A Dictionary of the English Language: Abridged from the American Dictionary

Front Cover
Huntington and Savage, Mason and Law, 1851 - English language - 417 pages
 

Selected pages

Contents

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 139 - An ex post facto law is one which renders an act punishable in a manner in which it was not punishable when it was committed.
Page 14 - Webster's 1852 Dictionary had the following explanation: "Woe. This word takes the final e, like doe, foe, hoe, sloe, toe, and all similar nouns of one syllable.
Page 9 - John Trumbull, writing to Oliver Wolcott, announces that " Webster has returned, and brought with him a pretty wife. I wish him success, but I doubt, in the present decay of business in our profession [the law], whether his profits will enable him to keep up the style he sets out with. I fear he will breakfast upon Institutes, dine upon Dissertations, and go to bed supperless.
Page 114 - Education; instruction ; cultivation and improvement, comprehending instruction in arts, sciences, correct sentiments, morals and manners, and due subordination to authority.
Page 9 - It contained, the writer believes, the first distinct proposal made through the medium of the press, for a new constitution of the United States.
Page 139 - Expiration, ekspe-rayshun (Latin, ex, out; spiro, to breathe). Literally, a breathing out, the emission of the last breath ; hence, the passing away as a breath, applied to circumstances or time. Expletive, eks-pletiv (Latin, expleo, to fill up ; from...
Page 148 - A play in which they catch raisins out of burning brandy and, extinguishing them by closing the mouth, eat them.
Page 13 - Catechise and exorcise are exceptions. Verbs, and also some nouns, derived directly from the French, with a few from other sources, end in ise, as advertise, advise, affranchise, amortise, chastise, circumcise, comprise, compromise, criticise, demise, despise, devise, disfranchise, disguise, divertise, emprise, enfranchise, enterprise, exercise, manumise, merchandise, misprise, (to mistake,) premise, reprise, (to take again,) revise, supervise, surmise, surprise. 6. Terminations in able. — Able,...
Page 127 - ELDER, a person advanced in life, and who, on account of his age, experience, and wisdom, is selected for of fice.
Page 43 - Yes, used to affirm or assent. AYE, ad. Always ; ever ; again ; once more. AZ'I-MUTH, n. The arch of the horizon between the mreidian of a place and any given vertical line.

Bibliographic information