand the craven on his brow. Whittier.Whō'so-ēv'er, pron. p. 1513Whatsoever person; any person whatever that. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17.Whōt, a. p. 1513The same as Hot. [Obs.] Spenser.Whār, v. i. p. 1513To make a rough, humming sound, like one who pronounces the letter r with too much force; to make a rough or growling sound. 2. To snarl or growl, as a dog. Halliwell.Whir, n. p. 1513A humming or purring sound like that of a body moving through the air with velocity; whir. See WHIR.Whŭr'ry, v. t. p. 1513To whisk along quickly; to hurry. [Obs. and rare.] “Whurrying the chariot with them to the shore.” Vicars.Whort, n. p. 1513A whortleberry or bilberry. See WHORT. [Obs.]Whȳ, adv. p. 1513For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; — used interrogatively. Turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die? Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 2. For which reason or cause; on which account; on…Whȳ, n. p. 1513A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Whȳ'-nŏt, n. p. 1513A violent and peremptory procedure without any assigned reason. [Obs. and cant.] When the church Was taken with a why-not in the lurch. Hudibras. 2. Any sudden event. [Obs. and rare.] This game . . .…Wick, n. p. 1513A street; a village; a castle; a place of work. [Obs. and very rare.] Stowe.Wick, n. p. 1513A spongy cord usually made of soft spun cotton threads, which by capillary attraction draws up the oil in lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for illumination, in small…Wick'ed, a. p. 1513Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral;—said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed…Wick'ed-ly, adv. p. 1513In a wicked manner; with motives and designs contrary to the divine law; viciously; corruptly; immorally. I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. 2 Sam. xxiv. 17.Wick'ed-ness, n. p. 1513The state or quality of being wicked; departure from the rules of the divine law; evil disposition or practices; a character or heart that is wicked; immorality; crime; sin; sinfulness. What…Wick'en or Wick'en-tree, n. p. 1513The rowan-tree, or mountain ash.Wick'er, a. p. 1513Made of, or covered with, twigs or osiers. Each one a little wicker basket had, Made of fine twigs, entrailed curiously. Spencer.Wick'er, n. p. 1513A small twig or osier; a rod for making basket-work, and the like. “A press of wicker.” Chapman. Then quick did dress His half-milk up for cheeses, and in a press Of wicker pressed it. Chapman. 2.…Wick'ered, a. p. 1513Made of, secured by, or covered with, wicker, or osier-work. “Ships of light timber, wickered with osier between, and covered over with leather.” Milton.Wic'ket or Wicket-keeper, n. p. 1513A small gate or door, especially one forming part of a larger door or gate; a narrow opening or entrance cut in a door or gate, or the door which is used to close or open such entrance or aperture.…Wick'ing, n. p. 1513The material of which wicks are made; especially, a loosely braided or twisted thread of cotton.Wic'lif-īte or Wick'liff-īte, n. p. 1513See WYCLIFFITE.Wic'o-py, n. p. 1513(Bot.) See LEATHER-WOOD.Wid'dy, n. p. 1513A halter made of a flexible branch or withe. [Scot.]Wide, a. p. 1513Having a great extent every way; extended; spacious; broad; vast; as, a wide plain; the wide ocean. “Men of strongest head and widest culture.” M. Arnold. For sceptred cynics earth were far too wide…Wide, adv. p. 1513To a distance; far; as, his fame was spread wide.Wīde'-a-wāke', a. p. 1513On the alert; ready; earnest.Wide'-a-wāke', n. p. 1513A broad-brimmed, low-crowned, felt hat.Wide'ly, adv. p. 1513In a wide manner; to a wide degree; far; extensively; as, the gospel was widely disseminated by the apostles. 2. Very much; to a great degree; as, to differ widely in opinion.Wīd'en, v. t. p. 1513To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking.Wīd'en, v. i. p. 1513To grow wide, or wider; to enlarge; to extend. Arches widen, and long aisles extend. Pope.Wide'ness, n. p. 1513The quality or state of being wide; breadth; width; great extent between the sides; as, the wideness of a room. 2. Large extent in all directions; as, the wideness of the sea or ocean. I landed in a…Wid'geon, n. p. 1513(Ornith.) A waterfowl of the duck group, belonging to the genus Mareca of Stephens. The European species is the Mareca Penelope, the American the Mareca Americana. Nuttall. Jardine.Wid'ow, n. p. 1513A woman who has lost her husband by death, and has not taken another; one living bereaved of a husband. Grass widow. (a.) A wife who has been separated for a considerable time from her husband, while…Wid'ow, v. t. p. 1513To reduce to the condition of a widow; to bereave of a husband; — rarely used except in the participle. Though in this city he Hath widowed and unchilled many a one, Which to this hour bewail the…Wid'ow-bĕnch, n. p. 1514(Eng. Law.) In Sussex, that share which a widow is allowed of her husband's estate besides her jointure.Wid'ow-bird, n. p. 1514(Ornith.) A bird of the size of a canary, of a somber color, whence, perhaps, the name. One species (Vidua paradisea), a native of Senegal and South Africa, is a favorite cage bird. It is also called…Wid'ow-er, n. p. 1514A man who has lost his wife by death, and has not married again.Wid'ōw-er-hōōd, n. p. 1514The state or condition of a widower.Wid'ow-hood, n. p. 1514The state of being a widow; also, more rarely, the state of being a widower. 2. Estate settled on a widow. [Rare.] For that dowry, I'll assure her of Her widowhood, be it that she survives me, In all…Wid'ow-hūnt'er, n. p. 1514One who seeks or courts widows for a jointure or fortune.Wid’ow-ly, a. p. 1514Becoming or like a widow.Wid'ow-mā'ker, n. p. 1514One who makes widows by destroying husbands.Wid'ōw-wāil, n. p. 1514(Bot.) A low, evergreen plant or shrub of the genus Cneorum. Lee.Width, n. p. 1514The quality of being wide; extent from side to side: breadth; wideness; as, the width of cloth; the width of a door.Wid'ū-al, a. p. 1514Of, or relating to, a widow; vidual. [Obs. and rare.] Bale.Wĭeld, v. t. p. 1514To use with full command or power, as a thing not too heavy for the holder; to manage; to handle; as, to wield a sword; to wield the scepter. Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed.…Wield'a-ble, a. p. 1514Capable of being wielded.Wield'ance, n. p. 1514The act or power of wielding. [Rare.] “Our weak wieldance.” Bp. Hall.Wield'er, n. p. 1514One who wields or employs; a manager; a controller. “A wielder of the great arm of the war.” Milman.Wield'less, a. p. 1514Not to be wielded; unmanageable. [Rare.] “Wieldless might.” Spenser.Wield'some, a. p. 1514Admitting of being easily wielded or managed. [Obs.] Fabyan.Wiēld'y, a. p. 1514Capable of being wielded; manageable. [Rare.] Johnson.Wier, n. p. 1514The same as WEAR, q. v.