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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,369 words match “ABOUT”

INTERMARRY v.
members; to give and take mutually in marriage; -- said of families, ranks, castes, etc. About the middle of the fourth century from the building of Rome, it was declared lawful for nobles and plebeians to intermarry. Swift.
INVERNESS; INVERNESS CAPE n.
A kind of full sleeveless cape, fitting closely about the neck.
IRON n.
rought iron (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly known in the arts, containing only about half of one per cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore, as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile.…
IRREVERSIBLE a.
Incapable of being reversed or turned about or back; incapable of being made to run backward; as, an irreversible engine.
IRVINGITE n.
The common designation of one a sect founded by the Rev. Edward Irving (about 1830), who call themselves the Catholic Apostolic Church. They are highly ritualistic in worship, have an elaborate hierarchy of apostles, prophets, etc., and look for the speedy coming of Christ.
ISCHIADIC a.
[R.] Ischiadic passion or disease (Med.), a rheumatic or neuralgic affection of some part about the hip joint; -- called also sciatica.
IT pron.
As a demonstrative, especially at the beginning of a sentence, pointing to that which is about to be stated, named, or mentioned, or referring to that which apparent or well known; as, I saw it was John. It is I; be not afraid. Matt. xiv. 27. Peter heard that it was the Lord. John xxi. 7. Often, in such cases, as a sub…
ITALIC a.
t; -- so called because dedicated to the States of Italy by the inventor, Aldus Manutius, about the year 1500. Italic languages, the group or family of languages of ancient Italy. -- Italic order (Arch.), the composite order. See Composite. -- Italic school, a term given to the Pythagorean and Eleatic philosophers, f…
ITINERANT a.
Passing or traveling about a country; going or preaching on a circuit; wandering; not settled; as, an itinerant preacher; an itinerant peddler. The king's own courts were then itinerant, being kept in the king's palace, and removing with his household in those royal progresses which he continually made. Blackstone.…
ITZIBU n.
A silver coin of Japan, worth about thirty-four cents. [Written also itzebu, ichebu, itcheboo, etc.]
JACANA n.
ana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird.
JAGGER n.
One who carries about a small load; a peddler. See 2d Jag. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
JAPAN a.
triata) from Eastern Asia, useful for fodder, first noticed in the Southern United States about 1860, but now become very common. During the Civil War it was called variously Yankee clover and Rebel clover. -- Japan earth. See Catechu. -- Japan ink, a kind of writing ink, of a deep, glossy black when dry. -- Japan v…
JARARACA n.
A poisonous serpent of Brazil (Bothrops jararaca), about eighteen inches long, and of a dusky, brownish color, variegated with red and black spots.
JERUSALEM n.
S. capsicastrum), cultivated as ornamental house plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of cherries. -- Jerusalem oak (Bot.), an aromatic goosefoot (Chenopodium Botrys), common about houses and along roadsides. -- Jerusalem sage (Bot.), a perennial herb of the Mint family (Phlomis tuberosa). -- Jeru…
JEWISH CALENDAR n.
traditionally given for the Creation. It received its present fixed form from Hillel II. about 360 a. d. The present names of the months, which are Babylonian- Assyrian in origin, replaced older ones, Abib, Bul, etc., at the time of the Babylonian Exile. Nineteen years constitute a lunar cycle, of which the 3d, 6th, 8…
JIG v.
To dance a jig; to skip about. You jig, you amble, and you lisp. Shak.
JIGGLE v.
To wriggle or frisk about; to move awkwardly; to shake up and down.
JIM CROW n.
said to be so called from a popular negro song and dance, the refrain of which is "Wheel about and turn about and jump Jim Crow," produced in 1835 by T. D. Rice, a famous negro minstrel. [Slang, U. S.]
JOHN n.
A proper name of a man. John-apple, a sort of apple ripe about St. John's Day. Same as Apple-john. -- John Bull, an ideal personification of the typical characteristics of an Englishman, or of the English people. -- John Bullism, English character. W. Irving. -- John Doe (Law), the name formerly given to the fictiti…
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