Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 578 results in 578 entries
1. aback, adv. View full entry OE
...In a backward direction; to or towards the rear; back. Also fig. and in extended use: from the scene of action, away, to a distance; to a former place or...
2. Abraham, n. View full entry c1300
...heaven; the place of rest for the souls of the righteous dead. Chiefly in Abraham's bosom....
3. abroad, adv., prep., and n. View full entry c1300
...Over a broad or wide area; widely, broadly; †so as to be fully open or outspread (obs.). In later use more commonly with reference to non-physical things, as news, information,...
4. † adrench, v. View full entry OE
...trans. To submerge; to drown (a person), to inundate (land), to sink (a ship). Also fig....
5. aerial, adj. View full entry ?1545
...Dwelling, flying, or moving in the air, above the earth; occurring or taking place in the air; (spec. of birds or bats) spending much of the time airborne....
6. after, adj. and n.1 View full entry eOE
...Designating the second of two or more people, things, occasions, etc., occurring in chronological sequence. Obs....
7. afterpiece, n. View full entry 1642
...Any additional item that follows a main work; (Theatre) an additional entertainment, spoken or sung, usually but not invariably comic, intended to be performed after a play or other theatrical...
8. aground, adv. View full entry c1325
...On or to the ground; on the earth. Also in figurative contexts. Freq. poet. Now arch....
9. air, n.1 View full entry ?c1225
...An atmosphere contaminated by noxious fumes, vapours, etc.; such contaminating fumes themselves; miasma. Now only (with qualifying adjective) merged in sense 2a....
10. alarm, int., n., and adv. View full entry c1400
...Used as a call to arms or warning of imminent danger, esp. of being attacked. Now literary (chiefly arch. and hist.)....
11. all, adj., pron., and n., adv., and conj. View full entry eOE
...With singular noun. The whole amount, quantity, extent, or compass of; the whole of....
12. alow, adv.1 and prep. View full entry c1400
...With reference to position: low or lower down; below something; down low. Now chiefly Sc....
13. anchor, n.1 View full entry c880
...An appliance for holding a ship, etc., fixed in a particular place, by mooring it to the bottom of the sea or river; now consisting of ‘a heavy iron, composed of a...
14. angel, n. View full entry c950
...A ministering spirit or divine messenger; one of an order of spiritual beings superior to man in power and intelligence, who, according to the Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other theologies, are the...
15. answer, v. View full entry c950
...intr. To speak in reply or opposition to a charge or accusation, to make a rebutting statement, defend oneself....
16. argosy, n. View full entry 1577
...Hist. and poet. A merchant-vessel of the largest size and burden; esp. those of Ragusa and Venice....
17. arm, v.1 View full entry 1250
...lit. To furnish with arms defensive or offensive. In early use: (chiefly) to cover (a man or horse) with armour or mail. Later: to provide (a man, garrison, stronghold, ship, etc.)...
18. arrest, n.1 View full entry c1385
...The act of standing still, halting, or stopping; stoppage, stop, halt, delay. Obs.without arrest: cf. without abodeabode1 (Chaucer, Lydgate, and Scottish poets)....
19. arrive, v. View full entry c1275
...trans. To bring (a ship, its crew or passengers) to shore or into port; to land (a ship, etc.)....
20. artillery, n. View full entry c1405
...As a count noun: an implement of war. In later use as a mass noun: military equipment; weaponry. Also in extended use: hunting gear; equipment in general. Obs....
