Search the Dictionary

A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. Shak. With a native bent did good pursue. Dryden.

h it is separated by fractional distillation. The name is sometimes applied also to the impure commercial product or benzole, and also, but rarely, to a similar mixed product of petroleum. Benzene nucleus, Benzene ring (Chem.), a closed chain or ring, consisting of six carbon atoms, each with one hydrogen atom attached…

An impure benzene, used in the arts as a solvent, and for various other purposes. See Benzene.

To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset. Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost. Shak.

Same as Bespurt.

Steel made directly from cast iron, by burning out a portion of the carbon and other impurities that the latter contains, through the agency of a blast of air which is forced through the molten metal; -- so called from Sir Henry Bessemer, an English engineer, the inventor of the process.

In a short time; soon; speedily; forth with. He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes. Shak.

Having two spurs, as the wing or leg of a bird.

-- Bill of parcels, an account given by the seller to the buyer of the several articles purchased, with the price of each. -- Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off. -- Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claime…

A sound made in imitation of the note or cry of a bird for the purpose of decoying the bird or its mate.

Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.

anchor bites the ground. The last screw of the rack having been turned so often that its purchase crumbled, . . . it turned and turned with nothing to bite. Dickens. To bite the dust, To bite the ground, to fall in the agonies of death; as, he made his enemy bite the dust. -- To bite in (Etching), to corrode or eat i…

A plant (Lewisia rediviva) allied to the purslane, but with fleshy, farinaceous roots, growing in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, etc. It gives the name to the Bitter Root mountains and river. The Indians call both the plant and the river Spæt'lum.

of several books of a political character, published at different times and for different purposes; -- so called either from the color of the binding, or from the character of the contents.

A sweet and juicy variety of European grape, of a dark purplish black color, much grown under glass in northern latitudes.

whitens; esp., one who anneals and cleanses money; also, a chemical preparation for this purpose.

arth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose. "Large blasts are often used." Tomlinson.

thout sight, discernment, or understanding; without thought, investigation, knowledge, or purpose of one's own. By his imperious mistress blindly led. Dryden.

To shut out of sight; to avoid, or purposely evade; to shirk; as, to blink the question.

The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the blockade of the ports of an enemy.