Search the Dictionary

e who makes rhymes; a versifier; -- generally in contempt; a poor poet; a poetaster. This would make them soon perceive what despicaple creatures our common rhymers and playwriters be. Milton.

lighter than derision. We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, -- the laughable, -- and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to "derision", which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings. Hare.…

behavior. Agricola, discerning that those little targets and unwieldy glaives ill pointed would soon become ridiculous against the thrust and close, commanded three Batavian cohorts . . . to draw up and come to handy strokes. Milton.

To leave one's bed; to arise; as, to rise early. He that would thrive, must rise by five. Old Proverb.

To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other beast. Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. Spenser.

ing) away from by force; to strip by stealing; to plunder; to pillage; to steal from. Who would rob a hermit of his weeds, His few books, or his beads, or maple dish Milton. He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen, Let him not know it, and he's not robbed at all. Shak. To be executed for robbing a church. Shak.…

of the peace by persons assembled together with intent to do a thing which, if executed, would make them rioters, and actually making a motion toward the executing thereof. Wharton.

A ball which has passed through all the hoops and would go out if it hit the stake but is continued in play; also, the player of such a ball.

Kingliness; spirit of regal authority. In his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be fear'd. Shak.

To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger. They would ruffle with jurors. Bacon. Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery. Sir W. Scott.

rden clad in one of these Waterford rugs. The mastiffs, . . . deeming he had been a bear, would fain have baited him. Holinshed.

roomage, and romage. [Obs.] They night bring away a great deal more than they do, if they would take pain in the romaging. Hakluyt.

irregular inequalities; to wrinkle; to crumple; as, to rumple an apron or a cravat. They would not give a dog's ear of their most rumpled and ragged Scoth paper for twenty of your fairest assignats. Burke.

To flee, as from fear or danger. As from a bear a man would run for life. Shak.

nterruption of friendly relations; as, the parties came to a rupture. He knew that policy would desincline Napoleon from a rupture with his family. E. Everett.

ss; cast down with affliction; downcast; gloomy; mournful. First were we sad, fearing you would not come; Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. Shak. The angelic guards ascended, mute and sad. Milton.

or secure, or of giving confidence, justifying trust, insuring against harm or loss, etc. Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off. Beau. & Fl.

To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve. Would have counseled, or even sanctioned, such perilous experiments. De Quincey.

bitterly satirical; scornfully severe; taunting. What a fierce and sarcastic reprehension would this have drawn from the friendship of the world! South.

and lasciviousness. Rough Satyrs danced; and Fauns, with cloven heel, From the glad sound would not be absent long. Milton.