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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

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

78 words match “WHIM”

Absent-minded; dazed; muddled; stupid. The whole company stared at me with a whimsical, muzzy look, like men whose senses were a little obfuscated by beer rather then wine. W. Irving.

NOTIONAL a. 2 definitions

Existing in idea only; visionary; whimsical. Discourses of speculative and notional things. Evelyn.

To whimper; to whine, as a complaining child. It becometh not such a gallant to whine and pule. Barrow.

PULING n. 2 definitions

A cry, as of a chicken,; a whining or whimpering. Leave this faint puling and lament as I do. Shak.

Curious and fanciful; affected; odd; whimsical; antique; archaic; singular; unusual; as, quaint architecture; a quaint expression. Some stroke of quaint yet simple pleasantry. Macaulay. An old, long-faced, long-bodied servant in quaint livery. W. Irving.

usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or act. " A queer look." W. Irving.

Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; -- often implying disapproval or consure. His zeal None seconded, as out of season judged, Or singular and rash. Milton. To be singular in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise. Tillotson.

soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles. Addison. As soon as, or So soon as, imediately at or after another event. "As soon as he came nigh unto the camp . . . he saw the calf, and the dancing." Ex. xxxii. 19. See So . . . as, under So.…

A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim. [Obs. or R.] A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways. Shak.

The whimbrel. [Prov. Eng.]

A whim, or burst of ill-humor; an affected air. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

The whimbrel. [Prov. Eng.]

Given to, or characterized by, vagaries; capricious; whimsical; crochety.

Hence, a wandering of the thoughts; a wild or fanciful freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose. "The vagaries of a child." Spectator. They changed their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. Milton.

Unreal; unsubstantial; vain; whimsical. Such vaporous speculations were inevitable. Carlyle.

The whimbrel; -- called also May whaup, little whaup, and tang whaup. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

A notion or fancy; a whim; as, to have a new wrinkle. [Colloq.]