Search the Dictionary

Weak in intellect; silly.

Two in a year; semiannual. -- adv. Twice in a year; semiannually.

Any slender, marine fish of the genus Hemirhamphus, having the upper jaw much shorter than the lower; -- called also balahoo.

To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. To go off halfcocked. (a) To be discharged prematurely, or with the trigger at half cock; -- said of a firearm. (b) To do or say something without due thought or care. [Colloq. or Low]

Wanting half its due qualities. [Obs.] Spencer.

Half; by the part. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- n.

One who possesses or gives half only; one who shares. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

The quality of being half; incompleteness. [R.] As soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor feels the wrong. Emerson.

A platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight. See Quarterpace.

In the middle; at half the distance; imperfectly; partially; as, he halfway yielded. Temples proud to meet their gods halfway. Young.

Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support; defense; vindication. In behalf of his mistress's beauty. Sir P. Sidney. Against whom he had contracted some prejudice in behalf of his nation. Clarendon. In behalf of, in the interest of. -- On behalf of, on account of; on the part of.

To reduce in estimation; to deprive. [Obs.] She hath abated me of half my train. Shak.

To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish. -- To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come. -- To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. "Shall…

Point; a riding academy; the Academy of Music. Academy figure (Paint.), a drawing usually half life-size, in crayon or pencil, after a nude model.

accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Dan. ix. 2. He had accomplished half a league or more. Prescott.

sake of; by reason of; because of. -- On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf. -- To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon. [Obs.] s other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it. Mil…

A dot at the right side of a note as an indication that its sound is to be lengthened one half. [R.]

Once repeated; -- of quantity; as, as large again, half as much again.

A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a church.

High relief; sculptured work in which the figures project more than half their thickness; as, this figure is an alto-rilievo or in alto-rilievo.