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
Catalogue details

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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    ALM ALM ALN Klmaoa'ntar's Staff, al-ma-kan'tarz- staff. n. s. An instrument commonly made of pear-tree or box, with an arch of fifteen degrees; used to take observa- tions of the sun about the time of its rising and setting, in order to find the amplitude, and consequently the varia- tions of the compass. Chambers. A'lmanack, al'ma-nak.84 n. s. [Derived by some from the Arabick al and mana/i, Heb. to count or comfiute; by others, from al, Arabick, and fv»v a month, or ftavosKas the course of the months: by others, from a Teutonick original, al, and wann,the moon, an account of every moon or month. All of them are proba- ble.] A calendar; a book in which the revolutions of the seasons, with the re- turn of feasts and fasts, is noted for the ensuing year. It will be said, this is an almanack for the ok] year: all hath been well; Spain hath not assailed this king- dom. Bacon. This astrologer made his almanack give a tolera- ble account of the weather, by a direct inversion of the common prognosticators. Government oftlie Tongue. Beware the woman too, and shun her sight, Who in these studies does herself delight; By whom a greasy almanack is borne, With often handling, like chaft amber worn. Dryd. I'll have a fasting almanack printed, on purpose for her use. Dryden1 s Spanish Friar. J'JLMJJ\rDlJVEi&Vm&n-dims.1*» n. s. [Fr. almandina, Ital.] A ruby, coarser and lignter than the oriental, and nearer the colour of the granate. Diet. Almi'ghtiness, al-mi'te ness. n. s. [fiom almighty.] Unlimited power; omnipo- tence; one of the attributes of God. It serveth to the world, for a witness of his al- mightiness, whom we outwardly honour with the chiefest of outward things. Hooker. In creating and making existent the world univer- sal, by the absolute act of his own word, God shewed his power and almightiness. Sir Walter Raleigh. In the wilderness, the bittern and the stork, the unicorn and the elk, live upon his provisions, and revere his power, and feel the force of his almighti- ness. Taylor. Almi'ghiy, al-mi'te.8* *08 adj. [from all and mighty.'] Of unlimited power; om- nipotent. The Lord appeared unto Abraham; and said unto him, I am the almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect. Genesis, xvii, 1. He wills you, in the name of God almighty; That you divest yourself, and lay apart The borrowed glories; that, by gift of heav'n, By law of nature and of nations, 'long To him and to his heirs. Shaksp. A'lmond, a'mund.401 n. s. \jxmand, Fr. deriTed by Menage from amandala, a word in low Latin: by others from Alle* mand, a German; supposing that al- monds come to Fiance from Germany ] The nut of the almond tree, either sweet or bitter. Pound an almond, and the clear white colour will be altered into a dirty one; and the sweet taste, into an oily one. Locke. A'lmond-tkee, 5'mu.nd-tree. n.s. [amyg- dalus, Lat.] It has leaves and flowers very like those of the peach tree; but the fruit is longer and more compressed; the outer green coat is thinner and drier when ripe, and the shell is not so rug- ged. Miller. Like to an almond-tree, mounted high On top of Green Selenis, all alone, With blossoms brave bedecked daintily; Whose tender locks do tremble every one, At every little breath that under heav'n is blown. Fairy Queen. Mark well the flow'ring almonds in the wood: If od'rous blooms the bearing branches load, The glebe will answer to the sylvan reign; Great heats will follow, and large crops of grain. Dryden. A'LMONDS OF THE THROAT, Of ToNSrLS, a'mundz (called improperly, Almonds of the ears) are two round glands, placed on the sides of the basis of the tongue, under the commun membrane of the fauces; each of them has a large oval sinus, which opens into the fauces; and in it are a great number of lesser ones, which discharge themselves through the great sinus of a mucous and slippery mat- ter into the fauces, larynx, and oesopha- gus, for the moistening and lubricating those parts. When the oesophagus mus- cle acts, it compresses the almonds, and they frequently are the occasion of a sore throat. Quincy. The tonsils, or almonds of the ears, are also fre- quently swelled in the king's evil; which tumour may be very well reckoned a species of it. Wiseman. A'LMOND-FURNACEjOrA'LMAN-FURNACE, a'mund-fur-nls, called also the Stveefi; is a peculiar kind of furnace used in re- fining, to separate metals from cinders and other foreign substances. Chambers A'lmonkr, or A'lmner, al'mo-nur. 8*n. s. [eleemosynarius, Lat.] The officer of a prince or other person employed in the distribution of charity I enquired for an almoner; and the general fame has pointed out your reverence, as the worthiest man. Dryden. Al'monry, al'mun-re. n. s. [from almo. ner.] The place where the almoner re- sides, or where the alms are distributed. Almo'st, al'most.84 adv. [from all and most; that is, most fiart of all. Skinner.'] Nearly; well nigh; in the next degree to the whole, or to universality. Who is there almost; whose mind, at some time or other, love or anger, fear or grief, has not so fastened to some clog, that it could not turn itself to any other object. Locke. There can be no such thing or notion, as an almost infinite; there can be nothing next or second, to an omnipotent God. Bentley's Sermons. Atlas becomes unequal to his freight; And almost faints, beneath the glowing weight. Jlddison. ALMS, amz.4U3 n. s. [in Saxon, elmer, from eleemosyna, Lat.] What is given gratuitously in relief of the poor. It has no singular. My arm'd knees, Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his, That hath receiv'd an alms. Shaksp. The poor beggar hath a just demand of an alms, from the rich man; who is guilty of fraud, injustice, and oppression, if he does not afford relief according to his abilities. Swift Alms-basket, amz'bas-kit. n. s. [from alms and basket.] The basket in which provisions are put to be given away. There sweepings do as well, As the best order'd meal; For, who the relish of these guests will fit, Needs set them but the alms-basket oi »vit. Ben Jons. We'll stand up for our properties, was tut beggar's song, that lived upon the alms-basket. V Estrange. A'lmsdeed, amz'tieed. n. s. [from ulms and deed.] An act of charity; a charita- ble gift. This woman was full of good works, and alms-deeds which she did. Jicts, ix. 36' Hard-favour'd Richard, where art thou? Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed; Petitioner for blood thou ne'er put'st hack. Shaksj). A'lms-giver^uiz giv-fir. n. s. [i'tomulms and giver.] He that gives alms; he that supports others by his chaiity. He endowed many religious foundations, and yet was he a great alms-giver in secret; which shewed that his works in publick were dedicated, rather t» God's glory, than his own. Bacon. Almshouse, amz-hbuse. n. s. [from alms and house.] A house devoted to the reception and support of the poor; an hospital for the poor. The way of providing for the clergy by tithes, the device of alms-houses for the poor, and the sorting- out of the people into parishes, are mauifest. Hooker. And, to relief of lazars, and weak age Of indigent faint souls past corporal toil, A hundred alms-houses right well supplied. Sliaksp. Many penitents, after the robbing of temples and other rapine, build an hospital or alms-house, out of the ruins of the church, and the spoils of widows and orphans. L'Estrangt. Behold yon alms-house, neat, but void of state; Where age and want sit smiling at the gate. Pope. A'lms-man, amz'man. n. s. [from alms and man.] A man who lives upon alms; who is supported by charity. I'll give my jewels, for a set of beads; My gorgeous palace, for a hermitage; My gay apparel, for an alms-man's gown. Sliahp A'lmug-tkee, ai'mug-tree. n. s. A tree mentioned in Scripture. Of its wood were made musical instruments; and it was used also in rails, or in a staircase. The Rabbins generally render it coral, others ebony, brazil, or /line: in the Sep- tuagint, it is translated wrought wood; and in the Vulgate, Ligna Thyina: but coral could never answer the purposes of the almugim; the pine-tree is too common in Judea to be imported from Ophir; and the Thyinum or citron-tree, much esteemed by the ancients for its fragrance and beauty, came from Mau- ritania. By the wood almugim, or algu- mim, or simply gummim, taking al for a kind of article, may be understood oily and gummy sorts of wood; and particu- larly the trees which produce gum am- moniac, or gum arabick; and is (per- haps) the same with the Shittim wood mentioned by Moses. Calmtt. And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug-trees and precious trees. 1 Kings, x. U- A'lnagar, A'lnager, or A'lneger, al'- na-gur,v,i al'na gur, al'ne-gdr. n. s. [from alnage.] A measurer by the ell: a sworn officer; whose business formerly was to inspect the assize of woollen cioth, and to fix the seals appointed upon it for that purpose: but there are now three