Search the Dictionary

ollowing. "Proximate ancestors." J. S. Harford. The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]. T. Burnet. Proximate analysis (Chem.), an analysis which determines the proximate principles of any substance, as contrasted with an ultimate analysis. -- Proximate cause. (a) A cause which immediately precedes and produce…

is modified into an air- breathing organ, as in Helix, or land snails, Limax, or garden slugs, and many pond snails, as Limnæa and Planorbis.

dissolute fellow; a debauchee; a rake. It seldom doth happen, in any way of life, that a sluggard and a rakehell do not go together. Barrow.

The quality or state of being resty; sluggishness. [Obs.] The snake by restiness and lying still all winter. Holland.

Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Disposed to rest; indisposed toexercton; sluggish; also, restive. [Obs.] Burton. Where the master is too resty or too rich to say his own prayers. Milton.

clasp, with a guard covering its point so that it will not prick the wearer. -- safety plug. See Fusible plug, under Fusible. -- Safety switch. See Switch. -- Safety touchdown (Football), the act or result of a player's touching to the ground behind his own goal line a ball which received its last impulse from a ma…

The beluga, or white whale.

An officer of the customs whose business it is to search ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.

that has preceded; another, like a protype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! Shak. Second Adventist. See Adventist. -- Second cousin, the child of a cousin. -- Second-cut file. See under File. -- Second distance (Art), that part of a picture between the fore…

Inactive; motionless; sluggish; hence, calm; tranquil. [R.] "The sedentary earth." Milton. The soul, considered abstractly from its passions, is of a remiss, sedentary nature. Spectator.

Sluggishness; dullness; inactivity. [Obs.]

Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be looked to speedily and strongly. Shak.

To hit hard, esp. with little attention to aim or the like, as in cricket or boxing; to slug. [Cant or Slang]

A hard hitter; a slugger. [Cant or Slang] T. Hughes.

Sluggish. [Obs.] Somnolence that is sloggy slumbering Chaucer.

Sluggish; slow. [Prov. Eng.]

Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness. [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth. Milton. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears. Franklin.

Addicted to sloth; inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. -- Sloth"ful*ly, adv. -- Sloth"ful*ness, n.

Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe. Dryden.