A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers : to which are prefixed a history of the language, and an English grammar (Volume 1).
- Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.
- Date:
- 1819
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers : to which are prefixed a history of the language, and an English grammar (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![our life; and, if we remit our activity, will take ad- vantage of our indolence. Rogtrs. A'ctor, ak'tur.03 418 n. s. [actor, Lat.] 1. He, that acts, or performs any thing. The virtues of either age may correct the defects of both: and good for succession, that young men may be learners, while men in age are actors. Bacon. He, who writes an Encomium Neronis, if he does it heartily, i* himself but a transcript of Nero in his mind; and would gladly enough see sucli pranks, as he was famous for, acted again, though he dares not be the actor of them himself. South. 2. He, that personates a character; a stage- player. Would you have Such an Herculean actor in the scene, And not this hydra? They must sweat no less, To fit their properties, than t' express their parts. Ben Jonson. When a good actor doth his part present, In every act he our attention draws; That, at the last, he may find just applause. Denham. These false beauties of the stage are xo more last- ing, than a rainbow; when the actor ceases to shine upon them, they vanish in a twinkling. Dryden's Spanish Friar. A'ctress, ak'tress. n. s.[actrice, Fr.] 1. She, that performs any thing. Virgil has indeed admitted Fame, as an actress, in the JEneul: but the part she acts, is very short: and none of the most admired circumstances of that divine work. Addison. We sprights have just such natures, We had (for all the world) when human creatures; And therefore I, that was an actress here, Play all my tricks in hell, a goblin there. Di~yden. 2. A woman, that plays on the stage. A'ctual, ak'tshu-al.461 adj. [actuel, Fr.] 1. That, which comprises action. In this slumbry agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say? Shakspeare''s Macbeth. 2. Really in act; not merely potential. Sin, there in pow'r, before Once actual; now in body, and to dwell Habitual habitant. Milton. 3. In act; not purely in speculation. For he, that but conceives a crime in thought, Contracts the danger of an actual fault: Then, what must he expect, that still proceeds To finish sin, and work-up thoughts to deeds? Dryden. Actua'lity, ak-tshu-al'le-te. n. s. [from actual.] The state of being actual. Th' actuality of these spiritual qualities is thus imprisoned, though their potentiality be not quite destroyed: and thus a crass, extended, impenetra- ble, passive, divisible, unintelligent substance is generated, which we call matter. Cheyne. A'ctually, aVtshu-al-le. adv. [from ac- tual.^ In act; in effect; really. All mankind acknowledge themselves able and sufficient to do many things, which actually they never do. South. Read one of the Chronicles; and you will think, you were reading a history of the kings of Israel or Judah, where the historians were actually inspired; and where, by a particular scheme of providence, the kings were distinguished by judgments or bles- sings, according as they promoted idolatry, or the worship of the (rue God. Jlddison. Though our temporal prospects should be full of danger, or though the days of sorrow should ac- tually overtake us, yet we still must repose our- selves on God. Rogers. A'c ru alnf.ss, aVtshu-al-n£ss. n. s. [from actual The quality of being actual. A'ciuary, ak'tshu-a-re. n. s. [actuarius, Lat ] The register, who compiles the minutes of the proceedings of a court; a term of the civil law. Suppose the judge should say, that he would have the keeping of the acts of court remain with him, and the notary will have the custody of them with himself; certainly in this case, the actuary or writer of them ought to be preferred. Jlyliffe. A'otuate, ak'tshu-ate. adj. [from the verb To actuated] Put into action; ani- mated; brought into effect. The active informations of the intellect, filling the passive reception of the will, like form closing with matter, grew actuate into a third and distinct perfection of practice. South. To A'CIUATE, ak'tshu-ate. v. a. [from ago, actum, Lat.] To put into ac- tion; to invigorate, or increase the pow- ers of motion. The light, made by this animal, depends upon a living spirit; and seems by some vital irradiation, to be actuated into this lustre. Brown's Vulgar Errours. Such is every man, who has not actuated the grace given him, to the subduing of every reigning sin. Decay of Piety. Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it. Addison. Our passions are the springs, which actuate the powers of our nature. Rogers. Aotuo'se, ak'tshu-ose. adj. [from acc.~] That, which hath strong powers of ac- tion; a word little used. To A'cuate, ak'u-ate. v. a. [actio, Lat.] To sharpen; to invigorate, with any powers of sharpness. Immoderate feeding upon powdered beef, pic- kled meats, and debauching with strong wines, do inflame and acuate the blood; whereby it is capaci- tated, to corrode the lungs. Harvey on Consumptions. Aou'leate, d-kii'le-ate.91 adj. [aculeatus, Lat.] That, which has a point or sting; prickly: that, which terminates in a sharp point. ACU'MEJY, a-ku'men.603 n. s. [Lat.] A sharp point; figuratively, quickness of intellects. The word was much affected by the learned Aristarchus in common conversation, to signify genius or natural acumen. Pope. Acu'minated, a-ku'me-na-t£d. fiarticifi. adj. Ending in a point; sharp-pointed. This is not acuminated and pointed, as in the rest; but seemeth, as it were, cut off. Brown's Vulgar Errours. I appropriate this word, Noli me tangere, to a small round acuminated tubercle; which hath not much pain, unless touched or rubbed, or exaspe- rated by topicks. Wiseman. ACU'TE, a-kute'. adj. [acutus, Lat.] 1. Sharp, ending in a point; opposed to obtuse or blunt. Having the ideas of an obtuse and an acute an- gled triangle, both drawn from equal bases and be- tween parallels; I can, by intuitive knowledge, per- ceive the one not to be the other; but cannot that way know, whether they be equal. Locke. 2. In a figurative sense, applied to men; ingenious; penetrating; opposed to dull or stupid. The acute and ingenious author, among many very fine thoughts and uncommon reflections, has started the notion of seeing all things in God. Locke. 3. Spoken oi the senses, vigorous; pow- erful in operation. Were our senses altered, and made much quicker and acuter, the appearance and outward scheme of things would have quite another face to us. Locke. 4. Acute disease. Any disease, which is attended with an increased velocity of d2 blood, and terminates in a few days; opposed to chronical. Quincy. 5. Acute accent; that, which raises or sharpens the voice. Acu'tely, &-kute'le. adv. [from acute.] After an acute manner; sharply: it is used, as well in the figurative, as pri- mitive sense. He, that will look into many parts of Asia and America, will find men reason there perhaps as acutely as himself, who yet never heard of a syl- logism. Locke. Acu'teness, a-kute'n£ss. n. s. [from acute, which see.] 1. Sharpness. 2. Force of intellects. They would not be so apt to think, that there could be nothing added to the acuteness and pene- tration of their understandings. Locke. Quickness and vigour of senses. If eyes so framed could not view at once the hand and the hcur-plate, their owner could not be benefited by that acuteness; which, whilst it dis- covered the secret contrivance of the machine, made him lose its use. Locke. 4. Violence and speedy crisis of a malady. We apply present remedies, according to indica- tions; respecting rather the acuteness of the disease, and precipitancy of the occasion, than the rising and setting of stars. Broxcn. 5. Sharpness of sound. This acuteness of sound will shew that, whilst to the eye the bell seems to be at rest, yet the minute parts of it continue in a very brisk motion, without which they could not strike the air. Boyle. Ada'cted, a-dak'ted. jiarticifi. adj. [adac- tus, Lat.] Driven by force; a word little used. The verb adact is not used. Diet. A'dage, ad'ije.90 n. s. [adagium^ Lat.] A maxim, handed down from antiquity; a proverb. Shallow unimproved intellects are confident pre- tenders to certainty; as if, contrary to the adage, science had no friend but ignorance. danville^s Scepsis Scientijka. Fine fruits of learning! old ambitious fool, Dar'st thou apply that adage of the school: As if 'tis nothing worth, that lies conceal'd; And science is not science, till reveaPd? Dryden. ADA'GIO, 3-da'je-o. n. s. [Italian, at leisure.] A term used by musicians, to mark a slow time. A'DAMANT, ad'a-mant. n. s. [adamas, Lat. «i<J*;t*flss, Gr. from « and Su^aa, to tame or subdue: that is insuperable, in- frangible^ 1. A stone, imagined by writers, of impe- netrable hardness. So great a fear my name amongst them spread; That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel, And spurn in pieces posts of adamant. Shakspeare. Satan, with vast and haughty strides advane'd, Came tow'ring, arm'd in adamant and gold. Milt. Eternal Deities, Who rule the world with absolute decrees; And write, whatever time shall bring to pass, With pens of adamant, on plates of brass. Dryden 2. The diamond. Hardness, wherein some stones exceed all other bodies; and among them, the adamant all othei stones, being exalted to that degree thereof, that art in vain endeavours to counterfeit it: the facti- tious stones of chymists, in imitation, being easily de- tected by an ordinary lapidist. Ray on the Creation 3. Adamant is taken for the loadstone. You draw me, you hard-hearted ndanumi'](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21133803_0157.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
