Words |
Parts of Speech |
Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
abay |
noun |
Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See Bay. |
abba |
noun |
Father; religious superior; — in the Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops to the patriarch. |
abbe |
noun |
The French word answering to the English abbot, the head of an abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in France to every one vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress. |
abed |
adverb |
In bed, or on the bed., To childbed (in the phrase “brought abed,” that is, delivered of a child). |
abet |
verb t. |
To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; — used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection., To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; — in a good sense., To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense., Act of abetting; aid. |
abib |
noun |
The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding nearly to our April. After the Babylonish captivity this month was called Nisan. |
abid |
|
of Abide |
abit |
|
3d sing. pres. of Abide. |
able |
superl. |
Fit; adapted; suitable., Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano., Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able speech., Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property., To make able; to enable; to strengthen., To vouch for. |
ably |
adverb |
In an able manner; with great ability; as, ably done, planned, said. |
abox |
adverb & adjective |
Braced aback. |
abut |
verb i. |
To project; to terminate or border; to be contiguous; to meet; — with on, upon, or against; as, his land abuts on the road. |
abye |
verb t. & i. |
To pay for; to suffer for; to atone for; to make amends for; to give satisfaction., To endure; to abide. |
aces |
plural |
of Ace |
ache |
noun |
A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild celery, parsley., Continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain. “Such an ache in my bones.”, To suffer pain; to have, or be in, pain, or in continued pain; to be distressed. |
acid |
adjective |
Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of vinegar: as, acid fruits or liquors. Also fig.: Sour-tempered., Of or pertaining to an acid; as, acid reaction., A sour substance., One of a class of compounds, generally but not always distinguished by their sour taste, solubility in water, and reddening of vegetable blue or violet colors. They are also characterized by the power of destroying the distinctive properties of alkalies or bases, combining with them to form salts, at the same time losing their own peculiar properties. They all contain hydrogen, united with a more negative element or radical, either alone, or more generally with oxygen, and take their names from this negative element or radical. Those which contain no oxygen are sometimes called hydracids in distinction from the others which are called oxygen acids or oxacids. |
acme |
noun |
The top or highest point; the culmination., The crisis or height of a disease., Mature age; full bloom of life. |
acne |
noun |
A pustular affection of the skin, due to changes in the sebaceous glands. |
acre |
noun |
Any field of arable or pasture land., A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That of the United States is the same. The Scotch acre was about 1.26 of the English, and the Irish 1.62 of the English. |
adam |
noun |
The name given in the Bible to the first man, the progenitor of the human race., “Original sin;” human frailty. |
adar |
noun |
The twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and the sixth of the civil. It corresponded nearly with March. |
adaw |
verb t. |
To subdue; to daunt., To awaken; to arouse. |
adit |
noun |
An entrance or passage. Specifically: The nearly horizontal opening by which a mine is entered, or by which water and ores are carried away; — called also drift and tunnel., Admission; approach; access. |
adry |
adjective |
In a dry or thirsty condition. |
adze |
noun |
A carpenter’s or cooper’s tool, formed with a thin arching blade set at right angles to the handle. It is used for chipping or slicing away the surface of wood. |
aeon |
noun |
A period of immeasurable duration; also, an emanation of the Deity. See Eon., An immeasurable or infinite space of time; eternity; a long space of time; an age., One of the embodiments of the divine attributes of the Eternal Being. |
aery |
noun |
An aerie., Aerial; ethereal; incorporeal; visionary. |
afar |
adverb |
At, to, or from a great distance; far away; — often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. |
afer |
noun |
The southwest wind. |
affy |
verb t. |
To confide (one’s self to, or in); to trust., To betroth or espouse; to affiance., To bind in faith., To trust or confide. |
agha |
noun |
In Turkey, a commander or chief officer. It is used also as a title of respect. |
aged |
imp. & past participle |
of Age, Old; having lived long; having lived almost to or beyond the usual time allotted to that species of being; as, an aged man; an aged oak., Belonging to old age., Having a certain age; at the age of; having lived; as, a man aged forty years. |
agen |
adverb & preposition |
See Again. |
agio |
noun |
The premium or percentage on a better sort of money when it is given in exchange for an inferior sort. The premium or discount on foreign bills of exchange is sometimes called agio. |
agni |
plural |
of Agnus |
agog |
adjective & adverb |
In eager desire; eager; astir. |
agon |
noun |
A contest for a prize at the public games. |
agre |
adverb |
Alt. of Agree |
ague |
noun |
An acute fever., An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits., The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague., A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold., To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit. |
ahem |
interj. |
An exclamation to call one’s attention; hem. |
ahey |
interj. |
Hey; ho. |
ahoy |
interj. |
A term used in hailing; as, “Ship ahoy.” |
aiel |
noun |
See Ayle. |
aino |
noun |
One of a peculiar race inhabiting Yesso, the Kooril Islands etc., in the northern part of the empire of Japan, by some supposed to have been the progenitors of the Japanese. The Ainos are stout and short, with hairy bodies. |
airy |
adjective |
Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies., Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aerial; as, an airy flight., Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy; as, an airy situation., Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike., Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful; as, airy music., Without reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling; visionary., Light of heart; vivacious; sprightly; flippant; superficial., Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand., Having the light and aerial tints true to nature. |
ajar |
adverb |
Slightly turned or opened; as, the door was standing ajar., In a state of discord; out of harmony; as, he is ajar with the world. |
ajog |
adverb |
On the jog. |
akin |
adjective |
Of the same kin; related by blood; — used of persons; as, the two families are near akin., Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; of the same kind. |
alae |
plural |
of Ala |
alan |
noun |
A wolfhound. |
alar |
adjective |
Pertaining to, or having, wings., Axillary; in the fork or axil. |
alas |
interj. |
An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of evil; — in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the day, like alack a day, or alas the white. |
albe |
conj. |
Alt. of Albee |
alco |
noun |
A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines. |
alee |
adverb |
On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side. |
alew |
noun |
Halloo. |
alfa |
noun |
Alt. of Alfa grass |
alga |
noun |
A kind of seaweed; pl. the class of cellular cryptogamic plants which includes the black, red, and green seaweeds, as kelp, dulse, sea lettuce, also marine and fresh water confervae, etc. |
alit |
|
of Alight |
ally |
verb t. |
To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy; — often followed by to or with., To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love., A relative; a kinsman., One united to another by treaty or league; — usually applied to sovereigns or states; a confederate., Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary., Anything akin to another by structure, etc., See Alley, a marble or taw. |
alma |
noun |
Alt. of Almah |
alme |
noun |
Alt. of Almeh |
alms |
noun sing. & pl. |
Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity. |
aloe |
noun |
The wood of the agalloch., A genus of succulent plants, some classed as trees, others as shrubs, but the greater number having the habit and appearance of evergreen herbaceous plants; from some of which are prepared articles for medicine and the arts. They are natives of warm countries., The inspissated juice of several species of aloe, used as a purgative. |
alow |
adverb |
Below; in a lower part. |
also |
adverb & conj. |
In like manner; likewise., In addition; besides; as well; further; too., Even as; as; so. |
alto |
noun |
Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor., An alto singer. |
alum |
noun |
A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization., To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. |
amb- |
|
Alt. of Ambi- |
ambo |
noun |
A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. |
amir |
noun |
Emir., One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde., Same as Ameer. |
amel |
verb t. |
Enamel., To enamel. |
amen |
interj., adverb, & noun |
An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily., To say Amen to; to sanction fully. |
amia |
noun |
A genus of fresh-water ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie, and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See Bowfin. |
amic |
adjective |
Related to, or derived, ammonia; — used chiefly as a suffix; as, amic acid; phosphamic acid. |
amid |
preposition |
See Amidst., In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. |
amit |
verb t. |
To lose. |
amma |
noun |
An abbes or spiritual mother. |
amyl |
noun |
A hydrocarbon radical, C5H11, of the paraffine series found in amyl alcohol or fusel oil, etc. |
ana- |
|
A prefix in words from the Greek, denoting up, upward, throughout, backward, back, again, anew. |
anal |
adjective |
Pertaining to, or situated near, the anus; as, the anal fin or glands. |
anan |
interj. |
An expression equivalent to What did you say? Sir? Eh? |
anas |
noun |
A genus of water fowls, of the order Anseres, including certain species of fresh-water ducks. |
anes |
adverb |
Once. |
anet |
noun |
The herb dill, or dillseed. |
anew |
adverb |
Over again; another time; in a new form; afresh; as, to arm anew; to create anew. |
anil |
noun |
A West Indian plant (Indigofera anil), one of the original sources of indigo; also, the indigo dye. |
anna |
noun |
An East Indian money of account, the sixteenth of a rupee, or about 2/ cents. |
anoa |
noun |
A small wild ox of Celebes (Anoa depressicornis), allied to the buffalo, but having long nearly straight horns. |
anon |
adverb |
Straightway; at once., Soon; in a little while., At another time; then; again. |
ansa |
noun |
A name given to either of the projecting ends of Saturn’s ring. |
an’t |
|
A contraction for are and am not; also used for is not; — now usually written ain’t. |
ant- |
|
See Anti-, prefix. |
anta |
noun |
A species of pier produced by thickening a wall at its termination, treated architecturally as a pilaster, with capital and base. |
ante |
noun |
Each player’s stake, which is put into the pool before (ante) the game begins., To put up (an ante). |
anti |
|
A prefix meaning against, opposite or opposed to, contrary, or in place of; — used in composition in many English words. It is often shortened to ant-; as, antacid, antarctic. |
anus |
noun |
The posterior opening of the alimentary canal, through which the excrements are expelled. |
apar |
noun |
Alt. of Apara |
aped |
imp. & past participle |
of Ape |
aper |
noun |
One who apes. |
apex |
noun |
The tip, top, point, or angular summit of anything; as, the apex of a mountain, spire, or cone; the apex, or tip, of a leaf., The end or edge of a vein nearest the surface. |
apis |
noun |
A genus of insects of the order Hymenoptera, including the common honeybee (Apis mellifica) and other related species. See Honeybee. |
apod |
noun |
Alt. of Apodal, Alt. of Apode |
apse |
noun |
A projecting part of a building, esp. of a church, having in the plan a polygonal or semicircular termination, and, most often, projecting from the east end. In early churches the Eastern apse was occupied by seats for the bishop and clergy., The bishop’s seat or throne, in ancient churches., A reliquary, or case in which the relics of saints were kept. |
apus |
noun |
A genus of fresh-water phyllopod crustaceans. See Phyllopod. |
aqua |
noun |
Water; — a word much used in pharmacy and the old chemistry, in various signification, determined by the word or words annexed. |
arab |
noun |
One of a swarthy race occupying Arabia, and numerous in Syria, Northern Africa, etc. |
arak |
noun |
Same as Arrack. |
arch |
noun |
Any part of a curved line., Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed., A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve., Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge., Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta., To cover with an arch or arches., To form or bend into the shape of an arch., To form into an arch; to curve., Chief; eminent; greatest; principal., Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad., A chief. |
area |
noun |
Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or of the ground within an inclosure; an open space in a building., The inclosed space on which a building stands., The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording light to the basement of a building., An extent of surface; a tract of the earth’s surface; a region; as, vast uncultivated areas., The superficial contents of any figure; the surface included within any given lines; superficial extent; as, the area of a square or a triangle., A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative area., Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought. |
aret |
verb t. |
To reckon; to ascribe; to impute. |
arew |
adverb |
In a row. |
argo |
noun |
The name of the ship which carried Jason and his fifty-four companions to Colchis, in quest of the Golden Fleece., A large constellation in the southern hemisphere, called also Argo Navis. In modern astronomy it is replaced by its three divisions, Carina, Puppis, and Vela. |
aria |
noun |
An air or song; a melody; a tune. |
arid |
adjective |
Exhausted of moisture; parched with heat; dry; barren. |
aril |
noun |
Alt. of Arillus |
arms |
noun |
Instruments or weapons of offense or defense., The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science., Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon., The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son., The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot. |
army |
noun |
A collection or body of men armed for war, esp. one organized in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions, under proper officers., A body of persons organized for the advancement of a cause; as, the Blue Ribbon Army., A great number; a vast multitude; a host. |
arna |
noun |
Alt. of Arnee |
arow |
adverb |
In a row, line, or rank; successively; in order. |
arse |
noun |
The buttocks, or hind part of an animal; the posteriors; the fundament; the bottom. |
arum |
noun |
A genus of plants found in central Europe and about the Mediterranean, having flowers on a spadix inclosed in a spathe. The cuckoopint of the English is an example. |
asci |
noun pl. |
See Ascus. |
ashy |
adjective |
Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with, ashes., Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. |
asse |
noun |
A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur. |
atmo |
noun |
The standard atmospheric pressure used in certain physical measurements calculations; conventionally, that pressure under which the barometer stands at 760 millimeters, at a temperature of 0ยก Centigrade, at the level of the sea, and in the latitude of Paris. |
atom |
noun |
An ultimate indivisible particle of matter., An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily indivisible; a molecule., A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule supposed to be made up of subordinate particles., The smallest particle of matter that can enter into combination; one of the elementary constituents of a molecule., Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit., To reduce to atoms. |
atop |
adverb |
On or at the top. |
atte |
|
At the. |
atwo |
adverb |
In two; in twain; asunder. |
aube |
noun |
An alb. |
auld |
adjective |
Old; as, Auld Reekie (old smoky), i. e., Edinburgh. |
auln |
noun |
An ell. [Obs.] See Aune. |
aune |
noun |
A French cloth measure, of different parts of the country (at Paris, 0.95 of an English ell); — now superseded by the meter. |
aunt |
noun |
The sister of one’s father or mother; — correlative to nephew or niece. Also applied to an uncle’s wife., An old woman; and old gossip., A bawd, or a prostitute. |
aura |
noun |
Any subtile, invisible emanation, effluvium, or exhalation from a substance, as the aroma of flowers, the odor of the blood, a supposed fertilizing emanation from the pollen of flowers, etc., The peculiar sensation, as of a light vapor, or cold air, rising from the trunk or limbs towards the head, a premonitory symptom of epilepsy or hysterics. |
avel |
verb t. |
To pull away. |
aver |
noun |
A work horse, or working ox., To assert, or prove, the truth of., To avouch or verify; to offer to verify; to prove or justify. See Averment., To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive manner, as in confidence of asserting the truth. |
aves |
noun pl. |
The class of Vertebrata that includes the birds. |
avid |
adjective |
Longing eagerly for; eager; greedy. |
avie |
adverb |
Emulously. |
avis |
noun |
Advice; opinion; deliberation. |
avow |
verb t. |
To declare openly, as something believed to be right; to own or acknowledge frankly; as, a man avows his principles or his crimes., To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See Avowry., Avowal., To bind, or to devote, by a vow., A vow or determination. |
away |
adverb |
From a place; hence., Absent; gone; at a distance; as, the master is away from home., Aside; off; in another direction., From a state or condition of being; out of existence., By ellipsis of the verb, equivalent to an imperative: Go or come away; begone; take away., On; in continuance; without intermission or delay; as, sing away. |
awed |
imp. & past participle |
of Awe |
awny |
adjective |
Having awns; bearded. |
awry |
adverb & adjective |
Turned or twisted toward one side; not in a straight or true direction, or position; out of the right course; distorted; obliquely; asquint; with oblique vision; as, to glance awry., Aside from the line of truth, or right reason; unreasonable or unreasonably; perverse or perversely. |
axal |
adjective |
[See Axial.] |
axil |
noun |
The angle or point of divergence between the upper side of a branch, leaf, or petiole, and the stem or branch from which it springs. |
axis |
noun |
The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name)., A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically arranged., A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i. e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line passing through the center., The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body., The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata., Also used of the body only of the vertebra, which is prolonged anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra or atlas, so as to form the odontoid process or peg which serves as a pivot for the atlas and head to turn upon., One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded., The primary or secondary central line of any design. |
axes |
plural |
of Axis |
axle |
noun |
The pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which revolves with a wheel., A transverse bar or shaft connecting the opposite wheels of a car or carriage; an axletree., An axis; as, the sun’s axle. |
ayah |
noun |
A native nurse for children; also, a lady’s maid. |
ayen |
adverb & preposition |
Alt. of Ayeins |
ayle |
noun |
A grandfather. |
ayme |
noun |
The utterance of the ejaculation “Ay me !” [Obs.] See Ay, interj. |
ayry |
noun |
See Aerie. |
azo- |
|
A combining form of azote, Applied loosely to compounds having nitrogen variously combined, as in cyanides, nitrates, etc., Now especially applied to compounds containing a two atom nitrogen group uniting two hydrocarbon radicals, as in azobenzene, azobenzoic, etc. These compounds furnish many artificial dyes. See Diazo-. |
azym |
noun |
Alt. of Azyme |