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.
World'-hārd-ened, a. p. 1526Hardened by the love of worldly things.World'li-ness, n. p. 1526The quality of being worldly; a predominant passion for obtaining the good things of this life; covetousness; addictedness to gain and temporal enjoyments.World'ling, n. p. 1526A person whose soul is set upon gaining temporal possessions; one devoted to this world and its enjoyments. “A foutra for the world and worldlings base.” Shak. If we consider the expectations of…World'ly, a. p. 1526Relating to the world; human; common; as, worldly maxims; worldly actions. “I thus neglecting worldly ends.” Shak. Many years it hath continued, standing by no other worldly mean but that one only…World'ly, adv. p. 1526With relation to this life; in a worldly manner. Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise By simply meek. Milton.World'ly-mind'ed, a. p. 1526Devoted to worldly interests; mindful of the affairs of the present life, and forgetful of those of the future.World'ly-mind'ed-ness, n. p. 1526The state or quality of being worldly-minded; a predominating love and pursuit of this world's goods, to the exclusion of piety and attention to spiritual concerns.World'-wide, a. p. 1526Extended throughout the world; as, world-wide fame.Worm, n. p. 1526Originally, a creeping or a crawling animal of any kind or size; a serpent, caterpillar, snail, and the like. [Obs.] There came a viper out of the heat, and leaped upon his hand. When the men of the…Worm, v. i. p. 1526To work slowly, gradually, and secretly. When debates and fretting jealousy Did worm and work within you more and more, Your color faded. Herbert.Worm, v. t. p. 1526To effect, remove, drive, or the like, by slow and secret means;—often followed by out. They find themselves wormed out of all power. Swift. 2. To clean by means of a worm; to draw a wad or cartridge…Wör'mal, n. p. 1526The same as WORNIL, q. v.Worm'-eät'en, a. p. 1526Gnawed by worms; as, worm-eaten boards, planks, or timber. “Concave as a covered goblet, or a worm-eaten nut.” Shak. 2. Hence, worm-out; decayed; old; worthless. [Rare.] Raleigh.Worm'-eat'en-ness, n. p. 1526The state of being worm-eaten, or corroded. [Rare.]Wormed, a. p. 1526Penetrated by worms; injured by worms; as, wormed timber.Worm'-fence, n. p. 1526A zigzag fence, made by placing the ends of the rails upon each other.Worm'-grass, n. p. 1526(Bot.) A plant of the genus Spigelia, used as a vermifuge.Worm'-hole, n. p. 1526A hole made by the gnawing of a worm.Worm'ling, n. p. 1526A little worm.Worm'-oil, n. p. 1526(Med.) An anthelmintic consisting of oil obtained from the seeds of Chenopodium anthelminticum.Worm'-pow'der, n. p. 1526(Med.) A powder used for expelling worms from the stomach and intestines.Worm'-seed, n. p. 1526A plant whose seed has the property of expelling worms from the stomach, bowels, and intestines, as Artemisia santonica and Chenopodium anthelminticum.Worm'-shāped, a. p. 1526(Bot.) Shaped like a worm; thick, and almost cylindrical, but bent in different places, as some roots, and the like.Worm'-tēa, n. p. 1526A decoction of some bitter plant, used as an anthelmintic.Worm'-tinct'üre, n. p. 1526(Med.) A tincture prepared from earth-worms dried, pulverized, and mixed with oil of tartar, spirit of wine, saffron, and castor.Wör'mul, n. p. 1526The same as WORNIL. Booth.Worm'-wheel, n. p. 1526A wheel having teeth formed to fit into the spiral spaces of a screw called a worm, so that the wheel may be turned by the screw;—called also tangent-wheel. Weale.Worm'wood, n. p. 1526(Bot.) A plant (the Artemisia absinthium), having a bitter, nauseous taste;—so called because formerly supposed to be fatal to worms. Tree-wormwood, a species of Artemisia, with woody…Worm'y, a. p. 1526Containing a worm; abounding with worms. “Wormy beds.” Shuk. 2. Like a worm; earthy; groveling.Wōrn, p. p. p. 1526of wear. See WEAR. Worn land, land that has become exhausted by tillage, or which, for any reason, has lost its fertility.Wōrn'-out, a. p. 1526Consumed or rendered useless by wearing.Wōr'mil, n. p. 1526A sore on the backs of cattle, produced by the larvæ of the gadfly; a warble. [Written also wormal and wormel.] [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wŏr'ral or Wŏr'rel, n. p. 1526(Zoöl.) An animal of the lizard kind, about four feet long and eight inches broad, with a forked tongue, found in Egypt. It feeds on flies, and is harmless. Pococke.Wŏr'ri-er, n. p. 1526One who worries or harasses.Wōr'rit, v. t. p. 1526To worry. [Colloq. or slang.]Wōr'ry, v. t. p. 1526To harass with importunity, or with care and anxiety; to vex; to annoy; to torment; to tease; to trouble; to plague. “A church worried with reformation.” South. Let them rail, And then worry one…Wŏr'ry, v. i. p. 1526To express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; as, the child worries; to suffer from undue exertion; as, the cattle worry.Wōr'ry, n. p. 1526A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; trouble; as, to be in a worry.Wōr'ry-ing-ly, adv. p. 1526In a worrying manner; teasingly; harassingly.Worse, a. p. 1526Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a higher degree; more bad or evil; less good; in poorer health; more sick;—used both in a physical and moral sense. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. 2…Worse, adv. p. 1526In a manner more evil or bad. Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. Gen. xix. 9.Worse, v. t. p. 1526To make worse; to put to disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See WORST. Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton.Wors'en, v. t. p. 1526To make worse; to deteriorate; to impair. It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened. Southey. 2. To get the better of; to…Wors'en, v. i. p. 1526To grow or become worse. [Rare.] De Quincey.Wors'er, a. p. 1526Worse. [Rare.] A dreadful quiet felt, and, worser far Than arms, a sullen interval of war. Dryden. Thou dost deserve a worser end. Beau. & Fl. This old and redundant form of the comparative occurs…Wor'ship (wûr'ship), n. p. 1526Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness. [Obs. and rare.] Elfin, born of noble state, And muckle worship in his native land. Spenser. 2. Honor; respect; civil deference. [Obs.] Then shalt…Wor'ship, v. t. p. 1527To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. Our grave . . . shall have a tongueless mouth, Not worshiped with a waxen epitaph. Shak. 2. To pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme…Wor'ship, v. i. p. 1527To perform acts of adoration. 2. To perform religious service. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John iv. 20.Wor'ship-a-ble, a. p. 1527Capable of being worshiped; worthy of worship. [Rare.] Carlyle.Wor'ship-er, n. p. 1527One who worships; one who pays divine honors to any being; one who adores. [Written also, but incorrectly, worship-per.]Wor'ship-ful, a. p. 1527Entitled to worship, reverence, or high respect; claiming respect; worthy of honor; — often used as a term of respect, sometimes ironically. This is worshipful society. Shak.Wor'ship-ful-ly, adv. p. 1527In a worshipful manner; respectfully.Wor'ship-ful-ness, n. p. 1527The state or quality of being worshipful.Worst, a. p. 1527superl. of worse, q. v. [A-S. wyrsest, wirrest, wirst, a., wyrst, adv. See WORSE.] Bad, evil, or pernicious, in the highest degree, whether in a physical or moral sense. “In worst extremes.” Milton.…Worst, n. p. 1527That which is most bad or evil; the most severe, pernicious, calamitous, or wicked, state or degree. The worst is not So long as we can say, This is the worst. Shak. He is always sure of finding…Worst, v. t. p. 1527To gain advantage over in contest; to get the better of; to defeat; to overthrow. The Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark. South.Worst'ed, n. p. 1527Well-twisted yarn, spun of long-staple wool which has been combed to lay the fibers parallel, used for carpets, hosiery, gloves, and the like.Wort, n. p. 1527A plant; an herb; — now used chiefly or wholly in compounds; as, in mug-wort, liver-wort, spleen-wort. 2. Specifically, a plant of the cabbage kind.Wort, n. p. 1527New beer unfermented, or in the act of fermentation; the sweet infusion of malt. Bacon.Worth, v. i. p. 1527To be; to become; to betide; — now used only in the phrases, woe worth the day, woe worth the man, and the like, in which the verb is in the imperative mode, and the noun in the dative; woe be to the…