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.
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.Will'ful, a. p. 1515Governed by the will without yielding to reason; obstinate; perverse; inflexible; stubborn; refractory; as, a willful man; a willful horse. 2. Of set purpose; voluntary; showing design; done or…Will'ful-ly, adv. p. 1515In a willful manner; obstinately; stubbornly. 2. By design; with set purpose. [Obs.] If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for…Will'ful-ness, n. p. 1515The quality of being willful; obstinacy; stubbornness; perverseness; voluntariness. Sins of presumption are such as proceed from pride, arrogance, willfulness, and haughtiness of men's hearts.…Wil'li-er, n. p. 1515One who works at a willying-machine.Will'ing, a. p. 1515Free to do or grant; having the mind inclined; not opposed in mind; not choosing to refuse; disposed; not averse; desirous; consenting; ready; fain. Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left…Will'ing-ly, adv. p. 1515In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully; by one's own choice. The condition of that people is not so much to be envied as some would willingly represent it. Addison.Will'ing-ness, n. p. 1515The quality of being willing; free choice or consent of the will; freedom from reluctance; readiness of the mind to do or forbear. Sweet is the love that comes with willingness. Dryden.Wil'li-waw, n. p. 1515(Naut.) A hurricane squall. [Eng.]Will'ock, n. p. 1515(Ornith.) A certain sea-fowl.Will'low, n. p. 1515(Bot.) A tree of the genus Salix, including many species, most of which are characterized by slender, pliant branches. 2. (Cotton Manuf.) A machine in which cotton is opened and cleansed by the…Will'ōw, v. t. p. 1515To open and cleanse, as cotton, by means of a willow.Wil'lōwed, a. p. 1515Abounding with willows; containing willows; covered or overgrown with willows. “Willowed meads.” Collins.Wil'lōw-er, n. p. 1515A willow or willy. See WILLOW.Wil'lōw-gall, n. p. 1515A protuberance on the leaves of willows.Wi'lōw-hĕrb, n. p. 1515(Bot.) A dicotyledonous plant of the genus Epilobium, including several species, some of which are cultivated for their ornamental qualities. E. angustifolium is the French willow-herb; E. hirsutum…Will'lōw-ish, a. p. 1515Having the color of the willow; resembling the willow. Walton.Wĭl'lōw-lārk, n. p. 1515(Ornith.) The sedge-warbler, or sedge-bird. See SEDGE-WARBLER.Wil'low-weed, n. p. 1515(Bot.) (a.) A weed growing on wet, light lands, with a seed like buckwheat; the Polygonum lapathifolium. (b.) A species of Lysimachia, or loose-strife.Wĭl'lōw-wort, n. p. 1515A certain plant. Miller.Wĭl'lōw-y, a. p. 1515Abounding with willows. Gray. 2. Resembling a willow; pliant; flexible; pendent; drooping; graceful.