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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



463 words match “CHARACTERISTIC”

BITTER a.
from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics. -- Bitter salt, Epsom salts;; magnesium sulphate. -- Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia. -- To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however cala…
BLANK a. 2 definitions
Lacking characteristics which give variety; as, a blank desert; a blank wall; destitute of interests, affections, hopes, etc.; as, to live a blank existence; destitute of sensations; as, blank unconsciousness.
BLOWPIPE n.
e analysis (Chem.), analysis by means of the blowpipe. -- Blowpipe reaction (Chem.), the characteristic behavior of a substance subjected to a test by means of the blowpipe.
BOHEMIANISM n.
The characteristic conduct or methods of a Bohemian. [Modern]
BOIS D'ARC n.
The Osage orange (Maclura aurantiaca). The bois d'arc seems to be the characteristic growth of the black prairies. U. S. Census (1880).
BOOBY a.
Having the characteristics of a booby; stupid.
BOSWELLIAN a.
Relating to, or characteristic of, Boswell, the biographer of Dr. Johnson.
BOURGEOIS n.
Characteristic of the middle class, as in France.
BOVINE a.
Having qualities characteristic of oxen or cows; sluggish and patient; dull; as, a bovine temperament. The bovine gaze of gaping rustics. W. Black.
BOWERY a.
Characteristic of the street called the Bowery, in New York city; swaggering; flashy.
BREED n.
r variety of men or other animals (or of plants), perpetuating its special or distinctive characteristics by inheritance. Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed. Shak. Greyhounds of the best breed. Carpenter.
BROMIDIOM n.
A conventional comment or saying, such as those characteristic of bromides. [Slang]
BRUTE a.
Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence. Macaulay. The influence of capital and mere brute labor. Playfair.
BRUTISM n.
The nature or characteristic qualities or actions of a brute; extreme stupidity, or beastly vulgarity.
BUFFOON a.
Characteristic of, or like, a buffoon. "Buffoon stories." Macaulay. To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances. Melmoth.
BULLDOG a.
Characteristic of, or like, a bulldog; stubborn; as, bulldog courage; bulldog tenacity. Bulldog bat (zo'94l.), a bat of the genus Nyctinomus; -- so called from the shape of its face.
BUXOM a.
Having the characteristics of health, vigor, and comeliness, combined with a gay, lively manner; stout and rosy; jolly; frolicsome. A daughter fair, So buxom, blithe, and debonair. Milton. A parcel of buxom bonny dames, that were laughing, singing, dancing, and as merry as the day was long. Tatler. -- Bux"om*ly, adv.…
CAESIUM n.
A rare alkaline metal found in mineral water; -- so called from the two characteristic blue lines in its spectrum. It was the first element discovered by spectrum analysis, and is the most strongly basic and electro-positive substance known. Symbol Cs. Atomic weight 132.6.
CALCIFEROUS a.
the Cambrian period. The name alludes to the peculiar mixture of calcareous and siliceous characteristics in many of the beds. See the Diagram under Grology.
CALYMENE n.
A genus of trilobites characteristic of the Silurian age.
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