Search the Dictionary

ains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life. Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them. Hayward.

y which they banished for five years a citizen suspected of having dangerous influence or ambition. It was similar to the ostracism in Athens; but olive leaves were used instead of shells for ballots.

excite to action by causing resentment or jealousy; to stimulate; to prick; as, to pique ambition, or curiosity. Prior.

miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable. That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Shak.

A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward. "Ambitious to win from me some plume." Milton.

The act of courting the favor of the people. [Obs.] "Indicted . . . for popularity and ambition." Holland.

into being or action; esp., to incense to action, a faculty or passion, as love, hate, or ambition; hence, commonly, to incite, as a person, to action by a challenge, by taunts, or by defiance; to exasperate; to irritate; to offend intolerably; to cause to retaliate. Obey his voice, provoke him not. Ex. xxiii. 21. Ye f…

flee when no man pursueth. Prov. xxviii. 1. Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition. Earle.

or urge forward; to drive; to push an objection too far. " To push his fortune." Dryden. Ambition pushes the soul to such actions as are apt to procure honor to the actor. Spectator. We are pushed for an answer. Swift.

verse to repose or quiet; eager for change; discontented; as, restless schemers; restless ambition; restless subjects. "Restless at home , and ever prone to range." Dryden.

iew; a shield or protection; as, a fire screen. Your leavy screens throw down. Shak. Some ambitious men seem as screens to princes in matters of danger and envy. Bacon.

to alternate. [R.] In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill. Fuller. Sin is seconded with sin. South.

l sectional interests, or party feelings, it is hoped, will hereafter yield to schemes of ambition. Story.

on; pithy; as, a sententious style or discourse; sententious truth. How he apes his sire, Ambitiously sententious! Addison.

An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person. [R.] Thy ambition, Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land Of noble Buckingham. Shak.

nders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.

intent. Chaucer. Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in Parliament. Blackstone.

with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; -- sometimes followed by up. Many officers and private men spirit up and assist those obstinate people to continue in their rebellion. Swift .

tstare the sternest eyes that look. Shak. When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Shak. Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard. Dryden. These barren rocks, your stern inheritance. Wordsworth.

sive or repeated acts; always; ever; constantly; uniformly. The desire of fame betrays an ambitious man into indecencies that lessen his reputation; he is still afraid lest any of his actions should be thrown away in private. Addison. Chemists would be rich if they could still do in great quantities what they have some…