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lustrious. They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights. Shak. Why, 't is an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured. Shak. There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this. Wake. And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame Dryden.…

To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. [R.] Why doth the Jew pause Take thy forfeiture. Shak.

To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble. Why stand'st thou picking Is thy palate sore Dryden.

ractice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him.

ics and literature of the day. Lond. Sat. Rev. To post off, to put off; to delay. [Obs.] "Why did I, venturously, post off so great a business" Baxter. -- To post over, to hurry over. [Obs.] Fuller.

n, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go. I pray, sir. why am I beaten Shak.

In a profound manner. Why sigh you so profoundly Shak.

to carry on; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim. I am beloved Hermia; Why should not I, then, prosecute my right Shak.

o be violently driven or agitated; to act or move furiously; as, the raging sea or winds. Why do the heathen rage Ps. ii. 1. The madding wheels Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise. Milton.

to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead Acts xxvi. 8.

Early; soon; betimes. [Obs. or Poetic] Why rise ye up so rathe Chaucer. Too rathe cut off by practice criminal. Spencer.

of labor or of works; -- in a good or a bad sense; as, to reap a benefit from exertions. Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate Milton.

Early; soon. [Prov. Eng.] Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! Gay.

by the motion of the next wheel. Sir M. Hale. This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called "catholic." Bp. Pearson. Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. Tillotson.

rimand; also, chastisement; punishment. For thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Jer. xv. 15. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not Shak.

igal course Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable. Shak. If I am recoverable, why am I thus Cowper. -- Re*cov"er*a*ble*ness, n.

A pointing out; manifestation; proof; demonstration. [Obs.] You may marvel why I . . . would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power Than let him be so lost. Shak.

sonorous body, particularly a metallic one. Now ringen trompes loud and clarion. Chaucer. Why ring not out the bells Shak.

avor or quality; characteristic property; distinctive temper, tinge, taint, and the like. Why is not my life a continual joy, and the savor of heaven perpetually upon my spirit Baxter.

re, esp. in an open or sparse order. And some are scattered all the floor about. Chaucer. Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, Their scattered cottages, and ample plains Dryden. Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly, Soft quiet, gentle love, and endless joy. Prior.