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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



246 words match “ETYM”

AQUILA n.
ellation southerly from Lyra and Cygnus and preceding the Dolphin; the Eagle. Aquila alba Etym: [L., white eagle], an alchemical name of calomel. Brande & C.
ARE n.
The present indicative plural of the substantive verb to be; but etymologically a different word from be, or was. Am, art, are, and is, all come from the root as.
ARTICLE n.
lations, fixed by law, for the better government of the army. -- In the article of death Etym: [L. in articulo mortis], at the moment of death; in the dying struggle. -- Lords of the articles (Scot. Hist.), a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and preparation of the acts,…
ASS n.
A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. Etym: [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." F. Harrison. -- To make an ass of one's self, t…
ASTROLOGY n.
In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.
ATONES adv.
Etym: [See At one.] [Obs.] Down he fell atones as a stone. Chaucer.
B n.
he second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 196,220.) It is etymologically related to p , v , f , w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. pear; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It.…
BASS n.
; pl. Bass, and sometimes Basses. Etym: [A corruption of barse.] (Zoöl.)
BASSO n.
The double bass, or contrabasso. Basso continuo (. Etym: [It., bass continued.] (Mus.) A bass part written out continuously, while the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures attached to the bass; continued bass.
BEE n.
pl. Etym: [Prob. fr. AS. beáh ring, fr. b to bend. See 1st Bow.] (Naut.)
BERE n.
, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OIcel. berja to strike.] To pierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BETA n.
The second letter of the Greek alphabet, B, b. See B, and cf. etymology of Alphabet. Beta (B, b) is used variously for classifying, as:
BLINK n.
pl. Etym: [Cf. Blencher.] (Sporting)
BLOW v.
blow behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face. Bartlett. To blow hot and cold Etym: (a saying derived from a fable of , to favor a thing at one time and treat it coldly at another; or to appear both to favor and to oppose. -- To blow off, to let steam escape through a passage provided for the purpose; as,…
BLUE n.
pl. Etym: [Short for blue devils.]
BOLOGNA n.
A Bologna sausage. Bologna sausage Etym: [It. salsiccia di Bologna], a large sausage made of bacon or ham, veal, and pork, chopped fine and inclosed in a skin. -- Bologna stone (Min.), radiated barite, or barium sulphate, found in roundish masses composed of radiating fibers, first discovered near Bologna. It is phosp…
BOUD n.
A weevil; a worm that breeds in malt, biscuit, etc. [Obs.] Tusser., n. Etym: [F., fr. bouder to pout, be sulky.]
BRAVURA n.
voice, or the technical force and skill of a performer; virtuoso music. Aria di bravura ( Etym: [It.], a florid air demanding brilliant execution.
BURDEN n.
& R.] Shak. Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens. -- Burden of proof Etym: [L. onus probandi] (Law), the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.
C n.
glish name of C is from the Latin name ce, and was derived, probably, through the French. Etymologically C is related to g, h, k, q, s (and other sibilant sounds). Examples of these relations are in L. acutus, E. acute, ague; E. acrid, eagar; L. cornu, E. horn; E. cat, kitten; E. coy, quiet; L. circare, OF. cerchier, E…
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