Search the Dictionary

The first principle of metals, i. e., mercury, which was formerly supposed to exist in all metals, and to be extractable from them.

octrine forbids concubinage and polygamy, and frees women from many of the degradations imposed upon them among the orthodox Mohammedans. Mendicancy, the use of intoxicating liquors and drugs, and slave dealing, are forbidden; asceticism is discountenanced. --Bab"ist, n.

A metrical foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones; according to some, two long and a short.

The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail. Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. Donne.

Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone. The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic axis, or backbone of the country. Darwin. We have now come to the backbone of our subject. Earle.

Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.

To check by perplexing; to disconcert, frustrate, or defeat; to thwart. "A baffled purpose." De Quincey. A suitable scripture ready to repel and baffle them all. South. Calculations so difficult as to have baffled, until within a . . . recent period, the most enlightened nations. Prescott. The mere intricacy of a quest…

To deliver, as goods in trust, for some special object or purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that the trust shall be faithfully executed on the part of the bailee, or person intrusted; as, to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment; to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone. Kent.…

in trust, and who has a temporary possession and a qualified property in them, for the purposes of the trust. Blackstone.

A delivery of goods or money by one person to another in trust, for some special purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that the trust shall be faithfully executed. Blackstone.

A social assembly for the purpose of dancing.

madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, -- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers.

used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of Peru. -- Balsam of Tolu, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree ( Myxoxylon toluiferum.). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expecto…

Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See Banns (the common spelling in this sense).

To confederate for some common purpose; to unite; to conspire together. Certain of the Jews banded together. Acts xxiii. 12.

The building or office used for banking purposes.

Having sides inclining inwards, as a ship; -- opposed to wall- sided.

Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in a church, or other place prescribed by law, in order that any person may object, if he knows of just cause why the marriage should not take place.

A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to warn a family of the speedy death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the house.

A supernatural being supposed to warn a family of the approaching death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice.