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

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.)

Title Page

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$For whose well-being, So amply, and with hands so liberal, Thou hast provided all things. Milton. The evidence they had before was enough, amply enough, to convince them; but they were resolved not to be convinced: and to those, who are resolved not to be convinced, all motives, all arguments, are equal. Atterbury. 2. At large; without reserve. At return Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid, The woman's seed, obscurely then foretold, Now canplier known thy Saviour, and thy Lord. Milton. 3. At large; copiously; with a diffusive detail. Some parts of a poem require to be amply writ- ten, and with all the force and elegance of words; Others must be cast into shadows; that is, passed ever in silence, or but faintly touched. Dryden's Dufresnoy. To A'MPUTATE,am'pu-tate. v. a [am- fiuto, Lat.] To cut off a limb: a word used only in chirurgery. Amongst the cruizers, it was complained, that their surgeons were too active in amputating frac- tured members. Wiseman's Surgery. Amputa'tion, am-pu-ta'shun. n. s. [am- fiutatio, Lat.] The operation of cutting off a limb, or other part of the body. The usual method of performing it, in the instance of a leg, is as follows: The proper part for the operation being four or five inches below the knee, the skin and flesh are first to be drawn very tight upwards, and secured from returning by a ligature two or three fingers broad: above this ligature another loose one is passed, for the gripe; which being twisted by means of a stick, may be straitened to any degree at pleasure. Then the pa- tient being conveniently situated, and the operator placed to the inside of the limb, which is to be held by one assistant above, and another below the part designed for the operation, and the gripe sufficiently twisted to prevent too large an haemorrhage, the flesh is, with a stroke or two, to be separated from the bone with the dismembering knife. Then the periostium being also divided from the bone with the back of the knife, saw the bone asunder, with as few strokes as possible. When two parallel bones are concerned, the flesh that grows between them must likewise be separated before the use of the saw. This being done, the gripe may be slack- ened, to give an opportunity of searching for the barge blood-vessels, and securing the hemorrhage at their mouths. After making proper applications to the stump, loosen the first ligature, and pull both the skin and the flesh, as far as conveniently may be, over the stump to cover it; and secure them with the cross stitch made at the depth of half or three quarters of an inch in the skin. Then apply pledgets, astringents, plaisters, and other necessa- ries. 1 Chambers. The Amazons, by the amputation of their right breast, had the freer use of their bow. Brown's Vulgar Erreurs. A'mulet, am'u-let. n. s. [amulette, Fr. amuletum, or amoletum, quod malum amolitur, Lat.] An appended remedy, or preservative; a thing hung about the neck, or any other part of the body, for preventing or curing of some particular diseases. That spirits are corporeal, seems at first view a Conceit derogative unto himself; yet herein he esta- Wisheth the doctrine of lustrations, amulets, and charms. Brown's Vulgar Errours. They do not certainly know the falsity of what (hey report; and their ignorance must serve you as an amulet against the guilt both of deceit and ma- lice. Government of the Tongue. Amuroo'sity, a-mur-kos'e-te.. n. s,[amur- ca, Lat.] The quality of lees or mother of any thing. Diet. To AMU'SE, a-muze'. v. a. [amuser, Fr.] 1. To entertain with tranquillity; to fill with thoughts that engage the mind, without distracting it. To divert im- plies something more lively, and to please something more important. It is therefore frequently taken in a sense bordering on contempt. They think they see visions, and are arrived to some extraordinary revelations; when, indeed, they do but dream dreams, and amuse themselves with the fantastic ideas of a busy imagination. Decay of Piety. I cannot think it natural for a man, who is much in love, to amuse himself with trifles. Walsh. 2. To draw on from time to time; to keep in expectation; as, he amused his fol- lowers with idle promises. Amu'sement, a-irmze'ment. n.s. [amuse- ment, Fr.] That which amuses; enter- tainment. Every interest or pleasure of life, even the most trifling amusement, is suffered to postpone the one thing necessary. Rogers. During his confinement, his amusement was to give poison to dogs and cats, and see them expire, by slower or quicker torments. Pope. I was left to stand the battle, while others, who had better talents than a draper, thought it no un- pleasant amusement to look on with safety, whilst another was giving them diversion at the hazard of his liberty. Swift. Amu'sek, a-mu'zur.98 n.s. [amuseur,Fr.] He that amuses, as with false promises. The French word is always taken in an ill sense. Amu'sive, a-mu'ziv.169 43s adj. [from amuse.~\ That which has the power of amusing. I know not that this is a cur- rent word. But amaz'd, Behold th' amusive arch before him fly, Then vanish quite away. Thomson. Amy'gdalate, a-mig'da-Iate. adj. [amyg- dala, Lat.] Made of almonds. Amy'gdaline, a-mig'da-line. adj. [amyg- dala, Lat.] Relating to almonds; resem- bling almonds. An, an. article, [ane, Saxon; een, Dutch; tint, German.] The article indefinite, used before a vowel, or h mute. See A. 1. One, but with less emphasis; as, there stands a house. Since he cannot be always employed in study, reading, and conversation, there will be many an hour, besides what his exercises will take up. Locke. 2. Any, or some; as, an. elephant might swim in this water. He was noway at an uncertainty, nor ever in the least at a loss concerning any branch of it Locke. A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod, An honest man's the noblest work of God. Pope. 3. Sometimes it signifies, like a, some particular state; but this is now dis- used. It is certain-that odours do, in a small degree, nourish; especially the odour of wine; and we see men an hungred do love to smell hot bread. Bacon. 4. An is sometimes, in old authors a con- traction of and if. He caa't flatter, he? An honest mind and plain; he must speak truth, Jin they will tuke it so; if not, he's plain. Shaksp, . Sometimes a contraction of and before if- Well I know The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it. He will a?i' if he live to be a man. Shaksp. . Sometimes it is a contraction of as if. My next pretty correspondent, like Shakspeare's lion in Pyramus and Thisbe, roars an' it were any nightingale. ^ Addison. A'jYA. a'na. adv. [<*v*.] A word used in the prescriptions of physick, importing the like_cjuantity; as, wine and honey, 5 or ana 5 ii; thai is, of wine and honey each two ounces. In the same weight innocence and prudence take, Ana of each does the just mixture make. Cowley. He'll bring an apothecary with a chargeable long bill of anas. . Dryden. A'jYA, a'na. n, s. Books so called from the last syllables c f their titles; as, Sea- ligerana, Thuaniana; they are loose thoughts, or casual hints diopt by emi- nent men, and collected by their friends. Anaca'mptick, an-li-kam'tik. adj. [«»«. x.ecfx,7r1a.~] Reflecting, or reflected: an ana- camfitick sound, an echo; an anacamfi. tick hill, a hill that produces an echo. Anaca'mpticks, an-a-kam'tlks. n.s. The doctrine of reflected light, or catop- tricks. It has no singular. Anacatha'rtiok, an-a-ka-rAar'tik. n. s. [See Cathartick.] Any medicine that works upwards. Quincy. AjYACEPHALJEaSIS, an-a-seTa-le-6- sis.620 n. s. [«»«x£0«A«/«<r/s.] Recapitu- lation, or summary of the principal heads of a discourse. Bid. Ana'chorete, an-ak'6-rete. ) n. s. Ana'chohite, an-ak'6-rite.16'3 [some- times vitiously written anchorite; ccm- £«£»tjj«.] A monk who, with the leave of his superiour, leaves the convent for a more austere and solitary life. Yet lies not love dead here, but here doth sit, Vow'd to this trench, like an anachorite. Donne. Ana'chronism, an-ak'kro-nism. n. s. [from mot and #£0*©*.] An errour in computing time, by which events are misplaced with regard to each other. It seems properly to signify an errour by which an event is placed too early; but is generally used for any errour in chro- nology. This leads me to the defence of the famous ana- chronism, in making /Eneas and Dido cotemporaries: for it is certain, that the hero lived almost two hun- dred years before the building of Carthage. Dryd. Anacla'ticks, an-a-klat'iks. n. s. [«»« and **«».] The doctrine of refracted light; dioptricks. It has no singular. AjYADIPLO'SIS, an-a-de-pl6'sis.62<> n. a. £«»«<5Wa«(t-<s.] Reduplication; a figure in rhetorick, in which the last word of a foregoing member of a period be- comes the first of the following; as, Ac retained his -virtues amidst all his misfor- tunes, misfortunes which only his vir- tues drought ufion him.$