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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,661 words match “WERE”

CARVE v.
t out. "[Macbeth] with his brandished steel . . . carved out his passage." Shak. Fortunes were carved out of the property of the crown. Macaulay.
CAST v.
ecide against; to convict; as, to be cast in damages. She was cast to be hanged. Jeffrey. Were the case referred to any competent judge, they would inevitably be cast. Dr. H. More.
CATALYSIS n.
A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is appare…
CATAMARAN n.
rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.
CATECHISE v.
To instruct by asking questions, receiving answeres, and offering explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of religious faith.
CATEGORY n.
s -- the former a Greek word, the latter its literal translation in the Latin language -- were intended by Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most extensive classes into which things could be distributed. J. S. Mill.…
CAUCASIAN a.
Of or pertaining to the white races of mankind, of whom the people about Mount Caucasus were formerly taken as the type.
CENATORY a.
Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.] The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. Sir T. Browne.
CENSOR n.
One who is empowered to examine manuscripts before they are committed to the press, and to forbid their publication if they contain anything obnoxious; -- an official in some European countries.
CENSURE n.
fault with and condemning as wrong; reprehension; blame. Both the censure and the praise were merited. Macaulay.
CENTERBOARD; CENTREBOARD n.
which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships, when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of lateral resistance and prevent leeway when the vessel is beating to windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the United States
CEROMA n.
The unguent (a composition of oil and wax) with which wrestles were anointed among the ancient Romans.
CETACEA n.
nd sperm whale, which have teeth. Another suborder (Zeuglodontia) is extinct. The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea, but are now made a separate order.
CHAFFER v.
To buy or sell; to trade in. He chaffered chairs in which churchmen were set. Spenser.
CHALDEAN a.
strologer; -- so called among the Eastern nations, because astrology and the kindred arts were much cultivated by the Chaldeans.
CHAP n.
commonly in the plural, and used of animals, and colloquially of human beings. His chaps were all besmeared with crimson blood. Cowley. He unseamed him [Macdonald] from the nave to the chaps. Shak.
CHAPEAU n.
hat so made that it can be compressed and carried under the arm without injury. Such hats were particularly worn on dress occasions by gentlemen in the 18th century. A chapeau bras is now worn in the United States army by general and staff officers.
CHARACTER n.
A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye. Holder.
CHARGEABLE a.
not be chargeable to any of you. 2. Thess. iii. 8. For the sculptures, which are elegant, were very chargeable. Evelyn.
CHECK n.
ing is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.
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