8 letter word starting with f

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Words Parts of Speech Meaning/Definition/Similar Words
fabellae plural of Fabella
fabliaux plural of Fabliau
fabulist noun One who invents or writes fables.
fabulize verb i. To invent, compose, or relate fables or fictions.
fabulous adjective Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero., Passing belief; exceedingly great; as, a fabulous price.
faburden noun A species of counterpoint with a drone bass., A succession of chords of the sixth., A monotonous refrain.
faceting present participle & vb. noun of Facet
facetiae noun pl. Witty or humorous writings or saying; witticisms; merry conceits.
facework noun The material of the outside or front side, as of a wall or building; facing.
facility noun The quality of being easily performed; freedom from difficulty; ease; as, the facility of an operation., Ease in performance; readiness proceeding from skill or use; dexterity; as, practice gives a wonderful facility in executing works of art., Easiness to be persuaded; readiness or compliance; — usually in a bad sense; pliancy., Easiness of access; complaisance; affability., That which promotes the ease of any action or course of conduct; advantage; aid; assistance; — usually in the plural; as, special facilities for study.
facingly adverb In a facing manner or position.
factious adjective Given to faction; addicted to form parties and raise dissensions, in opposition to government or the common good; turbulent; seditious; prone to clamor against public measures or men; — said of persons., Pertaining to faction; proceeding from faction; indicating, or characterized by, faction; — said of acts or expressions; as, factious quarrels.
factored imp. & past participle of Factor
factotum noun A person employed to do all kinds of work or business.
fadeless adjective Not liable to fade; unfading.
fagoting present participle & vb. noun of Fagot
fahlband noun A stratum in crystalline rock, containing metallic sulphides., Same as Tetrahedrite.
failance noun Fault; failure; omission.
faineant adjective Doing nothing; shiftless., A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard.
fainting present participle & vb. noun of Faint, Syncope, or loss of consciousness owing to a sudden arrest of the blood supply to the brain, the face becoming pallid, the respiration feeble, and the heat’s beat weak.
faintish adjective Slightly faint; somewhat faint.
fairhood noun Fairness; beauty.
fairness noun The state of being fair, or free form spots or stains, as of the skin; honesty, as of dealing; candor, as of an argument, etc.
faithful adjective Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God., Firm in adherence to promises, oaths, contracts, treaties, or other engagements., True and constant in affection or allegiance to a person to whom one is bound by a vow, be ties of love, gratitude, or honor, as to a husband, a prince, a friend; firm in the observance of duty; loyal; of true fidelity; as, a faithful husband or servant., Worthy of confidence and belief; conformable to truth ot fact; exact; accurate; as, a faithful narrative or representation.
falanaka noun A viverrine mammal of Madagascar (Eupleres Goudotii), allied to the civet; — called also Falanouc.
falcated adjective Hooked or bent like a sickle; as, a falcate leaf; a falcate claw; — said also of the moon, or a planet, when horned or crescent-formed.
falchion noun A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; — used in the Middle Ages., A name given generally and poetically to a sword, especially to the swords of Oriental and fabled warriors.
falconer noun A person who breeds or trains hawks for taking birds or game; one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks.
falconet noun One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later., One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus Microhierax., One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, resembling shrikes and titmice.
falconry noun The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild fowl or game., The sport of taking wild fowl or game by means of falcons or hawks.
fallency noun An exception.
fallfish noun A fresh-water fish of the United States (Semotilus bullaris); — called also silver chub, and Shiner. The name is also applied to other allied species.
fallible adjective Liable to fail, mistake, or err; liable to deceive or to be deceived; as, all men are fallible; our opinions and hopes are fallible.
fallibly adverb In a fallible manner.
fallowed imp. & past participle of Fallow
falsetto noun A false or artificial voice; that voice in a man which lies above his natural voice; the male counter tenor or alto voice. See Head voice, under Voice.
faltered imp. & past participle of Falter
fameless adjective Without fame or renown.
familiar adjective Of or pertaining to a family; domestic., Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures., Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible., Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration., Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate., An intimate; a companion., An attendant demon or evil spirit., A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.
familism noun The tenets of the Familists.
familist noun One of afanatical Antinomian sect originating in Holland, and existing in England about 1580, called the Family of Love, who held that religion consists wholly in love.
families plural of Family
famished imp. & past participle of Famish
famosity noun The state or quality of being famous.
famoused adjective Renowned.
famously adverb In a famous manner; in a distinguished degree; greatly; splendidly.
famulate verb i. To serve.
famulist noun A collegian of inferior rank or position, corresponding to the sizar at Cambridge.
fanatism noun Fanaticism.
fanciful adjective Full of fancy; guided by fancy, rather than by reason and experience; whimsical; as, a fanciful man forms visionary projects., Conceived in the fancy; not consistent with facts or reason; abounding in ideal qualities or figures; as, a fanciful scheme; a fanciful theory., Curiously shaped or constructed; as, she wore a fanciful headdress.
fancying present participle & vb. noun of Fancy
fandango noun A lively dance, in 3-8 or 6-8 time, much practiced in Spain and Spanish America. Also, the tune to which it is danced., A ball or general dance, as in Mexico.
fanfaron noun A bully; a hector; a swaggerer; an empty boaster.
fangless adjective Destitute of fangs or tusks.
fan palm Any palm tree having fan-shaped or radiate leaves; as the Chamaerops humilis of Southern Europe; the species of Sabal and Thrinax in the West Indies, Florida, etc.; and especially the great talipot tree (Corypha umbraculifera) of Ceylon and Malaya. The leaves of the latter are often eighteen feet long and fourteen wide, and are used for umbrellas, tents, and roofs. When cut up, they are used for books and manuscripts.
fantasia noun A continuous composition, not divided into what are called movements, or governed by the ordinary rules of musical design, but in which the author’s fancy roves unrestricted by set form.
farabout noun A going out of the way; a digression.
faradism noun Alt. of Faradization
farantly adjective Orderly; comely; respectable.
farcical adjective Pertaining to farce; appropriated to farce; ludicrous; unnatural; unreal., Of or pertaining to the disease called farcy. See Farcy, n.
farcimen noun Alt. of Farcin
farctate verb t. Stuffed; filled solid; as, a farctate leaf, stem, or pericarp; — opposed to tubular or hollow.
farewell interj. Go well; good-by; adieu; — originally applied to a person departing, but by custom now applied both to those who depart and those who remain. It is often separated by the pronoun; as, fare you well; and is sometimes used as an expression of separation only; as, farewell the year; farewell, ye sweet groves; that is, I bid you farewell., A wish of happiness or welfare at parting; the parting compliment; a good-by; adieu., Act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something., Parting; valedictory; final; as, a farewell discourse; his farewell bow.
farfetch verb t. To bring from far; to seek out studiously., Anything brought from far, or brought about with studious care; a deep strategem.
farinose adjective Yielding farinaa; as, farinose substances., Civered with a sort of white, mealy powder, as the leaves of some poplars, and the body of certain insects; mealy.
farmable adjective Capable of being farmed.
farmyard noun The yard or inclosure attached to a barn, or the space inclosed by the farm buildings.
farriery noun The art of shoeing horses., The art of preventing, curing, or mitigating diseases of horses and cattle; the veterinary art., The place where a smith shoes horses.
farrowed imp. & past participle of Farfow
farthest superl. Most distant or remote; as, the farthest degree. See Furthest., At or to the greatest distance. See Furthest.
farthing noun The fourth of a penny; a small copper coin of Great Britain, being a cent in United States currency., A very small quantity or value., A division of land.
fasciate adjective Alt. of Fasciated
fascicle noun A small bundle or collection; a compact cluster; as, a fascicle of fibers; a fascicle of flowers or roots.
fasciola noun A band of gray matter bordering the fimbria in the brain; the dentate convolution.
fasciole noun A band of minute tubercles, bearing modified spines, on the shells of spatangoid sea urchins. See Spatangoidea.
fassaite noun A variety of pyroxene, from the valley of Fassa, in the Tyrol.
fastened imp. & past participle of Fasten
fastener noun One who, or that which, makes fast or firm.
fastness adjective The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness; security; faithfulness., A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their fastnesses in the mountains., Conciseness of style., The state of being fast or swift.
fastuous adjective Proud; haughty; disdainful.
fatalism noun The doctrine that all things are subject to fate, or that they take place by inevitable necessity.
fatalist noun One who maintains that all things happen by inevitable necessity.
fatality noun The state of being fatal, or proceeding from destiny; invincible necessity, superior to, and independent of, free and rational control., The state of being fatal; tendency to destruction or danger, as if by decree of fate; mortaility., That which is decreed by fate or which is fatal; a fatal event.
fathered imp. & past participle of Father
fatherly adjective Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting; careful., Of or pertaining to a father.
fathomed imp. & past participle of Fathom
fathomer noun One who fathoms.
fatigate adjective Wearied; tired; fatigued., To weary; to tire; to fatigue.
fatigued imp. & past participle of Fatigue
fatimite adjective Alt. of Fatimide
fatimide adjective Descended from Fatima, the daughter and only child of Mohammed., A descendant of Fatima.
fattened imp. & past participle of Fatten
fattener noun One who, or that which, fattens; that which gives fatness or fertility.
faubourg noun A suburb of French city; also, a district now within a city, but formerly without its walls.
fauchion noun See Falchion.
faulting present participle & vb. noun of Fault, The state or condition of being faulted; the process by which a fault is produced.
faultful adjective Full of faults or sins.
faultily adverb In a faulty manner.
fauteuil noun An armchair; hence (because the members sit in fauteuils or armchairs), membership in the French Academy., Chair of a presiding officer.
fautress noun A patroness.
fauvette noun A small singing bird, as the nightingale and warblers.
faux pas A false step; a mistake or wrong measure.
favonian adjective Pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle.
favoring present participle & vb. noun of Favor, That favors.
favoress noun A woman who favors or gives countenance.
favorite noun A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one treated with partiality; one preferred above others; especially, one unduly loved, trusted, and enriched with favors by a person of high rank or authority., Short curls dangling over the temples; — fashionable in the reign of Charles II., The competitor (as a horse in a race) that is judged most likely to win; the competitor standing highest in the betting., Regarded with particular affection, esteem, or preference; as, a favorite walk; a favorite child.
favosite adjective Like or pertaining to the genus Favosites.
fayalite noun A black, greenish, or brownish mineral of the chrysolite group. It is a silicate of iron.
fazzolet noun A handkerchief.
feaberry noun A gooseberry.
fearless adjective Free from fear.
fearsome adjective Frightful; causing fear., Easily frightened; timid; timorous.
feasible adjective Capable of being done, executed, or effected; practicable., Fit to be used or tailed, as land.
feasting present participle & vb. noun of Feast
feastful adjective Festive; festal; joyful; sumptuous; luxurious.
feateous adjective Dexterous; neat.
feathery adjective Pertaining to, or resembling, feathers; covered with, or as with, feathers; as, feathery spray or snow.
featness noun Skill; adroitness.
featured adjective Shaped; fashioned., Having features; formed into features.
feazings verb t. The unlaid or ragged end of a rope.
febrific adjective Producing fever.
february noun The second month in the year, said to have been introduced into the Roman calendar by Numa. In common years this month contains twenty-eight days; in the bissextile, or leap year, it has twenty-nine days.
fecifork noun The anal fork on which the larvae of certain insects carry their faeces.
feckless adjective Spiritless; weak; worthless.
feculent adjective Foul with extraneous or impure substances; abounding with sediment or excrementitious matter; muddy; thick; turbid.
federary noun A partner; a confederate; an accomplice.
federate adjective United by compact, as sovereignties, states, or nations; joined in confederacy; leagued; confederate; as, federate nations.
feetless adjective Destitute of feet; as, feetless birds.
feigning present participle & vb. noun of Feign, That feigns; insincere; not genuine; false.
feldspar noun Alt. of Feldspath
felicity noun The state of being happy; blessedness; blissfulness; enjoyment of good., That which promotes happiness; a successful or gratifying event; prosperity; blessing., A pleasing faculty or accomplishment; as, felicity in painting portraits, or in writing or talking.
fellable adjective Fit to be felled.
fellahin plural of Fellah
felltare noun The fieldfare.
fellinic adjective Of, relating to, or derived from, bile or gall; as, fellinic acid.
fellness noun The quality or state of being fell or cruel; fierce barbarity.
fellowly adjective Fellowlike.
felonous adjective Wicked; felonious.
felonies plural of Felony
felsitic adjective relating to, composed of, or containing, felsite.
felspath noun See Feldspar.
felstone noun See Felsite.
femalist noun A gallant.
femalize verb t. To make, or to describe as, female or feminine.
femerell noun A lantern, or louver covering, placed on a roof, for ventilation or escape of smoke.
feminate adjective Feminine.
feminine adjective Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a woman; womanish; womanly., Having the qualities of a woman; becoming or appropriate to the female sex; as, in a good sense, modest, graceful, affectionate, confiding; or, in a bad sense, weak, nerveless, timid, pleasure-loving, effeminate., A woman., Any one of those words which are the appellations of females, or which have the terminations usually found in such words; as, actress, songstress, abbess, executrix.
feminity noun Womanliness; femininity.
feminize verb t. To make womanish or effeminate.
fenceful adjective Affording defense; defensive.
fencible noun A soldier enlisted for home service only; — usually in the pl.
fenerate verb i. To put money to usury; to lend on interest.
fenestra noun A small opening; esp., one of the apertures, closed by membranes, between the tympanum and internal ear.
feoffing present participle & vb. noun of Feoff
feracity noun The state of being feracious or fruitful.
ferdness noun Fearfulness.
feretory noun A portable bier or shrine, variously adorned, used for containing relics of saints.
ferforth adverb Far forth.
feringee noun The name given to Europeans by the Hindos.
ferocity noun Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of countenance.
ferreous adjective Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron.
ferreted imp. & past participle of Ferret
ferreter noun One who ferrets.
ferretto noun Copper sulphide, used to color glass.
ferriage noun The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.
ferroso- See Ferro-.
ferrying present participle & vb. noun of Ferry
ferrymen plural of Ferryman
ferryman noun One who maintains or attends a ferry.
feruling present participle & vb. noun of Ferule
fervence noun Heat; fervency.
fervency noun The state of being fervent or warm; ardor; warmth of feeling or devotion; eagerness.
fescuing present participle & vb. noun of Fescue
fesswise adverb In the manner of fess.
festally adverb Joyously; festively; mirthfully.
festered imp. & past participle of Fester
festival adjective Pertaining to a fest; festive; festal; appropriate to a festival; joyous; mirthful.
festlich noun Festive; fond of festive occasions.
festoony adjective Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, festoons.
fetation noun The formation of a fetus in the womb; pregnancy.
fetching present participle & vb. noun of Fetch
feticide noun The act of killing the fetus in the womb; the offense of procuring an abortion.
feticism noun See Fetichism.
fetidity noun Fetidness.
fetisely adverb Neatly; gracefully; properly.
fettered adjective Seeming as if fettered, as the feet of certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking.
fetterer noun One who fetters.
fettling noun A mixture of ore, cinders, etc., used to line the hearth of a puddling furnace., The operation of shaving or smoothing the surface of undried clay ware.
feudally adverb In a feudal manner.
feudtory adjective Held from another on some conditional tenure; as, a feudatory title.
feuterer noun A dog keeper.
fevering present participle & vb. noun of Fever
feverfew noun A perennial plant (Pyrethrum, / Chrysanthemum, Parthenium) allied to camomile, having finely divided leaves and white blossoms; — so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities.
feverish adjective Having a fever; suffering from, or affected with, a moderate degree of fever; showing increased heat and thirst; as, the patient is feverish., Indicating, or pertaining to, fever; characteristic of a fever; as, feverish symptoms., Hot; sultry., Disordered as by fever; excited; restless; as, the feverish condition of the commercial world.
feverous adjective Affected with fever or ague; feverish., Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fever; as, a feverous pulse., Having the tendency to produce fever; as, a feverous disposition of the year.
fiascoes plural of Fiasco
fibrilla noun A minute thread of fiber, as one of the fibrous elements of a muscular fiber; a fibril.
fibu-lar adjective Pertaining to the fibula.
fibulare noun The bone or cartilage of the tarsus, which articulates with the fibula, and corresponds to the calcaneum in man and most mammals.
fictious adjective Fictitious.
fiddling present participle & vb. noun of Fiddle
fidelity noun Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations., Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty., Adherence to the marriage contract., Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty.
fidgeted imp. & past participle of Fidget
fiducial adjective Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm., Having the nature of a trust; fiduciary; as, fiducial power.
fielding present participle & vb. noun of Field, The act of playing as a fielder.
fiendful adjective Full of fiendish spirit or arts.
fiendish adjective Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish.
fiftieth adjective Next in order after the forty-ninth; — the ordinal of fifty., Consisting of one of fifty equal parts or divisions., One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by fifty.
figeater noun A large beetle (Allorhina nitida) which in the Southern United States destroys figs. The elytra are velvety green with pale borders., A bird. See Figpecker.
fighting present participle & vb. noun of Fight, Qualified for war; fit for battle., Occupied in war; being the scene of a battle; as, a fighting field.
figulate adjective Alt. of Figulated
figuline noun A piece of pottery ornamented with representations of natural objects.
figurant noun masc. One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or figures; an accessory character on the stage, who figures in its scenes, but has nothing to say; hence, one who figures in any scene, without taking a prominent part.
figurate adjective Of a definite form or figure., Figurative; metaphorical., Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant.
figuring present participle & vb. noun of Figure
figurial adjective Represented by figure or delineation.
figurine noun A very small figure, whether human or of an animal; especially, one in terra cotta or the like; — distinguished from statuette, which is applied to small figures in bronze, marble, etc.
figurist noun One who uses or interprets figurative expressions.
filament noun A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp. (Bot.), the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther.
filander noun A species of kangaroo (Macropus Brunii), inhabiting New Guinea.
filatory noun A machine for forming threads.
filature noun A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons., A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also, an establishment for reeling silk.
filching present participle & vb. noun of Filch
filefish noun Any plectognath fish of the genera Monacanthus, Alutera, balistes, and allied genera; — so called on account of the roughly granulated skin, which is sometimes used in place of sandpaper.
filially adverb In a filial manner.
filicide noun The act of murdering a son or a daughter; also, parent who commits such a murder.
filicoid adjective Fernlike, either in form or in the nature of the method of reproduction., A fernlike plant.
filiform adjective Having the shape of a thread or filament; as, the filiform papillae of the tongue; a filiform style or peduncle. See Illust. of AntennAe.
filigree noun Ornamental work, formerly with grains or breads, but now composed of fine wire and used chiefly in decorating gold and silver to which the wire is soldered, being arranged in designs frequently of a delicate and intricate arabesque pattern., Relating to, composed of, or resembling, work in filigree; as, a filigree basket. Hence: Fanciful; unsubstantial; merely decorative.
filleted imp. & past participle of Fillet
fillibeg noun A kilt. See Filibeg.
filliped imp. & past participle of Fillip
filtered imp. & past participle of Filter
filthily adverb In a filthy manner; foully.
filtrate verb t. To filter; to defecate; as liquid, by straining or percolation., That which has been filtered; the liquid which has passed through the filter in the process of filtration.
fimbriae plural of Fimbria
finality noun The state of being final, finished, or complete; a final or conclusive arrangement; a settlement., The relation of end or purpose to its means.
finative adjective Conclusive; decisive; definitive; final.
findable adjective Capable of beong found; discoverable.
finedraw verb t. To sew up, so nicely that the seam is not perceived; to renter.
fineless adjective Endless; boundless.
fineness adjective The quality or condition of being fine., Freedom from foreign matter or alloy; clearness; purity; as, the fineness of liquor., The proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion, or coins., Keenness or sharpness; as, the fineness of a needle’s point, or of the edge of a blade.
finespun adjective Spun so as to be fine; drawn to a fine thread; attenuated; hence, unsubstantial; visionary; as, finespun theories.
finessed imp. & past participle of Finesse
fingered imp. & past participle of Finger, Having fingers., Having leaflets like fingers; digitate., Marked with figures designating which finger should be used for each note.
fingerer noun One who fingers; a pilferer.
fingrigo noun A prickly, climbing shrub of the genus Pisonia. The fruit is a kind of berry.
finished imp. & past participle of Finish, Polished to the highest degree of excellence; complete; perfect; as, a finished poem; a finished education.
finisher noun One who finishes, puts an end to, completes, or perfects; esp. used in the trades, as in hatting, weaving, etc., for the workman who gives a finishing touch to the work, or any part of it, and brings it to perfection., Something that gives the finishing touch to, or settles, anything.
finitely adverb In a finite manner or degree.
finitude noun Limitation.
finnikin noun A variety of pigeon, with a crest somewhat resembling the mane of a horse.
finochio noun An umbelliferous plant (Foeniculum dulce) having a somewhat tuberous stem; sweet fennel. The blanched stems are used in France and Italy as a culinary vegetable.
fin-toed adjective Having toes connected by a membrane; palmiped; palmated; also, lobate.
fireback noun One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus, having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia and the East Indies.
fireball noun A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also, to set fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen., A luminous meteor, resembling a ball of fire passing rapidly through the air, and sometimes exploding.
firebare noun A beacon.
firebird noun The Baltimore oriole.
firebote noun An allowance of fuel. See Bote.
firefish noun A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorpaenidae, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.
fireless adjective Destitute of fire.
firelock noun An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun having such a lock.
fire-new adjective Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new.
fire-set noun A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and poker.
fireside noun A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.
firetail noun The European redstart; — called also fireflirt.
fireweed noun An American plant (Erechthites hiercifolia), very troublesome in spots where brushwood has been burned., The great willow-herb (Epilobium spicatum).
firewood noun Wood for fuel.
firework noun A device for producing a striking display of light, or a figure or figures in plain or colored fire, by the combustion of materials that burn in some peculiar manner, as gunpowder, sulphur, metallic filings, and various salts. The most common feature of fireworks is a paper or pasteboard tube filled with the combustible material. A number of these tubes or cases are often combined so as to make, when kindled, a great variety of figures in fire, often variously colored. The skyrocket is a common form of firework. The name is also given to various combustible preparations used in war., A pyrotechnic exhibition.
fireworm noun The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; — called also cranberry worm.
firmless adjective Detached from substance., Infirm; unstable.
firmness noun The state or quality of being firm.
fir tree See Fir.
fishhawk noun The osprey (Pandion haliaetus), found both in Europe and America; — so called because it plunges into the water and seizes fishes in its talons. Called also fishing eagle, and bald buzzard.
fishhook noun A hook for catching fish., A hook with a pendant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is hooked.
fishlike adjective Like fish; suggestive of fish; having some of the qualities of fish.
fishskin noun The skin of a fish (dog fish, shark, etc.), See Ichthyosis.
fishwife noun A fishwoman.
fissiped adjective Alt. of Fissipedal, One of the Fissipedia.
fissural adjective Pertaining to a fissure or fissures; as, the fissural pattern of a brain.
fistinut noun A pistachio nut.
fistulae plural of Fistula
fistular adjective Hollow and cylindrical, like a pipe or reed.
fittable adjective Suitable; fit.
fivefold adjective & adverb In fives; consisting of five in one; five repeated; quintuple.
fiveling noun A compound or twin crystal consisting of five individuals.
fixation noun The act of fixing, or the state of being fixed., The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; — said of gaseous elements., The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm., A state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat; — said of metals.
fixative noun That which serves to set or fix colors or drawings, as a mordant.
fixidity noun Fixedness.
fizzling present participle & vb. noun of Fizzle
flabbily adverb In a flabby manner.
flagging present participle & vb. noun of Flag, A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively., Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying.
flagella plural of Flagellum
flagrant adjective Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent., Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging., Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly wicked.
flagrate verb t. To burn.
flagship noun The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.
flagworm noun A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.
flamming present participle & vb. noun of Flam
flambeau noun A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently, perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.
flamelet noun A small flame.
flammens plural of Flamen
flamines plural of Flamen
flamingo noun Any bird of the genus Phoenicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.
flanches plural of Flanch
flanched adjective Having flanches; — said of an escutcheon with those bearings.
flanging present participle & vb. noun of Flange
flanking present participle & vb. noun of Flank
flapping present participle & vb. noun of Flap
flapjack noun A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pacake., A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover.
flare-up noun A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute.
flashing present participle & vb. noun of Flash, The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of a body of water; — called also flushing., Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing; also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate, shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred paper, or the like. Cf. Filleting., The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is rotated., A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored glass.
flashily adverb In a flashy manner; with empty show.
flatting present participle & vb. noun of Flat, The process or operation of making flat, as a cylinder of glass by opening it out., A mode of painting,in which the paint, being mixed with turpentine, leaves the work without gloss., A method of preserving gilding unburnished, by touching with size., The process of forming metal into sheets by passing it between rolls.
flatbill noun Any bird of the genus Flatyrynchus. They belong to the family of flycatchers.
flatboat noun A boat with a flat bottom and square ends; — used for the transportation of bulky freight, especially in shallow waters.
flat-cap noun A kind of low-crowned cap formerly worn by all classes in England, and continued in London after disuse elsewhere; — hence, a citizen of London.
flatfish noun Any fish of the family Pleuronectidae; esp., the winter flounder (Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened, swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot, and halibut. See Flounder.
flathead adjective Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians., A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.
flatiron noun An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.
flatlong adverb With the flat side downward; not edgewise.
flatness noun The quality or state of being flat., Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of being plane or level., Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression., Want of variety or flavor; dullness; insipidity., Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; — opposed to sharpness or acuteness.
flattery verb t. The act or practice of flattering; the act of pleasing by artiful commendation or compliments; adulation; false, insincere, or excessive praise.
flattish adjective Somewhat flat.
flatuous adjective Windy; generating wind.
flatuses plural of Flatus
flatware noun Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware.
flatwise adjective / adverb With the flat side downward, or next to another object; not edgewise.
flatworm noun Any worm belonging to the Plathelminthes; also, sometimes applied to the planarians.
flaunted imp. & past participle of Flaunt
flautist noun A player on the flute; a flutist.
flavored imp. & past participle of Flavor, Having a distinct flavor; as, high-flavored wine.
flawless adjective Free from flaws.
flaxseed noun The seed of the flax; linseed.
flaxweed noun See Toadflax.
fleabane noun One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving away fleas. They belong, for the most part, to the genera Conyza, Erigeron, and Pulicaria.
fleaking noun A light covering of reeds, over which the main covering is laid, in thatching houses.
fleawort noun An herb used in medicine (Plantago Psyllium), named from the shape of its seeds.
flecking present participle & vb. noun of Fleck
flection noun The act of bending, or state of being bent., The variation of words by declension, comparison, or conjugation; inflection.
fledging present participle & vb. noun of Fledge
fleecing present participle & vb. noun of Fleece
fleering present participle & vb. noun of Fleer
fleeting present participle & vb. noun of Fleet, Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments.
fleshing present participle & vb. noun of Flesh, A person devoted to fleshly things.
fleshpot noun A pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked, plenty; high living.
fletched imp. & past participle of Fletch
fletcher noun One who fletches of feathers arrows; a manufacturer of bows and arrows.
flexible adjective Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle., Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering., Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language.
flexuose adjective Flexuous.
flexuous adjective Having turns, windings, or flexures., Having alternate curvatures in opposite directions; bent in a zigzag manner., Wavering; not steady; flickering.
flexural adjective Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, flexure; of the nature of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity.
flicking present participle & vb. noun of Flick
flighted adjective Taking flight; flying; — used in composition., Feathered; — said of arrows.
flighter noun A horizontal vane revolving over the surface of wort in a cooler, to produce a circular current in the liquor.
flimflam noun A freak; a trick; a lie.
flimsily adverb In a flimsy manner.
flinched imp. & past participle of Flinch
flincher noun One who flinches or fails.
flinders noun pl. Small pieces or splinters; fragments.
flinging present participle & vb. noun of Fling
flipping present participle & vb. noun of Flip
flippant adjective Of smooth, fluent, and rapid speech; speaking with ease and rapidity; having a voluble tongue; talkative., Speaking fluently and confidently, without knowledge or consideration; empty; trifling; inconsiderate; pert; petulant., A flippant person.
flirting present participle & vb. noun of Flirt
flitting present participle & vb. noun of Flit, A flying with lightness and celerity; a fluttering., A removal from one habitation to another.
flitches plural of Flitch
flittern adjective A term applied to the bark obtained from young oak trees.
floating present participle & vb. noun of Float, Buoyed upon or in a fluid; a, the floating timbers of a wreck; floating motes in the air., Free or lose from the usual attachment; as, the floating ribs in man and some other animals., Not funded; not fixed, invested, or determined; as, floating capital; a floating debt., Floating threads. See Floating threads, above., The second coat of three-coat plastering.
floatage noun Same as Flotage.
floccose noun Spotted with small tufts like wool., Having tufts of soft hairs, which are often deciduous.
flocculi plural of Flocculus
flocking present participle & vb. noun of Flock
flockmel adverb In a flock; in a body.
flogging present participle & vb. noun of Flog, from Flog, v. t.
flooding present participle & vb. noun of Flood, The filling or covering with water or other fluid; overflow; inundation; the filling anything to excess., An abnormal or excessive discharge of blood from the uterus.
floodage noun Inundation.
flooring present participle & vb. noun of Floor, A platform; the bottom of a room; a floor; pavement. See Floor, n., Material for the construction of a floor or floors.
floorage noun Floor space.
flopping present participle & vb. noun of Flop
flopwing noun The lapwing.
florally adverb In a floral manner.
florence noun An ancient gold coin of the time of Edward III., of six shillings sterling value., A kind of cloth.
floriage noun Bloom; blossom.
floridly adverb In a florid manner.
floriken noun An Indian bustard (Otis aurita). The Bengal floriken is Sypheotides Bengalensis.
florimer noun See Floramour.
floscule noun A floret.
flotilla noun A little fleet, or a fleet of small vessels.
flounced imp. & past participle of Flounce
flounder noun A flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, of many species., A tool used in crimping boot fronts., To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce., The act of floundering.
flouring present participle & vb. noun of Flour
flourish verb i. To grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy growing plant; a thrive., To be prosperous; to increase in wealth, honor, comfort, happiness, or whatever is desirable; to thrive; to be prominent and influental; specifically, of authors, painters, etc., to be in a state of activity or production., To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions; to be flowery., To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion., To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures., To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude., To boast; to vaunt; to brag., To adorn with flowers orbeautiful figures, either natural or artificial; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish., To embellish with the flowers of diction; to adorn with rhetorical figures; to grace with ostentatious eloquence; to set off with a parade of words., To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles or vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish., To develop; to make thrive; to expand., A flourishing condition; prosperity; vigor., Decoration; ornament; beauty., Something made or performed in a fanciful, wanton, or vaunting manner, by way of ostentation, to excite admiration, etc.; ostentatious embellishment; ambitious copiousness or amplification; parade of words and figures; show; as, a flourish of rhetoric or of wit., A fanciful stroke of the pen or graver; a merely decorative figure., A fantastic or decorative musical passage; a strain of triumph or bravado, not forming part of a regular musical composition; a cal; a fanfare., The waving of a weapon or other thing; a brandishing; as, the flourish of a sword.
flouting present participle & vb. noun of Flout
flowered imp. & past participle of Flower
flowerer noun A plant which flowers or blossoms.
floweret noun A small flower; a floret.
fluently adverb In a fluent manner.
fluework noun A general name for organ stops in which the sound is caused by wind passing through a flue or fissure and striking an edge above; — in distinction from reedwork.
fluinity noun The quality of being fluid or capable of flowing; a liquid, aeriform. or gaseous state; — opposed to solidity.
fluidize verb t. To render fluid.
flummery noun A light kind of food, formerly made of flour or meal; a sort of pap., Something insipid, or not worth having; empty compliment; trash; unsubstantial talk of writing.
flunking present participle & vb. noun of Flunk
flunkies plural of Flunky
fluorene noun A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C13H10 having a beautiful violet fluorescence; whence its name. It occurs in the higher boiling products of coal tar, and is obtained artificially.
fluoride noun A binary compound of fluorine with another element or radical.
fluorine noun A non-metallic, gaseous element, strongly acid or negative, or associated with chlorine, bromine, and iodine, in the halogen group of which it is the first member. It always occurs combined, is very active chemically, and possesses such an avidity for most elements, and silicon especially, that it can neither be prepared nor kept in glass vessels. If set free it immediately attacks the containing material, so that it was not isolated until 1886. It is a pungent, corrosive, colorless gas. Symbol F. Atomic weight 19.
fluorite noun Calcium fluoride, a mineral of many different colors, white, yellow, purple, green, red, etc., often very beautiful, crystallizing commonly in cubes with perfect octahedral cleavage; also massive. It is used as a flux. Some varieties are used for ornamental vessels. Also called fluor spar, or simply fluor.
fluoroid noun A tetrahexahedron; — so called because it is a common form of fluorite.
fluorous adjective Pertaining to fluor.
flurried adjective Agitated; excited., of Flurry
flurries plural of Flurry
flushing present participle & vb. noun of Flush, A heavy, coarse cloth manufactured from shoddy; — commonly in the /, A surface formed of floating threads.
fluxible adjective Capable of being melted or fused, as a mineral.
fluxions noun pl. See Fluxion, 6(b).
flyblown adjective Tainted or contaminated with flyblows; damaged; foul.
fly-case noun The covering of an insect, esp. the elytra of beetles.
fly-fish verb i. To angle, using flies for bait.
flyspeck noun A speck or stain made by the excrement of a fly; hence, any insignificant dot., To soil with flyspecks.
foalfoot noun See Coltsfoot.
foamless adjective Having no foam.
focalize verb t. To bring to a focus; to focus; to concentrate.
focusing present participle & vb. noun of Focus
foddered imp. & past participle of Fodder
fodderer noun One who fodders cattle.
fog’gage noun See 1st Fog.
foilable adjective Capable of being foiled.
foisting present participle & vb. noun of Foist
foistied adjective Fusty.
folderol noun Nonsense.
foldless adjective Having no fold.
foliaged adjective Furnished with foliage; leaved; as, the variously foliaged mulberry.
foliated imp. & past participle of Foliate, Having leaves, or leaflike projections; as, a foliated shell., Containing, or consisting of, foils; as, a foliated arch., Characterized by being separable into thin plates or folia; as, graphite has a foliated structure., Laminated, but restricted to the variety of laminated structure found in crystalline schist, as mica schist, etc.; schistose., Spread over with an amalgam of tin and quicksilver.
folkland noun Land held in villenage, being distributed among the folk, or people, at the pleasure of the lord of the manor, and resumed at his discretion. Not being held by any assurance in writing, it was opposed to bookland or charter land, which was held by deed.
folklore Alt. of Folk lore
folkmote noun An assembly of the people, a general assembly of the people to consider and order matters of the commonwealth; also, a local court.
follicle noun A simple podlike pericarp which contains several seeds and opens along the inner or ventral suture, as in the peony, larkspur and milkweed., A small cavity, tubular depression, or sac; as, a hair follicle., A simple gland or glandular cavity; a crypt., A small mass of adenoid tissue; as, a lymphatic follicle.
folliful adjective Full of folly.
followed imp. & past participle of Follow
follower noun One who follows; a pursuer; an attendant; a disciple; a dependent associate; a retainer., A sweetheart; a beau., The removable flange, or cover, of a piston. See Illust. of Piston., A gland. See Illust. of Stuffing box., The part of a machine that receives motion from another part. See Driver., Among law stationers, a sheet of parchment or paper which is added to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed.
fomented imp. & past participle of Foment
fomenter noun One who foments; one who encourages or instigates; as, a fomenter of sedition.
fondling present participle & vb. noun of Fondle, The act of caressing; manifestation of tenderness., A person or thing fondled or caressed; one treated with foolish or doting affection., A fool; a simpleton; a ninny.
fondness noun The quality or state of being fond; foolishness., Doting affection; tender liking; strong appetite, propensity, or relish; as, he had a fondness for truffles.
fontanel noun An issue or artificial ulcer for the discharge of humors from the body., One of the membranous intervals between the incompleted angles of the parietal and neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull; — so called because it exhibits a rhythmical pulsation.
fontange noun A kind of tall headdress formerly worn.
foodless adjective Without food; barren.
foolfish noun The orange filefish. See Filefish., The winter flounder. See Flounder.
foolscap noun A writing paper made in sheets, ordinarily 16 x 13 inches, and folded so as to make a page 13 x 8 inches. See Paper.
football noun An inflated ball to be kicked in sport, usually made in India rubber, or a bladder incased in Leather., The game of kicking the football by opposing parties of players between goals.
footband noun A band of foot soldiers.
footbath noun A bath for the feet; also, a vessel used in bathing the feet.
footfall noun A setting down of the foot; a footstep; the sound of a footstep.
foothalt noun A disease affecting the feet of sheep.
foothill noun A low hill at the foot of higher hills or mountains.
foothold noun A holding with the feet; firm standing; that on which one may tread or rest securely; footing.
foothook noun See Futtock.
footless adjective Having no feet.
footmark noun A footprint; a track or vestige.
footnote noun A note of reference or comment at the foot of a page.
footpace noun A walking pace or step., A dais, or elevated platform; the highest step of the altar; a landing in a staircase.
footpath noun A narrow path or way for pedestrains only; a footway.
footrope noun The rope rigged below a yard, upon which men stand when reefing or furling; — formerly called a horse., That part of the boltrope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewed.
footstep noun The mark or impression of the foot; a track; hence, visible sign of a course pursued; token; mark; as, the footsteps of divine wisdom., An inclined plane under a hand printing press.
footworn adjective Worn by, or weared in, the feet; as, a footworn path; a footworn traveler.
foraging present participle & vb. noun of Forage
foralite noun A tubelike marking, occuring in sandstone and other strata.
foramina plural of Foramen
forbathe verb t. To bathe.
forborne past participle of Forbear, p. p. of Forbear.
forblack adjective Very black.
forboden p. p. of Forbid.
forcarve verb t. To cut completely; to cut off.
forceful adjective Full of or processing force; exerting force; mighty.
forcible adjective Possessing force; characterized by force, efficiency, or energy; powerful; efficacious; impressive; influential., Violent; impetuous., Using force against opposition or resistance; obtained by compulsion; effected by force; as, forcible entry or abduction.
forcibly adverb In a forcible manner.
forcipal adjective Forked or branched like a pair of forceps; constructed so as to open and shut like a pair of forceps.
fordable adjective Capable of being forded.
fordless adjective Without a ford.
fordrive verb t. To drive about; to drive here and there.
fordwine verb i. To dwindle away; to disappear.
forebeam noun The breast beam of a loom.
forebear noun An ancestor. See Forbear.
forebode verb t. To foretell., To be prescient of (some ill or misfortune); to have an inward conviction of, as of a calamity which is about to happen; to augur despondingly., To fortell; to presage; to augur., Prognostication; presage.
forecast verb t. To plan beforehand; to scheme; to project., To foresee; to calculate beforehand, so as to provide for., To contrive or plan beforehand., Previous contrivance or determination; predetermination., Foresight of consequences, and provision against them; prevision; premeditation.
foredate verb t. To date before the true time; to antendate.
foredeck noun The fore part of a deck, or of a ship.
foredeem verb t. To recognize or judge in advance; to forebode., To know or discover beforehand; to foretell.
foredoom verb t. To doom beforehand; to predestinate., Doom or sentence decreed in advance.
forefeel verb t. To feel beforehand; to have a presentiment of.
forefend verb t. To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of; to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend.
foreflow verb t. To flow before.
forefoot noun One of the anterior feet of a quardruped or multiped; — usually written fore foot., A piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end, connecting it with the lower end of the stem.
foregame noun A first game; first plan.
foregift noun A premium paid by / lessee when taking his lease.
foregone past participle of Forego
foregoer noun One who goes before another; a predecessor; hence, an ancestor’ a progenitor., A purveyor of the king; — so called, formerly, from going before to provide for his household., One who forbears to enjoy.
forehand noun All that part of a horse which is before the rider., The chief or most important part., Superiority; advantage; start; precedence., Done beforehand; anticipative.
forehead noun The front of that part of the head which incloses the brain; that part of the face above the eyes; the brow., The aspect or countenance; assurance., The front or fore part of anything.
forehear verb i. & t. To hear beforehand.
forehend verb t. See Forhend.
forehold noun The forward part of the hold of a ship.
forehook noun A piece of timber placed across the stem, to unite the bows and strengthen the fore part of the ship; a breast hook.
foreknew imp. of Foreknow
foreknow verb t. To have previous knowledge of; to know beforehand.
foreland noun A promontory or cape; a headland; as, the North and South Foreland in Kent, England., A piece of ground between the wall of a place and the moat., That portion of the natural shore on the outside of the embankment which receives the stock of waves and deadens their force.
forelend verb t. See Forlend.
forelift verb t. To lift up in front.
forelock noun The lock of hair that grows from the forepart of the head., A cotter or split pin, as in a slot in a bolt, to prevent retraction; a linchpin; a pin fastening the cap-square of a gun.
forelook verb i. To look beforehand or forward.
foremast noun The mast nearest the bow.
foremilk noun The milk secreted just before, or directly after, the birth of a child or of the young of an animal; colostrum.
foremost adjective First in time or place; most advanced; chief in rank or dignity; as, the foremost troops of an army.
forename noun A name that precedes the family name or surname; a first name., To name or mention before.
forenoon noun The early part of the day, from morning to meridian, or noon.
forensal adjective Forensic.
forensic adjective Belonging to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate; used in legal proceedings, or in public discussions; argumentative; rhetorical; as, forensic eloquence or disputes., An exercise in debate; a forensic contest; an argumentative thesis.
forepart noun The part most advanced, or first in time or in place; the beginning.
forepast adjective Bygone.
forerank noun The first rank; the front.
foreread verb t. To tell beforehand; to signify by tokens; to predestine.
foresaid adjective Mentioned before; aforesaid.
foresail noun The sail bent to the foreyard of a square-rigged vessel, being the lowest sail on the foremast., The gaff sail set on the foremast of a schooner., The fore staysail of a sloop, being the triangular sail next forward of the mast.
foreseen past participle Provided; in case that; on condition that.
foreseer noun One who foresees or foreknows.
foreshew verb t. See Foreshow.
foreship noun The fore part of a ship.
foreshot noun In distillation of low wines, the first portion of spirit that comes over, being a fluid abounding in fusel oil.
foreshow verb t. To show or exhibit beforehand; to give foreknowledge of; to prognosticate; to foretell.
foreside noun The front side; the front; esp., a stretch of country fronting the sea., The outside or external covering.
foreskin noun The fold of skin which covers the glans of the penis; the prepuce.
foreslow verb t. To make slow; to hinder; to obstruct. [Obs.] See Forslow, v. t., To loiter. [Obs.] See Forslow, v. i.
forestal adjective Of or pertaining to forests; as, forestal rights.
forestay noun A large, strong rope, reaching from the foremast head to the bowsprit, to support the mast. See Illust. under Ship.
forester noun One who has charge of the growing timber on an estate; an officer appointed to watch a forest and preserve the game., An inhabitant of a forest., A forest tree., A lepidopterous insect belonging to Alypia and allied genera; as, the eight-spotted forester (A. octomaculata), which in the larval state is injurious to the grapevine.
forestry noun The art of forming or of cultivating forests; the management of growing timber.
foretold imp. & past participle of Foretell
foretell verb t. To predict; to tell before occurence; to prophesy; to foreshow., To utter predictions.
foretime noun The past; the time before the present.
foreward noun The van; the front.
forewarn verb t. To warn beforehand; to give previous warning, admonition, information, or notice to; to caution in advance.
forewend verb t. To go before.
forewish verb t. To wish beforehand.
forewost 2d person of Forewite
forewite verb t. To foreknow.
foreword noun A preface.
foreworn adjective Worn out; wasted; used up.
foreyard noun The lowermost yard on the foremast.
forfered past participle & adjective Excessively alarmed; in great fear.
forgemen plural of Forgeman
forgeman noun A skilled smith, who has a hammerer to assist him.
forgiven past participle of Forgive
forgiver noun One who forgives.
forgoing present participle & vb. noun of Forgo
forkerve verb t. See Forcarve, v. t.
forkless adjective Having no fork.
forktail noun One of several Asiatic and East Indian passerine birds, belonging to Enucurus, and allied genera. The tail is deeply forking., A salmon in its fourth year’s growth.
forleave verb t. To leave off wholly.
formally adverb In a formal manner; essentially; characteristically; expressly; regularly; ceremoniously; precisely.
formedon noun A writ of right for a tenant in tail in case of a discontinuance of the estate tail. This writ has been abolished.
formeret noun One of the half ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs.
formerly adverb In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.
formicid adjective Pertaining to the ants., One of the family Formicidae, or ants.
formless adjective Shapeless; without a determinate form; wanting regularity of shape.
formulas plural of Formula
formulae plural of Formula
forncast past participle Predestined.
fornical adjective Relating to a fornix.
fornices plural of Fornix
forsaken past participle of Forsake
forsaker noun One who forsakes or deserts.
forshape verb t. To render misshapen.
forslack verb t. To neglect by idleness; to delay or to waste by sloth.
forsooth adverb In truth; in fact; certainly; very well; — formerly used as an expression of deference or respect, especially to woman; now used ironically or contemptuously., To address respectfully with the term forsooth., A person who used forsooth much; a very ceremonious and deferential person.
forspeak verb t. To forbid; to prohibit., To bewitch.
forspent adjective Wasted in strength; tired; exhausted.
forstall verb t. To forestall.
forswore imp. of Forswear, imp. of Forswear.
forsworn past participle of Forswear, p. p. of Forswear.
forswear verb i. To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations., To deny upon oath., To swear falsely; to commit perjury.
forswonk adjective Overlabored; exhausted; worn out.
forthink verb t. To repent; to regret; to be sorry for; to cause regret.
fortieth adjective Following the thirty-ninth, or preceded by thirty-nine units, things, or parts., Constituting one of forty equal parts into which anything is divided., One of forty equal parts into which one whole is divided; the quotient of a unit divided by forty; one next in order after the thirty-ninth.
fortread verb t. To tread down; to trample upon.
fortress noun A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security., To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.
fortuity noun Accident; chance; casualty.
forwaked past participle & adjective Tired out with excessive waking or watching.
forwards adverb Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; in advance; progressively; — opposed to backward., Same as Forward.
forwaste verb t. To desolate or lay waste utterly.
foryelde verb t. To repay; to requite.
forzando adverb See Sforzato.
fossette noun A little hollow; hence, a dimple., A small, deep-centered ulcer of the transparent cornea.
fosseway noun One of the great military roads constructed by the Romans in England and other parts of Europe; — so called from the fosse or ditch on each side for keeping it dry.
fossores noun pl. A group of hymenopterous insects including the sand wasps. They excavate cells in earth, where they deposit their eggs, with the bodies of other insects for the food of the young when hatched.
fossoria noun pl. See Fossores.
fostered imp. & past participle of Foster
fostress noun A woman who feeds and cherishes; a nurse.
fothered imp. & past participle of Fother
fougasse noun A small mine, in the form of a well sunk from the surface of the ground, charged with explosive and projectiles. It is made in a position likely to be occupied by the enemy.
foughten p. p. of Fight.
foulness noun The quality or condition of being foul.
founding present participle & vb. noun of Found, of Found, The art of smelting and casting metals.
foundery noun Same as Foundry.
fountain noun A spring of water issuing from the earth., An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for ornament., A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink fountain in a printing press, etc., The source from which anything proceeds, or from which anything is supplied continuously; origin; source.
fountful adjective Full of fountains.
fourfold adjective & adverb Four times; quadruple; as, a fourfold division., Four times as many or as much., To make four times as much or as many, as an assessment,; to quadruple.
fourling noun One of four children born at the same time., A compound or twin crystal consisting of four individuals.
fourneau noun The chamber of a mine in which the powder is placed.
fourrier noun A harbinger.
fourteen adjective Four and ten more; twice seven., The sum of ten and four; forteen units or objects., A symbol representing fourteen, as 14 or xiv.
fourthly adverb In the fourth place.
four-way adjective Allowing passage in either of four directions; as, a four-way cock, or valve.
foveolae plural of Foveola
fovillae plural of Fovilla
foxearth noun A hole in the earth to which a fox resorts to hide himself.
foxglove noun Any plant of the genus Digitalis. The common English foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a handsome perennial or biennial plant, whose leaves are used as a powerful medicine, both as a sedative and diuretic. See Digitalis.
foxhound noun One of a special breed of hounds used for chasing foxes.
foxiness noun The state or quality of being foxy, or foxlike; craftiness; shrewdness., The state of being foxed or discolored, as books; decay; deterioration., A coarse and sour taste in grapes.
foziness noun The state of being fozy; spiritlessness; dullness.
fraction noun The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence., A portion; a fragment., One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude., To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; — frequently used with out; as, to fraction out a certain grade of oil from pretroleum.
fracture noun The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach., The breaking of a bone., The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture., To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.
fraenula plural of Fraenulum
fraenums plural of Frenum
fragment verb t. A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing.
fragrant adjective Affecting the olfactory nerves agreeably; sweet of smell; odorous; having or emitting an agreeable perfume.
framable adjective Capable of being framed.
frampoid adjective Peevish; cross; vexatious; quarrelsome.
frangent adjective Causing fracture; breaking.
franking present participle & vb. noun of Frank, A method of forming a joint at the intersection of window-sash bars, by cutting away only enough wood to show a miter.
frankish adjective Like, or pertaining to, the Franks.
franklin adjective An English freeholder, or substantial householder.
frapping present participle & vb. noun of Frap
fratrage noun A sharing among brothers, or brothers’ kin.
fraudful adjective Full of fraud, deceit, or treachery; trickish; treacherous; fraudulent; — applied to persons or things.
fraxinus noun A genus of deciduous forest trees, found in the north temperate zone, and including the true ash trees.
freaking present participle & vb. noun of Freak, Freakish.
freakish adjective Apt to change the mind suddenly; whimsical; capricious.
freckled imp. & past participle of Freckle, Marked with freckles; spotted.
freeborn adjective Born free; not born in vassalage; inheriting freedom.
freedmen plural of Freedman
freedman noun A man who has been a slave, and has been set free.
freehold noun An estate in real property, of inheritance (in fee simple or fee tail) or for life; or the tenure by which such estate is held.
freeness noun The state or quality of being free; freedom; liberty; openness; liberality; gratuitousness.
freewill adjective Of or pertaining to free will; voluntary; spontaneous; as, a freewill offering.
freezing present participle & vb. noun of Freeze, Tending to freeze; for freezing; hence, cold or distant in manner.
frenetir adjective Distracted; mad; frantic; phrenetic.
frenzied past participle & adjective Affected with frenzy; frantic; maddened.
frenzies plural of Frenzy
frequent noun Often to be met with; happening at short intervals; often repeated or occurring; as, frequent visits., Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice; habitual; persistent., Full; crowded; thronged., Often or commonly reported., To visit often; to resort to often or habitually., To make full; to fill.
frescade adjective A cool walk; shady place.
frescoes plural of Fresco
frescoed imp. & past participle of Fresco
freshmen plural of Freshman
freshman noun novice; one in the rudiments of knowledge; especially, a student during his fist year in a college or university.
fretting present participle & vb. noun of Fret
fretwork noun Work adorned with frets; ornamental openwork or work in relief, esp. when elaborate and minute in its parts. Hence, any minute play of light and shade, dark and light, or the like.
friation noun The act of breaking up or pulverizing.
fribbler noun A trifler; a fribble.
friborgh noun The pledge and tithing, afterwards called by the Normans frankpledge. See Frankpledge.
fricando noun A ragout or fricassee of veal; a fancy dish of veal or of boned turkey, served as an entree, — called also fricandel.
ftiction noun The act of rubbing the surface of one body against that of another; attrition; in hygiene, the act of rubbing the body with the hand, with flannel, or with a brush etc., to excite the skin to healthy action., The resistance which a body meets with from the surface on which it moves. It may be resistance to sliding motion, or to rolling motion., A clashing between two persons or parties in opinions or work; a disagreement tending to prevent or retard progress.
fridstol noun Alt. of Frithstool
friended imp. & past participle of Friend, Having friends;, Inclined to love; well-disposed.
friendly adjective Having the temper and disposition of a friend; disposed to promote the good of another; kind; favorable., Appropriate to, or implying, friendship; befitting friends; amicable., Not hostile; as, a friendly power or state., Promoting the good of any person; favorable; propitious; serviceable; as, a friendly breeze or gale., In the manner of friends; amicably; like friends.
friesish adjective Friesic.
frighted imp. of Fright
frighten verb t. To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify.
frigidly adverb In a frigid manner; coldly; dully; without affection.
frilling present participle & vb. noun of Frill
frimaire noun The third month of the French republican calendar. It commenced November 21, and ended December 20., See Vendemiaire.
fringing present participle & vb. adjective of Fringe
fringent adjective Encircling like a fringe; bordering.
frippery noun Coast-off clothes., Hence: Secondhand finery; cheap and tawdry decoration; affected elegance., A place where old clothes are sold., The trade or traffic in old clothes., Trifling; contemptible.
friseur’ noun A hairdresser.
frisking present participle & vb. noun of Frisk
friskful adjective Brisk; lively; frolicsome.
fritting present participle & vb. noun of Frit, The formation of frit or slag by heat with but incipient fusion.
frizzing present participle & vb. noun of Friz
frizette noun A curl of hair or silk; a pad of frizzed hair or silk worn by women under the hair to stuff it out.
frizzled imp. & past participle of Frizzle
frizzler noun One who frizzles.
frogfish noun See Angler, n., 2., An oceanic fish of the genus Antennarius or Pterophrynoides; — called also mousefish and toadfish.
frolicky adjective Frolicsome.
frolicly adverb In a frolicsome manner; with mirth and gayety.
fromward preposition Alt. of Fromwards
frondent adjective Covered with leaves; leafy; as, a frondent tree.
frondeur noun A member of the Fronde.
frondlet noun A very small frond, or distinct portion of a compound frond.
frondose adjective Frond bearing; resembling a frond; having a simple expansion not separable into stem and leaves., Leafy.
frondous adjective Frondose.
fronting present participle & vb. noun of Front
frontage noun The front part of an edifice or lot; extent of front.
frontate adjective Alt. of Fron’tated
frontier noun That part of a country which fronts or faces another country or an unsettled region; the marches; the border, confine, or extreme part of a country, bordering on another country; the border of the settled and cultivated part of a country; as, the frontier of civilization., An outwork., Lying on the exterior part; bordering; conterminous; as, a frontier town., Of or relating to a frontier., To constitute or form a frontier; to have a frontier; — with on.
frontlet noun A frontal or brow band; a fillet or band worn on the forehead., A frown (likened to a frontlet)., The margin of the head, behind the bill of birds, often bearing rigid bristles.
froppish adjective Peevish; froward.
frostted imp. & past participle of Frost
frosting present participle & vb. noun of Frost, A composition of sugar and beaten egg, used to cover or ornament cake, pudding, etc., A lusterless finish of metal or glass; the process of producing such a finish.
frostily adverb In a frosty manner.
froterer noun One who frotes; one who rubs or chafes.
frothing present participle & vb. noun of Froth, Exaggerated declamation; rant.
frothily adverb In a frothy manner.
frounced imp. & past participle of Frounce
frowning present participle & vb. noun of Frown
fructify verb i. To bear fruit., To make fruitful; to render productive; to fertilize; as, to fructify the earth.
fructose noun Fruit sugar; levulose.
fructure noun Use; fruition; enjoyment.
frugally adverb Thriftily; prudently.
fruitage noun Fruit, collectively; fruit, in general; fruitery., Product or result of any action; effect, good or ill.
fruitery noun Fruit, taken collectively; fruitage., A repository for fruit.
fruitful adjective Full of fruit; producing fruit abundantly; bearing results; prolific; fertile; liberal; bountiful; as, a fruitful tree, or season, or soil; a fruitful wife.
fruiting adjective Pertaining to, or producing, fruit., The bearing of fruit.
fruition noun Use or possession of anything, especially such as is accompanied with pleasure or satisfaction; pleasure derived from possession or use.
fruitive adjective Enjoying; possessing.
frumenty noun Food made of hulled wheat boiled in milk, with sugar, plums, etc.
frumpish adjective Cross-tempered; scornful., Old-fashioned, as a woman’s dress.
frustule noun The siliceous shell of a diatom. It is composed of two valves, one overlapping the other, like a pill box and its cover.
frustums plural of Frustum
fuchsias plural of Fuchsia
fuchslae plural of Fuchsia
fuchsine noun Aniline red; an artificial coal-tar dyestuff, of a metallic green color superficially, resembling cantharides, but when dissolved forming a brilliant dark red. It consists of a hydrochloride or acetate of rosaniline. See Rosaniline.
fucoidal adjective Fucoid., Containing impressions of fossil fucoids or seaweeds; as, fucoidal sandstone.
fuddling present participle & vb. noun of Fuddle
fugacity adjective The quality of being fugacious; fugaclousness; volatility; as, fugacity of spirits., Uncertainty; instability.
fughetta noun a short, condensed fugue.
fugitive adjective Fleeing from pursuit, danger, restraint, etc., escaping, from service, duty etc.; as, a fugitive solder; a fugitive slave; a fugitive debtor., Not fixed; not durable; liable to disappear or fall away; volatile; uncertain; evanescent; liable to fade; — applied to material and immaterial things; as, fugitive colors; a fugitive idea., One who flees from pursuit, danger, restraint, service, duty, etc.; a deserter; as, a fugitive from justice., Something hard to be caught or detained.
fuglemen plural of Fugleman
fugleman noun A soldier especially expert and well drilled, who takes his place in front of a military company, as a guide for the others in their exercises; a file leader. He originally stood in front of the right wing., Hence, one who leads the way.
fulcrate adjective Propped; supported by accessory organs., Furnished with fulcrums.
fulcrums plural of Fulcrum
fulgency noun Brightness; splendor; glitter; effulgence.
fulimart noun Same as Foumart.
full-hot adjective Very fiery.
fullmart noun See Foumart.
fullness noun The state of being full, or of abounding; abundance; completeness.
fulmiaic adjective Pertaining to fulmination; detonating; specifically (Chem.), pertaining to, derived from, or denoting, an acid, so called; as, fulminic acid.
fulsamic adjective Fulsome.
fumadoes plural of Fumado
fumarate noun A salt of fumaric acid.
fumarine noun An alkaloid extracted from fumitory, as a white crystalline substance.
fumarole noun A hole or spot in a volcanic or other region, from which fumes issue.
fumatory noun See Fumitory.
fumbling present participle & vb. noun of Fumble
fumeless adjective Free from fumes.
fumerell noun See Femerell.
fumetere noun Fumitory.
fumidity noun Alt. of Fumidness
fumigant adjective Fuming.
fumigate noun To apply smoke to; to expose to smoke or vapor; to purify, or free from infection, by the use of smoke or vapors., To smoke; to perfume.
fumingly adverb In a fuming manner; angrily.
fumitory noun The common uame of several species of the genus Fumaria, annual herbs of the Old World, with finely dissected leaves and small flowers in dense racemes or spikes. F. officinalis is a common species, and was formerly used as an antiscorbutic.
fumosity noun The fumes of drink.
function noun The act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; per formance., The appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the various organs and parts of the body., The natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul, or of the intellect; the exertion of an energy of some determinate kind., The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession., A quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other. Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x., Alt. of Functionate
fundable adjective Capable of being funded, or converted into a fund; convertible into bonds.
funuless adjective Destitute of funds.
funerate verb t. To bury with funeral rites.
funereal adjective Suiting a funeral; pertaining to burial; solemn. Hence: Dark; dismal; mournful.
funguses plural of Fungus
funiculi plural of Funiculus
furacity noun Addictedness to theft; thievishness.
furbelow noun A plaited or gathered flounce on a woman’s garment.
furhelow verb t. To put a furbelow on; to ornament.
furcated adjective Forked; branching like a fork; as, furcate twigs.
furcular adjective Shaped like a fork; furcate.
furculum noun The wishbone or merrythought of birds, formed by the united clavicles.
furfuran noun A colorless, oily substance, C4H4O, obtained by distilling certain organic substances, as pine wood, salts of pyromucic acid, etc.; — called also tetraphenol.
furfurol noun A colorless oily liquid, C4H3O.CHO, of a pleasant odor, obtained by the distillation of bran, sugar, etc., and regarded as an aldehyde derivative of furfuran; — called also furfural.
furlough adjective Leave of abserice; especially, leave given to an offcer or soldier to be absent from service for a certain time; also, the document granting leave of absence., To furnish with a furlough; to grant leave of absence to, as to an offcer or soldier.
furmonty noun Alt. of Furmity
furriery noun Furs, in general., The business of a furrier; trade in furs.
furrowed imp. & past participle of Furrow
furthest adjective superl. Most remote; most in advance; farthest. See Further, a., At the greatest distance; farthest.
furuncle noun A superficial, inflammatory tumor, suppurating with a central core; a boil.
fusarole noun A molding generally placed under the echinus or quarter round of capitals in the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders of architecture.
fusiform adjective Shaped like a spindle; tapering at each end; as, a fusiform root; a fusiform cell.
fusileer noun Alt. of Fusilier
fusilier noun Formerly, a soldier armed with a fusil. Hence, in the plural:, A title now borne by some regiments and companies; as, “The Royal Fusiliers,” etc.
fusteric noun The coloring matter of fustet.
fustilug noun Alt. of Fustilugs
fusiness noun A fusty state or quality; moldiness; mustiness; an ill smell from moldiness.
futilely adverb In a futile manner.
futility noun The quality of being talkative; talkativeness; loquaciousness; loquacity., The quality of producing no valuable effect, or of coming to nothing; uselessness.
futilous adjective Futile; trifling.
futurely adverb In time to come.
futurist noun One whose chief interests are in what is to come; one who anxiously, eagerly, or confidently looks forward to the future; an expectant., One who believes or maintains that the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible is to be in the future.
futurity noun State of being that is yet to come; future state., Future time; time to come; the future., Event to come; a future event.