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Characterized by drought; wanting rain; arid; adust. Droughty and parched countries. Ray.

Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in coloring. Dry area (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the foundation of a building to guard it from damp. -- Dry blow. (a) (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes no effusion of…

Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish; blockish. "Dull at classical learning." Thackeray. She is not bred so dull but she can learn. Shak.

Having eyes wanting brightness, liveliness, or vivacity. Shak.

f being dull; slowness; stupidity; heaviness; drowsiness; bluntness; obtuseness; dimness; want of luster; want of vividness, or of brightness. [Written also dulness.] And gentle dullness ever loves a joke. Pope.

volve; as, to educe a form from matter. The eternal art educing good from ill. Pope. They want to educe and cultivate what is best and noblest in themselves. M. Arnold.

The state of needing, or of suffering a natural want. [R.] J. Grote.

ing elevated; height; exaltation. "Degrees of elevation above us." Locke. His style . . . wanted a little elevation. Sir H. Wotton.

Difficulty or perplexity arising from the want of money to pay debts.

due regard to science and theory; -- said especially of medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies. Empirical formula. (Chem.) See under Formula.

Want of solidity or substance; unsatisfactoriness; inability to satisfy desire; vacuity; hollowness; the emptiness of earthly glory.

ornamental casing, as a gem with gold; to encircle; to inclose; to adorn. Enchased with a wanton ivy twine. Spenser. An precious stones, in studs of gold enchased, The shaggy velvet of his buskins graced. Mickle.

eeling of weariness and disgust; dullness and languor of spirits, arising from satiety or want of interest; tedium. T. Gray.

Satisfying desire; giving content; adequate to meet the want; sufficient; -- usually, and more elegantly, following the noun to which it belongs. How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare! Luke xv. 17.

ains, or with which one is entertained; as: (a) Hospitality; hospitable provision for the wants of a guest; especially, provision for the table; a hospitable repast; a feast; a formal or elegant meal. (b) That which engages the attention agreeably, amuses or diverts, whether in private, as by conversation, etc., or in…

e control of a business; entire confidence, ignorance. That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James i. 4. With strength entire and free will armed. Milton. One entire and perfect chrysolite. Shak.

e prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us. Ray. No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. Milton. Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave. Pope.

value; great regard; favorable opinion, founded on supposed worth. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem. Shak.

with something else; a precedent; a model. Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example. Shak.

The state of being exigent; urgent or exacting want; pressing necessity or distress; need; a case demanding immediate action, supply, or remedy; as, an unforeseen exigency. "The present exigency of his affairs." Ludlow.