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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



901 words match “WANT”

AVILE v.
To abase or debase; to vilify; to depreciate. [Obs.] Want makes us know the price of what we avile. B. Jonson.
AWKWARD a.
Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy. And dropped an awkward courtesy. Dryden.
AWLESS a.
Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear. "Awless insolence." Dryden.
BAD a.
Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious, hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective, either physically or morally; evil; vicious; wicked; -- the opposite of good; as a bad man; bad conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad health; bad crop; bad news.
BANKRUPT a.
Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once possessed, or something one should possess). "Bankrupt in gratitude." Sheridan. Bankrupt law, a law by which the property of a person who is unable or unwilling to pay his debts may be taken and distributed to his creditors, and by which a person who has made a full surre…
BARE a.
pty; unfurnished or scantily furnished; -- used with of (rarely with in) before the thing wanting or taken away; as, a room bare of furniture. "A bare treasury." Dryden.
BATTUE n.
The wanton slaughter of game. Howitt.
BEWILDER v.
To lead into perplexity or confusion, as for want of a plain path; to perplex with mazes; or in general, to perplex or confuse greatly. Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search. Addison.
BLOTTESQUE a.
Characterized by blots or heavy touches; coarsely depicted; wanting in delineation. Ruskin.
BLUNT a.
Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of civility; rough in manners or speech. "Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior." "A plain, blunt man." Shak.
BLUNTNESS n.
Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness. The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.
BONA ROBA n.
A showy wanton; a courtesan. Shak
BOOKWORM n.
student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation. I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a bookworm as any there. Pope.
BRACHYCATALECTIC n.
A verse wanting two syllables at its termination.
BREATHING n.
Exercising; promotion of respiration. Here is a lady that wants breathing too; And I have heard, you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip. Shak.
BROACH v.
To open for the first time, as stores. You shall want neither weapons, victuals, nor aid; I will open the old armories, I will broach my store, and will bring forth my stores. Knolles.
BROKE v.
To act as procurer in love matters; to pimp. [Obs.] We do want a certain necessary woman to broke between them, Cupid said. Fanshawe. And brokes with all that can in such a suit Corrupt the tender honor of a maid. Shak.
BUBBLE n.
Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble. Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. Shak.
BUGABOO; BUGBEAR n.
hildren, etc. "Bugaboos to fright ye." Lloyd. But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a small estate. Pope. The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. S. B. Griffin. The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. J. Burroughs.
BUSS v.
bussed the milking maid." Tennyson. Kissing and bussing differ both in this, We buss our wantons, but our wives we kiss. Herrick.
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