Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 277 results in 277 entries
1. ablution, n. View full entry c1405
...Chem. Originally: the purification of oils and other substances by a process of emulsification with hot water, the water being drained off after the two immiscible liquids have been allowed to...
2. Adam, n.1 View full entry OE
...The first human in the biblical account of the creation of the world, as a symbol of humanity or human nature, esp. of the state of sin into which, according to traditional...
3. Adamitism, n. View full entry 1805
...Nakedness; spec. the practice of going naked as a sign of spiritual purity. Cf. Adamite1a....
4. alpha, n. and adj. View full entry ?c1200
...(The name of) the first letter (Α, α) of the Greek alphabet, corresponding to English a....
5. ancient, adj. and n.1 View full entry 1366
...Of or belonging to time past, former, earlier, bygone. arch., exc. when approaching sense A. 2....
6. back-, comb. form View full entry ?c1225
...General senses in combination....
7. bath, n.1 View full entry 864
...The action of bathing or immersing the body, or a part of it, in water or other liquid. (Used playfully of accidental or involuntary immersion.)...
8. bear, n.1 View full entry c1000
...A heavily-built, thick-furred plantigrade quadruped, of the genus Ursus; belonging to the Carnivora, but having teeth partly adapted to a vegetable diet. ...
9. biblical, adj. View full entry 1652
...Of, relating to, or contained in, the Bible. biblical theology: see theology1a....
10. bird, n. View full entry a800
...orig. The general name for the young of the feathered tribes; a young bird; a chicken, eaglet, etc.; a nestling. The only sense in Old English; found in literature down to...
11. ˈbishop, v.1 View full entry c1000
...To administer the rite of confirmation to (a person); to confirm. arch. or Obs....
12. black, adj. and n. View full entry eOE
...Designating the darkest colour possible, that of soot, coal, the sky on a moonless night in open country, and a small hole in a hollow object; of or having this colour; (also)...
13. bless, v.1 View full entry c950
...trans. To consecrate (a thing) by a religious rite, the utterance of a formula or charm; in later times by a prayer committing it to God for his patronage, defence, and...
14. blood, n. (and int.) View full entry eOE
...The red fluid flowing in the arteries, capillaries, and veins of humans and other vertebrates, carrying oxygen and nutrients to, and carbon dioxide and waste metabolites away from, the organs and tissues...
15. bone, n. View full entry a700
...The general name for each of the distinct parts which unitedly make up the skeleton or hard framework of the body of vertebrate animals....
16. bottle, n.2 View full entry c1375
...A vessel with a narrow neck for holding liquids, now usually made of glass; originally of leather....
17. brain, n. View full entry eOE
...The organ contained in the skull of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of soft grey or white tissue with (esp. in mammals) a conspicuously convoluted surface. Also (as a mass noun): the...
18. branch, n. View full entry 1297
...A portion or limb of a tree or other plant growing out of the stem or trunk, or out of one of the boughs; in a more specific sense, a branch...
19. buckle, v. View full entry c1400
...trans. To fasten with a buckle. Often with prep. on, to, or adv. on, up, together....
20. calf, n.1 View full entry a800
...The young of any bovine animal, esp. of the domestic cow. ‘Calf is applied to all young cattle until they attain one year old, when they are year-olds...
