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.
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.]Wīld, a. p. 1514Living in a state of nature; not familiar with man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat; a wild bee. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Shak. 2.…Wīld, n. p. 1514An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or sandy desert; a wilderness; a desert; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa. Then Libya first, of all her moisture drained, Became…Wil'der, v. t. p. 1514To cause to lose the way or track; to puzzle with mazes or difficulties; to bewilder. “Long lost and wildered in the maze of fate.” Pope.Wil'der-ment, n. p. 1514The state of being bewildered; confusion; hubbub; bewilderment. And snatched her breathless from beneath / This wilderness of wreck and death. T. Moore.Wil'der-ness, n. p. 1514A tract of land or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings, whether a forest or a wide, barren plain; a wild; a waste; a desert. The watery wilderness yields no supply. Waller. 2. The…Wild'-fire, n. p. 1514A composition of inflammable materials, which when inflamed is very hard to quench; Greek fire. Brimstone, pitch, wild-fire, burn easily, and are hard to quench. Beacon. 2. A disease of sheep…Wild'grāve, n. p. 1514A waldgrave, or head forest keeper. See WALDGRAVE. The wildgrave winds his bugle-horn. W. Scott.Wild'ing, n. p. 1514A wild crab-apple. Spencer. 2. A young tree that is wild, or growing without cultivation. The fruit of the tree . . . is small, of little juice, and bad quality. . . . I presume it to be a wilding.…Wild'ing, a. p. 1514Not tame, domesticated, or cultivated; wild. [Rare.] “Wilding flowers.” Tennyson. The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. Bryant.Wild'ish, a. p. 1514Somewhat wild. [Rare.] “A wildish destiny.” Wordsworth.Wild'ly, adv. p. 1514In a wild condition or manner; without cultivation; without tameness. 2. With disorder; with perturbation or distraction; with a fierce or roving manner or look; as, to start wildly from one's seat…Wild'ness, n. p. 1514The state or quality of being wild; rudeness; uncultivated state; as, the wildness of a forest or heath. 2. Inordinate disposition to rove; irregularity of manners; as, the wildness of youth. 3.…Wilds, n. p. 1515(Agric.) The part of a plow by which it is drawn. [Prov. Eng.]Wile, n. p. 1515A trick or stratagem practiced for insnaring or deception; a sly, insidious artifice. “That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. vi. 11. Not more almighty to resist our…Wile, v. t. p. 1515To practice artifice upon; to deceive; to beguile. [Rare.] Spenser.Wile'ful, a. p. 1515Full of wiles; trickish; mischievous. At Merlin's feet the wileful Vivian lay. Tennyson.Will'ful or Will'ful-ly or Will'ful-ness, a., adv., n. p. 1515See WILLFUL, WILLFULLY, and WILLFULNESS.Wīl'-ly, adv. p. 1515In a wily manner; by stratagem; with insidious art. Josh. ix. 4.Wi'li-ness, n. p. 1515The state or quality of being wily; cunning; guile.Wilk, n. p. 1515A species of mollusk. See WHELK.Will, n. p. 1515The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by which it is capable of choosing; the faculty of preferring or selecting one of two or more objects. It is necessary to form a distinct…Will, v. t. p. 1515This verb has both an irregular and regular form. 1. Irregular. [I will, thou wilt, he will; imp. would; p. p. wanting.] (a.) To wish; to desire; to incline to have. “Caleb said to her, What wilt…Will, v. i. p. 1515To exercise an act of volition. “He that shall turn his thoughts inward upon what passes in his own mind when he wills.” Locke. 2. To be inclined or disposed; to be pleased; to desire; to choose. I…Wil'lem-ite, n. p. 1515(Min.) A mineral of resinous luster and yellowish color, consisting chiefly of silicate of zinc.Will'er, n. p. 1515One who wills.