Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 3237 results in 3237 entries
1. abaciscus, n. View full entry 1753
...A square section containing part or all of the pattern of a mosaic pavement; (also) a single mosaic tile, a tessera. Now rare....
2. abaculus, n. View full entry 1868
...A square or tile for use in a mosaic pavement; a tessera. Cf. abaciscus...
3. abacus, n. View full entry a1387
...A board or tray strewn with sand in which numbers, letters, diagrams, etc., can be traced and erased. Cf. sandboard1, sand-table(a)sand2a. Now rare...
4. abat-jour, n. View full entry 1838
...An architectural device for deflecting the light from a wall or roof opening in a particular direction; spec.a skylight set in an angled or slanting aperture or light well;a...
5. abreuvoir, n. View full entry 1696
...Masonry. A place between stones or bricks which is to be filled with mortar or cement; a joint. Now rare....
6. acanthus, n. View full entry 1551
...Bot. In early use: the Mediterranean plant Acanthus spinosus, the spiny leaves of which (or representations of them) are used decoratively (see sense 2). In later use...
7. acid, adj. and n. View full entry 1626
...In general use: sour, tart, sharp to the taste; tasting like vinegar....
8. acierate, v. View full entry 1867
...trans. To convert (iron) into steel....
9. acme, n. View full entry a1568
...The highest point or culmination; the point or period at which something is at its best or most highly developed; (in later use also) a person or thing representing or embodying this....
10. acroter, n. View full entry 1692
...Archit....
11. acroterion, n. View full entry 1664
...Archit....
12. Adansonia, n. View full entry 1763
...A tree of the genus Adansonia (family Malvaceae) comprising the baobab trees of Africa (particularly Madagascar) and Australia; esp. the African species A. digitata...
13. addition, n. View full entry c1400
...Something which is added or joined to another thing; an appendix, an augmentation; (also) a person who becomes part of a family or other group of people....
14. adit, n. View full entry 1602
...A roughly horizontal passage introduced into a mine for the purpose of access or drainage. Also in extended use; spec. a watercourse, esp. one that carries water away...
15. admiralty, n. View full entry 1419
...The branch of justice concerned with maritime questions and offences. Also: legal matters relating to this. Freq. in court of admiralty...
16. adobe, n. View full entry 1748
...A brick made of sand and clay mixed with water and an organic material such as straw, and left to dry in the sun....
17. adventure, n. View full entry ?c1225
...A chance occurrence or event, an accident. Obs....
18. adyt, n. View full entry 1584
...The innermost or most sacred part of a temple or other place of worship; = adytum Chiefly fig. in later use....
19. adytum, n. View full entry 1611
...The innermost or most sacred part of a temple or other place of worship; (Classical Archit.) a small sanctuary in the cella reserved for oracles, priests, or priestesses. Also ...
20. aedicula, n. View full entry 1672
...Originally in Roman architecture: a niche (for a statue), esp. one framed by two columns supporting a pediment or an entablature; such a structure forming a shrine....
