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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



495 words match “STEAD”

CROSS-READING n.
The reading of the lines of a newspaper directly across the page, instead of down the columns, thus producing a ludicrous combination of ideas.
CURIOLOGIC a.
taining to a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in which a thing is represented by its picture instead of by a symbol.
DADDLE v.
To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do anything slowly or feebly.
DADE v.
To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly. [Obs.] No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip. Drayton.
DARE v.
or; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or to undertake. What high concentration of steady feeling makes men dare every thing and do anything Bagehot. To wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes. The Century.
DASH n.
use, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis. John Wilson.
DAY LILY n.
of plants (Hemerocallis) closely resembling true lilies, but having tuberous rootstocks instead of bulbs. The common species have long narrow leaves and either yellow or tawny-orange flowers.
DEAD a.
hind the parapet. -- Dead block, either of two wooden or iron blocks intended to serve instead of buffers at the end of a freight car. -- Dead calm (Naut.), no wind at all. -- Dead center, or Dead point (Mach.), either of two points in the orbit of a crank, at which the crank and connecting rod lie a straight line.…
DEED POLL n.
ving the edge of the parchment or paper cut even, or polled as it was anciently termed, instead of being indented. Burrill.
DELEGATION n.
, to be liberated from his creditor, gives him a third person, who becomes obliged in his stead to the creditor, or to the person appointed by him. Pothier.
DEMICADENCE n.
An imperfect or half cadence, falling on the dominant instead of on the key note.
DEMURE a.
r or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave. Sober, steadfast, and demure. Milton. Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. W. Black.
DEPUTIZE v.
To appoint as one's deputy; to empower to act in one's stead; to depute.
DICHROMIC a.
of defective vision, in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements instead of three. Sir J. Herschel.
DILIGENT a.
Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious. Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before kings. Prov. xxii. 29. Diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.
DIRECT CURRENT n.
A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a continuous current.
DIRECTORY n.
of directions for the conduct of worship; as, the Directory used by the nonconformists instead of the Prayer Book.
DISTEMPER n.
ors, in which the pigments are tempered or diluted with weak glue or size (cf. Tempera) instead of oil, usually for scene painting, or for walls and ceilings of rooms.
DOTTY a.
[Perh. a different word; cf. Totty.] Unsteady in gait; hence, feeble; half-witted. [Eng.]
DOUBLE n.
east in which the antiphon is doubled, hat is, said twice, before and after the Psalms, instead of only half being said, as in simple feasts. Shipley.
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