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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.

1,138 words match “FEN”

Master; sir; -- a title of a Turkish state official and man of learning, especially one learned in the law.

FLOWER-FENCE n.

A tropical leguminous bush (Poinciana, or Cæsalpinia, pulcherrima) with prickly branches, and showy yellow or red flowers; -- so named from its having been sometimes used for hedges in the West Indies. Baird.

Defense in front. [Obs.]

To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of; to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend. God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history. Landor. It would be a far better work . . . to forefend the cruelty. I. Taylor.

To prohibit; to forbid; to avert. [Archaic] Which peril heaven forefend! Shak.

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

HALFENDEAL adv. 2 definitions

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

INDEFENSIBILITY n.

The quality or state of not being defensible. Walsh.

INDEFENSIBLE n.

Not defensible; not capable of being defended, maintained, vindicated, or justified; unjustifiable; untenable; as, an indefensible fortress, position, cause, etc. Men find that something can be said in favor of what, on the very proposal, they thought utterly indefensible. Burke.

INDEFENSIBLY adv.

In an indefensible manner.

Defenseless. [Obs.] The sword awes the indefensive villager. Sir T. Herbert.

INOFFENSIVE a. 3 definitions

Giving no offense, or provocation; causing no uneasiness, annoyance, or disturbance; as, an inoffensive man, answer, appearance.

To enliven. [Obs.] Marston.

OFFEND v. 7 definitions

To displease; to make angry; to affront. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Prov. xviii. 19.

An offender. [R.] Holland.

One who offends; one who violates any law, divine or human; a wrongdoer. I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 1 Kings i. 21.

A woman who offends. Shak.

OFFENSE; OFFENCE n. 3 definitions

The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.

Causing offense; displeasing; wrong; as, an offenseful act. [R.]