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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Wiēr'y, a. p. 1514Wet; marshy. [Obs.] Shak.Wi'er-y, a. p. 1514Wiry. See WIRY. [Obs.] “Wiery gold.” Peacham.Wife, n. p. 1514A woman; an adult female;—used only in certain compounds and phrases, as ale-wife, fish-wife, good-wife, and the like. 2. The lawful consort of a man; a woman who is united to a man in…Wife's equity p. 1514the equitable right or claim of a married woman to a reasonable and adequate provision, by way of settlement or otherwise, out of her choses in action, or out of any property of hers which is under…Wife'hood, n. p. 1514The state and character of a wife.Wife'less, a. p. 1514Without a wife; unmarried.Wife'ly, a. p. 1514Becoming or like a wife; pertaining or suitable to a wife. “With all the tenderness of wifely love.” Dryden.Wig, n. p. 1514A covering for the head, consisting of hair interwoven or united by a kind of net-work, either in imitation of the natural growth, or in abundant and flowing curls, worn to supply a deficiency of…Wig, n. p. 1514A sort of cake. [Obs.] Cotgrave.Wig'eon, n. p. 1514The same as WIDGEON, q. v.Wigged, a. p. 1514Having the head covered with a wig.Wig'gle, v. t. or i. p. 1514To move to and fro with a quick, jerking motion; to squirm; to wriggle. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. U. S.]Wig'her, v. i. p. 1514To neigh; to whinny. [Obs. and rare.] Beau. & Fl.Wight, n. p. 1514A supernatural being. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. A being; a person;—used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. “The wight of all the world who loved thee best.” Dryden. O say me true if…Wight, a. p. 1514Swift; “nimble.” [Obs.] “He was so nimble and so wight.” Spenser.Wight'ly, adv. p. 1514Swiftly; nimbly. [Obs.]Wig'less, a. p. 1514Without a wig; wearing no wig.Wig'wām, n. p. 1514An Indian cabin or hut. [Sometimes written also weekwām.] ☞ “The wigwam, or Indian house, of a circular or oval shape, was made of bark or mats laid over a framework of branches of trees stuck in the…Wike, n. p. 1514A temporary mark or boundary, as a bough of a tree set up in marking out or dividing any thing, as tithes, swaths to be mowed in common ground, and the like;—called also wicker. [Prov. Eng.]