Search the Dictionary

To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; -- with for, after, or at. The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes. Denham.

In a gaunt manner; meagerly.

owing garments into the girdle and tightening it before any exertion; hence, adjectively, eagerly or constantly active; strenuous; striving. "A severer, more girt-up way of living." J. C. Shairp.

With pleasure; joyfully; cheerfully; eagerly. The common people heard him gladly. Mark xii. 37.

To swallow eagerly, or in large draughts; to swallow up; to take down at one swallow. He does not swallow, but he gulps it down. Cowper. The old man . . . glibly gulped down the whole narrative. Fielding. To gulp up, to throw up from the stomach; to disgorge.

uthern and Western States for pasture and hay. The rootstocks are large and juicy and are eagerly sought by swine. Called also Cuba grass, Means grass, Evergreen millet, and Arabian millet.

jumps with my humor." Shak. To jump at, to spring to; hence, fig., to accept suddenly or eagerly; as, a fish jumps at a bait; to jump at a chance.

Meagerly; without fat or plumpness.

Eagerly desirous. See Lickerish. [Obs.] Marston.

Hence: To long eagerly; to desire earnestly. As the hart panteth after the water brooks. Ps. xlii. 1. Who pants for glory finds but short repose. Pope.

(Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly eaten by pigeons and other birds. -- Pigeon hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American falcon (Falco columbarius). The adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked with…

To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain. Prior. The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing. Longfellow.

To struggle eagerly with others for something thrown upon the ground; to go down upon all fours to seize something; to catch rudely at what is desired. Of other care they little reckoning make, Than how to scramble at the shearer's feast. Milton.

To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply. M. Arnold. The head [of a spear] full sharp yground. Chaucer. You bite so sharp at reasons. Shak.

To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); -- often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

Eagerly pressing or urgent; zealous; ardent; earnest; bold; valiant; intrepid; as, a strenuous advocate for national rights; a strenuous reformer; a strenuous defender of his country. And spirit-stirring wine, that strenuous makes. Chapman. Strenuous, continuous labor is pain. I. Taylor. -- Stren"u*ous*ly, adv. -- Str…

e that yields to the feet; to move, sinking at each step, as in water, mud, sand, etc. So eagerly the fiend . . . With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. Milton.

Full of thought; eagerly attentive; meditative; musing; pensive; contemplative. That he who there at such an hour hath been, Will wistful linger on that hallowed spot. Byron. -- Wist"ful*ly, adv. -- Wist"ful*ness, n.

Eagerly; briskly; quickly. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. My hands and my tongue go so yerne. Chaucer.