Search the Dictionary

To mutter; to mumble; to grumble; to speak indistinctly or disconnectedly; to talk incoherently. He was ever maundering by the how that he met a party of scarlet devils. Sir W. Scott.

To utter in a grumbling manner; to mutter.

partly closed, so as to render the sounds inarticulate and imperfect; to utter words in a grumbling indistinct manner, indicating discontent or displeasure; to mutter. Peace, you mumbling fool. Shak. A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself. Otway.

ts in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against. "His disciples murmured at it." John vi. 61. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. Num. xiv. 2. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured. 1 Cor. x. 1…

oice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complains or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl. Wizards that peep, and that mutter. Is. viii. 19. Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, And mutter to himself. Dryden.

A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a). -- Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter. -- Stinking nightshade. See He…

Snarling; grumbling. [R.] Bp. Montagu.

, pungently aromatic condiment, the dried berry, either whole or powdered, of the Piper nigrum.

A dried berry of the black pepper (Piper nigrum).

Of or pertaining to the order of plants (Piperaceæ) of which the pepper (Piper nigrum) is the type. There are about a dozen genera and a thousand species, mostly tropical plants with pungent and aromatic qualities.

ne compound of piperidine and piperic acid. It is obtained from the black pepper (Piper nigrum) and other species.

son who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. "I am Grumio's pledge." Shak.

To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to utter grumbling sounds. "An angry cur snarls while he feeds." Dryden & Lee.

One who snarls; a surly, growling animal; a grumbling, quarrelsome fellow.

A poisonous alkaloid glucoside extracted from the berries of common nightshade (Solanum nigrum), and of bittersweet, and from potato sprouts, as a white crystalline substance having an acrid, burning taste; -- called also solonia, and solanina.