DEFINITIONS.-LESSON A. Abandon, to give up, desert, forsake Abasement, the state of being brought low Abdicate, to give up, to resign, or leave a place Abide, to dwell or continue in a place Abject, mean, worthless, contemptible Abluent, that which has the power of cleansing Ablution, the act of cleansing Abolish, to put an end to, to destroy Above, in a high place, over head Abridge, to make shorter in words, to contract Abstract, to take one thing from another, to separate Abstruse, difficult to be understood, hidden Absurd, unreasonable, without judgement Abundance, plenty, exuberance Academick, relating to a university Accelerate, to make quick, to hasten Accident, what happens unforeseen, the property of a thing Acclamation, shouts of applause Accommodate, to supply with conveniences Accomplish, to complete, to execute fully, to fulfil Accordance, agreement with, conformity to Accumulate, to pile up, to heap together Accusation, a charge brought against any one, a complaint Achievement, the performance of an action Acknowledgment, confession of a fault, or of a benefit received Acquit, to set free, to clear from a charge of guilt Acquire, to gain a thing by our own labour Acute, sharp, ending in a point Adage, a proverb, a maxim Adequate, equal to, proportionate Adhere, to stick to, to hold together Adjacent, joining upon something, bordering upon Admonition, the hint of a fault or duty, counsel Adversary, an enemy, one who opposes Adult, a person arrived to years of discretion and maturity Affability, easiness of manners, civility, condescension Affluence, exuberance of riches, plenty Alien, a foreigner, one who comes from another country Allegory, a figurative discourse Allurement, enticement, temptation Amendment, change from bad to better, reformation Amputate, to cut off a limb Analysis, a separation of any compound into its several parts Ancient, old, belonging to former times Animadversion, reproof, severe censure Animosity, vehemence of hatred, passionate malignity Antecedent, going before, preceding Anticipate, to take up before the time, to enjoy in imagination, to foretaste Antler, a branch of a deer's horn Anvil, an iron block, on which smiths hammer, and shape their work Appertain, to belong to as of right, or by nature Arbour, a bower, a place covered with branches of trees Ardour, heat of affection, as love, desire, courage Aromatick, fragrant, spicy Arraign, to bring a prisoner to trial, to accuse Artificial, made by art, not natural Ascent, a way to go up, the act of rising, an eminence Aspiration, breathing after, an ardent wish Assail, to attack, to fall upon, to assault Assiduity, diligence Athletick, strong of body, belonging to wrestling Atmosphere, the air that encompasses the earth on all sides Atom, an extremely small particle Avaricious, covetous, inordinate love of money Audible, that which can be heard Auxiliary, a helper, an assistant Avenue, an alley, or walk of trees before the house; a way by which any place may be entered Azure, colour of faint blue DEFINITIONS.-LESSON B. Badge, a particular mark or token by which one is known Bane, poison, mischief, ruin Banish, to drive away, to condemn a person to leave his own country Bankrupt, one who is unable to pay his debts Barbarity, cruelty, inhuman conduct Barge, a pleasure boat, or for burden Barometer, a machine to measure the air Barrier, a fortification, a stop, an obstruction Barter, to trade by exchanging one article for another Battalion, a division of an army or a regiment Beatifick, belonging to a state of bliss in heaven Beggar, one who lives upon alms, a petitioner Benefaction, the act of conferring a benefit, benefit conferred Benevolence, disposition to do good, kindness Benign, kind, generous, liberal Benignity, graciousness, actual kindness Berry, a small fruit with many seeds Besom, an instrument, with which to sweep Besiege, to beset with armed forces, to lay siege Betray, to give into the hands of an enemy, to discover that which has been intrusted to secrecy Bewilder, to lose in pathless places, to puzzle Bibliothecal, belonging to books or a library Bigotry, prejudice, blind zeal Biped, an animal having two feet Biography, historical account of the lives of particular men Bisect, to divide into two parts Blade, a spire of grass; a green shoot of corn; the sharp or striking part of a weapon or instrument Blameful, criminal, guilty Blank, white, not written upon, without ryhme Blaspheme, to speak irreverently of God Blazon, to display, to embellish, to explain Blemish, a mark of deformity, reproach Blend, to mingle together Blockade, to shut up a place by siege Blood, the red fluid that circulates in the bodies of animals Blossom, the flower that grows on plants Boisterous, violent, loud, stormy Boldness, courage, bravery, assurance, impudence Boon, a gift, a grant; gay, merry Booty, plunder, things stolen Borough, a town with a corporation Bough, a limb or branch of a tree Bountiful, liberal, free, generous Bourn, a boundary, a limit; a brook, a torrent Bracelet, an ornament for the arms Brandish, to wave or shake, to flourish Brevity, shortness, conciseness Briefly, in a few words, concisely Brilliant, shining, sparkling; a diamond of the finest cut Buffet, to box, to beat; a blow with the fist Bulwark, a fortification, a wall of defence Burglary, the crime of breaking into a house by night Burnish, to polish, to make bright or glossy Buttress, a prop, a support DEFINITIONS.-LESSON C. Cabin, a small room in a ship, a cottage Culumny, slander, false charge Calumniate, to accuse falsely, to slander Campaign, a large, open, level track of ground; the time an army keeps the field Canopy, a covering spread over the head Capacious, wide, large, able to hold much Capricious, whimsical, fanciful Caravan, a troop, or body of pilgrims, or merchants Caravansary, a house for the reception of travellers Cascade, a waterfall, a cataract Cassia, a sweet spice mentioned by Moses Casual, accident, happening by chance Catastrophe, a final event, the winding up or conclusion Catalogue, a list or an enumeration of particulars Catechise, to instruct by asking questions Cavil, to object, to raise frivolous objections Caution, prudence, foresight Cease, to leave off, to stop, to be at an end Cecity, blindness, privation of sight. Celebrate, to praise, to commend; to distinguish by solemn rites Celestial, belonging to heaven, heavenly Cement, matter which unites different bodies Censure, blame, reproach, reprimand Centrifugal, having the quality of flying from the centre Centripetal, having a tendency to the centre Cephalick, beneficial to the head as a medicine Chagrin, ill humour, vexation; to vex Chalice, a cup, a bowl, the communion cup Challenge, a summons to combat, to claim Champion, a man who undertakes a cause in single combat Chandelier, a branch for candles Chaos, confusion, want of order, irregular mixture Chaplet, a garland to be worn about the head Charity, tenderness, kindness, love Cherish, to support, to shelter, to nurse up |