Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
With'er-ling, n. p. 1520A withered person; one who is decrepit. [Obs. and rare.] Chapman.With'er-nam, n. p. 1520(Law.) A second or reciprocal writ or distress in lieu of a first distress which has been eloigned; a taking by way of reprisal;—the name of a writ used in connection with the action of replevin…Withe'-rōd, n. p. 1521(Bot.) A North American shrub of the genus Viburnum (V. nudum). Gray.With'ers, n. pl. p. 1521The ridge between the shoulder-bones of a horse, at the bottom of the neck. [See Illust. of Horse.] Let the galled jade wince; Our withers are unwrung. Shak.With'er-wrŭng, a. p. 1521Injured or hurt in the withers, as a horse.With-hōld', v. t. p. 1521To hold back; to restrain; to keep from action. Withhold, O sovereign prince, your hasty hand From knitting league with him. Spenser. 2. To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent…With-hōld'en, p. p. p. 1521of withhold. See WITHHOLD.With-hōld'er, n. p. 1521One who withholds.With-hōld'ment, n. p. 1521The act of withholding.With-in', prep. p. 1521In the inner or interior part of; inside of; not without. O, unhappy youth. Come not within these doors: within this roof The enemy of all your graces lives. Shak. Till this be cured by religion, it…With-in', adv. p. 1521In the inner part; inwardly; internally. “The wound festers within.” Carew. Ills from within thy reason must prevent. Dryden. 2. In the house; in doors; as, the master is within.With-īn'-fōrth, adv. p. 1521Within doors; inside; in. [Obs. and rare.] Wycliffe.With-in'side, adv. p. 1521In the inner parts. [Obs.]With-out',, prep. p. 1521On or at the outside of; out of; not within; as, without doors. Without the gate Some drive the cars, and some the coursers rein. Dryden. 2. Out of the limits of; out of reach of; beyond. Eternity…With-out', adv. p. 1521Not on the inside; not within; on the outside; out of doors; externally. Without were fightings, within were fears. 2 Cor. vii. 5. These were from without the growing miseries. Milton.With-out'-dōor, a. p. 1521Being out of doors; out-door; exterior. [Obs.] Shak.With-out'en, prep. p. 1521Without. [Obs.]With-out'-fōrth, adv. p. 1521Out of doors; without; outside. [Obs. and rare.] Wycliffe.With-sāy', v. t. p. 1521To contradict; gainsay; deny; refuse. [Obs.] Gower.With-sĕt′, v. t. p. 1521To set against; to resist. [Obs.]With-stănd', v. t. p. 1521To oppose; to resist, either with physical or moral force; as, to withstand the attack of troops; to withstand eloquence or arguments. When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face.…With-ständ'er, n. p. 1521One who withstands or opposes; an opponent; a resisting power.With-stood', p. p. p. 1521of withstand. See WITHSTAND.With'-vīne, n. p. 1521The couch-grass.With'-wind, n. p. 1521The wild convolvulus.With'-wine, n. p. 1521The same as WITH-VINE, q. v.With'y, n. p. 1521A large species of willow. [Prov. Eng.] 2. A withe. See WITHE.With'y, a. p. 1521Made of withes; like a withe; flexible and tough.Wit'less, a. p. 1521Destitute of wit or understanding; inconsiderate; wanting thought. “A witty mother, witless else her son.” Shak. 2. Hence, indiscreet; not under the guidance of judgment. “Witless bravery.” Shak.…Wit'less-ly, adv. p. 1521In a witless manner; without the exercise of judgment.Wit'less-ness, n. p. 1521The state or quality of being witless; want of judgment.Wĭt'ling, n. p. 1521A person who has little wit or understanding; a pretender to wit or smartness. A beau and witling perished in the throng. Pope.Wit'ness, n. p. 1521Attestation of a fact or event; testimony. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John v. 31. May we with . . . the witness of a good conscience pursue him with any further revenge?…Wit'ness, v. t. p. 1521To see or know by personal presence; to have direct cognizance of. This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we ever witness the triumphs of modern…Wit'ness, v. i. p. 1521To bear testimony; to give evidence; to testify. The men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth. I Kings xxi. 13. The witnessing of the truth was then so generally attended with this…Wit'ness-er, n. p. 1521One who witnesses.Wit'-snăp'per, n. p. 1521One who affects repartee. [Obs.] Shak.Wit'-stärved, a. p. 1521Barren of wit; destitute of genius. [Rare.] Examiner.Wit'ted, a. p. 1521Having wit or understanding;—used chiefly or only in composition; as, a quick-witted boy.Wit'ti-cism, n. p. 1521A sentence or phrase which is affectedly witty; an attempt at wit; a conceit. He is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticisms; all which are below the dignity of heroic verse. Addison.…Wit'ti-ly, adv. p. 1521In a witty manner; wisely; ingeniously; artfully; with wit; with a delicate turn or phrase, or with an ingenious association of ideas. “Who his own harm so wittily contrives.” Dryden.Wit'ti-ness, n. p. 1521The quality of being witty.Wit'ting-ly, adv. p. 1521Knowingly; with knowledge; by design. He knowingly and wittingly brought evil into the world. More.Wit'tol, n. p. 1521A man who knows his wife's infidelity and submits to it; a tame cuckold. [Obs.]Wit'tol-ly, adv. p. 1521Like a wittol, or tame cuckold. [Obs.] Shak.Wit'ty, a. p. 1521Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; judicious; inventive. [Obs.] “The deep-revolving, witty Buckingham.” Shak. 2. Especially, possessing wit or humor; good at repartee; amusing; droll; facetious…Wit'wal or Wit'wall, n. p. 1521(Ornith.) (a.) A bird, the golden oriole. (b.) The great spotted woodpecker. Eng. Cyc.Wĭt'-worm, n. p. 1521One who feeds on wit; that which feeds on or destroys wit; that which corrupts wit. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Wīve, v. i. p. 1521To marry, as a man; to take a wife.Wīve, v. t. p. 1521To match to a wife; to provide with a wife. If I could get me but a wife ... I were manned, horsed, and wived. Shak. 2. To take for a wife; to espouse or to wed, as a man. I have wived his sister. W.…Wīve'hŏŏd, n. p. 1521Behavior becoming a wife; wifehood. [Obs.] Spenser.Wive'less, a. p. 1521Not having a wife; wifeless. [Obs.]Wive'ly, a. p. 1521Pertaining to a wife; wifely. [Obs.]Wiv'er or Wiv'ern, n. p. 1521(Her.) A kind of heraldic dragon or serpent; a kind of two-legged dragon. “The jargon of heraldry, its griffins, its moldwarps, its wiverns, and its dragons.” W. Scott.Wives, n. p. 1521pl. of wife. See WIFE.Wiz'ard, n. p. 1521A wise man; a sage. [Obs.] See how from far upon the eastern road The star-led wizards haste with odors sweet. Milton. 2. One devoted to the black art; a magician; a conjurer; a sorcerer. The wily…Wiz'ard, a. p. 1521Enchanting; charming. Collins. 2. Haunted by wizards. “Where Deva winds her wizard stream.” Milton.Wiz'ard-ly, a. p. 1521Resembling, or becoming, a wizard; wizard-like; weird.Wiz'ard-ry, n. p. 1521The character or practices of wizards; sorcery; magic.Wiz'en, v. i. p. 1521To wither; to dry. [Scot. and Prov. Eng.]