Home > Work > A Dictionary of the English Language (Complete and Unabridged in Two Volumes), Volume One
21 " ACRE (A'CRE) n.s.[Æcre, Sax.] A quantity of land containing in length forty perches, and four in breadth, or four thousand eight hundred and forty square yards.Dict. "
― Samuel Johnson , A Dictionary of the English Language (Complete and Unabridged in Two Volumes), Volume One
22 " God never accepts a good inclination instead of a good action, where that action may be done; nay, so much the contrary, that, if a good inclination be not seconded by a good action, the want of that action is made so much the more criminal and inexcusable.South’sSermons.3. Agency, "
23 " AMURCOSITY (AMURCO'SITY) n.s.[amurca, Lat.]The quality of lees or mother of any thing. "
24 " Dame Nature, as the learned show,Provides each animal its foe;Hounds hunt the hare, the wily foxDevours your geese, the wolf your flocks.Thus envy pleads a natural claim,To persecute the muse’s fame,On poets in all times abusive,From Homer down to Pope inclusive.Swift’sMiscellanies.2. Containing "
25 " ACCOLENT (A'CCOLENT) n.s.[accolens, Lat.] He that inhabits near a place; a borderer.Dict. "
26 " He that speaks doth gripe the hearer’s wrist,While he that hears makes fearful actionWith wrinkled brows.Shakesp.King John. "
27 " To ACTIVATE (A'CTIVATE) v.a.[from active.]To make active. This word is perhaps used only by the author alleged. As snow and ice, especially being holpen, and their cold activated by nitre or salt, will turn water into ice, and that in a few hours; so it may be, it will turn wood or stiff clay into stone, in longer time.Bacon’sNat. History,No 83. "
28 " APERT (APE'RT) adj.[apertus, Lat.]Open. "
29 " ABYSM (ABY'SM) n.s.[abysme, old Fr. now written contractedly abîme.]A gulf; the same with abyss. My good stars, that were my former guides,Have empty left their orbs, and shot their firesInto the abysm of hell.Shakespeare’sAntony and Cleopatra. "
30 " Hector hastened to relieve his boy;Dismiss’d his burnish’d helm that shone afar,The pride of warriours, and the pomp of war.Dryd.3. From "
31 " To ADDRESS (ADDRE'SS) v.a.[addresser, Fr. from dereçar, Span. from dirigo, directum, Lat.]1. To prepare one’s self to enter upon any action; as, he addressed himself to the work. It lifted up its head, and did addressItself to motion, like as it would speak.Shakesp.Hamlet. "
32 " ANSATED (A'NSATED) adj.[ansatus, Lat.]Having handles; or something in the form of handles. "
33 " ADOWN (ADO'WN) prep.Down; towards the ground; from a higher situation towards a lower. In this remembrance Emily ere dayArose, and dress’d herself in rich array;Fresh as the month, and as the morning fair,Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair.Dryd.Fables. "
34 " The custom of frequent reflection will keep their minds from running adrift, and call their thoughts home from useless unattentive roving.Lockeon Education,¶ 176. "
35 " AC (AC) AK, or AKE. Being initials in the names of places, as Acton, signify an oak, from the Saxon ac, an oak. Gibson's Camden. "
36 " ADRY (ADRY') adv.[from a and dry.]Athirst; thirsty; in want of drink. He never told any of them, that he was his humble servant, but his well-wisher; and would rather be thought a malecontent, than drink the king’s health when he was not adry.Spect. "
37 " APHÆRESIS (APHÆ'RESIS) n.s.[ figure in grammarthat takes away a letter or syllable from the beginning of a word. "
38 " AMBAGES (AMBA'GES) n.s.[Lat.]A circuit of words; a circumlocutory form of speech; a multiplicity of words; an indirect manner of expression. "
39 " ACATALECTIC (ACATALE'CTIC) n.s.[ Gr.]A verse which has the compleat number of syllables, without defect or superfluity. "
40 " His genius was belowThe skill of ev’ry common beau;Who, tho’ he cannot spell, is wiseEnough to read a lady’s eyes;And will each accidental glanceInterpret for a kind advance.Swift’sMiscell. "