Search the Dictionary

species of lyric poem, invented by Archilochus, in which a longer verse is followed by a shorter one; as, the Epodes of Horace. It does not include the elegiac distich.

her than. I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak. Ere long, before, shortly. Shak. -- Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak. -- Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.

n degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; -- often shortened to squire.

A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.

An order of insects, including the earwig. The anterior wings are short, in the form of elytra, while the posterior wings fold up beneath them. See Earwig.

ery one. [Obs.] "Every each of them hath some vices." Burton.. -- Every now and then, at short intervals; occasionally; repeatedly; frequently. [Colloq.]

ith a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect; true; correct; precise; as, the clock keeps exact time; he paid the exact debt; an exact copy of a letter; exact accounts. I took a great pains to make out the exact truth. Jowett (Thucyd. )…

speedily; prompt. Nimble and expedite . . . in its operation. Tollotson. Speech is a very short and expedite way of conveying their thoughts. Locke.

est or criterion of general knowledge; -- opposed to intuitionists. Experientialism is in short, a philosophical or logical theory, not a philosophical one. G. C. Robertson.

A sporting rifle for use at short ranges, employing a large charge of powder and a light (short) bullet, giving a high initial velocity and consequently a flat trajectory. It is usually of moderately large caliber.

A metal ring or grommet, or short metallic tube, the ends of which can be bent outward and over to fasten it in place; -- used to line an eyelet hole. Eyelet hole, a hole made for an eyelet. -- Eyelet punch, a machine for punching eyelet holes and fastening eyelets, as in paper or cloth. -- Eyelet ring. See Eyelet, 2…

s reddish yellow and about the size of the domestic cat, but with a more slender body and shorter legs.

To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail. As the waters fail from the sea. Job xiv. 11. Till Lionel's issue fails, h…

A failing short; a becoming deficient; failure; deficiency; imperfection; weakness; lapse; fault; infirmity; as, a mental failing. And ever in her mind she cas about For that unnoticed failing in herself. Tennyson.

than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.

A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages.

One of a family (Falconidæ) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight.

To fall beyond. Shak. -- To fall short, to be deficient; as, the corn falls short; they all fall short in duty. -- To fall through, to come to nothing; to fail; as, the engageent has fallen through. -- To fall to, to begin. "Fall to, with eager joy, on homely food." Dryden. -- To fall under. (a) To come under, or w…

A flourish of trumpets, as in coming into the lists, etc.; also, a short and lively air performed on hunting horns during the chase. The fanfare announcing the arrival of the various Christian princes. Sir W. Scott.

Short curls dangling over the temples; -- fashionable in the reign of Charles II. [Obs.] Farquhar.