v. t. To curse; to execrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beshrew me, but I love her heartily. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Often a very mild form of imprecation; sometimes so far from implying a curse, as to be uttered coaxingly, nay even with some tenderness. Schmidt. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover with, or as with, a shroud; to screen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who roams, or hides, among the bushes; especially, in Australia, an escaped criminal living in the bush. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Freed from a shroudlike covering; unveiled. [ 1913 Webster ]

The disenshrouded statue. R. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a cloth for washing dishes.
Syn. -- dishcloth. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [ Obs. ] Cartwright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state or privilege of being an Englishman. [ Obs. ] Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A body of English or people of English descent; -- commonly applied to English people in Ireland. [ 1913 Webster ]

A general massacre of the Englishry. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enshrined p. pr. & vb. n. Enshrining. ] To inclose in a shrine or chest; hence, to preserve or cherish as something sacred; as, to enshrine something in memory. [ 1913 Webster ]

We will enshrine it as holy relic. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover with, or as with, a shroud; to shroud. Churchill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Enshrine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The Celtic people of Ireland. “The whole Irishry of rebels.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. muscheron, OF. mouscheron, F. mousseron; perhaps fr. mousse moss, of German origin. See Moss. ] 1. (Bot.) (a) An edible fungus (Agaricus campestris), having a white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish expanded portion called the pileus. This is whitish and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the under side radiating gills which are at first flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant smell, and is largely used as food. It is also cultivated from spawn. (b) Any large fungus developing a visible fruiting body with a stem and cap, usu. of the basidiomycetes; especially one of the genus Agaricus; a toadstool. Several species are edible; but many are very poisonous. The term mushroom is used most often for edible varieties, the poisonous ones being termed toadstools or other names. But this distinction is often ignored. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. One who rises suddenly from a low condition in life; an upstart. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as, mushroom catchup. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as, mushroom cities. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mushroom anchor, an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls. --
Mushroom coral (Zool.), any coral of the genus Fungia. See Fungia. --
Mushroom spawn (Bot.), the mycelium, or primary filamentous growth, of the mushroom; also, cakes of earth and manure containing this growth, which are used for propagation of the mushroom. --
mushroom cloud, a cloud of smoke rising and then spreading laterally to take on the shape of a mushroom -- caused by large fires or explosions, esp. nuclear explosions. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. i. 1. to grow or expand rapidly. [ PJC ]

2. to grow so much and so rapidly as to change qualitatively; used with into; as, a minor border skirmish mushroomed into a full-blown war. [ PJC ]

a. (Bot.) Having a cylindrical body with a convex head of larger diameter; having a head like that of a mushroom. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To trim, as trees; to lop. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ CF. Scrag. ] A twig of a tree cut off. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lops; one who trims trees. [ Obs. ] Huloet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. Shrink. ] To cause to shrink or shrivel with cold; to benumb. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. of Shrink. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Cf. Scrap, and Scrape. ] A place baited with chaff to entice birds. [ Written also scrap. ] [ Obs. ] Bp. Bedell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Applied as an appellation to a kind of shell invented by Gen. H. Shrapnel of the British army. -- n. A shrapnel shell; shrapnel shells, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shrapnel shell (Gunnery), a projectile for a cannon, consisting of a shell filled with bullets and a small bursting charge to scatter them at any given point while in flight. See the Note under Case shot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. shrede, schrede, AS. screáde; akin to OD. schroode, G. schrot a piece cut off, Icel. skrjoðr a shred, and to E. shroud. Cf. Screed, Scroll, Scrutiny. ] 1. A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip. “Shreds of tanned leather.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shred or Shredded p. pr. & vb. n. Shredding. ] [ OE. shreden, schreden, AS. screádian; akin to OD. schrooden, OHG. scr&unr_;tan, G. schroten. See Shred, n. ] 1. To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and long pieces, as of cloth or leather. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of cutting or tearing into shreds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is cut or torn off; a piece. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consisting of shreds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no shreds; without a shred. [ 1913 Webster ]

And those which waved are shredless dust ere now. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. shrewe, schrewe. Cf. Shrewd. ] Wicked; malicious. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Shrew, a. ] 1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a brawler; a scold. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [ i. e., bad men ] have prosperity, or else that good men have adversity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could be no quiet in the house for her. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ AS. screáwa; -- so called because supposed to be venomous. ] (Zool.) Any small insectivore of the genus Sorex and several allied genera of the family Sorecidae. In form and color they resemble mice, but they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are the smallest of all mammals. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European species are the house shrew (Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew (Sorex vulgaris) (see under Erd.). In the United States several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as the broadnosed shrew (Sorex platyrhinus), Cooper's shrew (Sorex Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole, shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or marsh, shrew (Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet, is less common. The common European water shrews are Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under Oared). [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family Centetidae, as the tendrac. --
Elephant shrew,
Jumping shrew,
Mole shrew. See under Elephant, Jumping, etc. --
Musk shrew. See Desman. --
River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore (Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size, but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes. --
Shrew mole, a common large North American mole (Scalops aquaticus). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent purple tints. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Shrew, a., and cf. Beshrew. ] To beshrew; to curse. [ Obs. ] “I shrew myself.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Shrewder superl. Shrewdest. ] [ Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t. ] 1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Egypt ] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by. Sir J. Mandeville. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every of this happy number
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; penetrating. -- Shrewd, Sagacious. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Shrewd"ly, adv. -- Shrewd"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. having the qualities of a shrew; having a scolding disposition; froward; peevish. [ 1913 Webster ]

My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Shrew"ish*ly, adv. -- Shrew"ish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A shrew; especially, the erd shrew. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Shrieked p. pr. & vb. n. Shrieking. ] [ OE. shriken, originallythe same word as E. screech. See Screech, and cf. Screak. ] To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was the owl that shrieked. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train
Echoed her grief. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks. [ 1913 Webster ]

On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl,
Shrieking his baleful note. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

She shrieked his name
To the dark woods. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shriek owl. (Zool.) (a) The screech owl. (b) The swift; -- so called from its cry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who utters a shriek. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a sheriff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Contr. from sheriffalty. See Shrieve, n. Sheriff. ] The office, or sphere of jurisdiction, of a sheriff; sheriffalty. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was ordained by 28 Edward I that the people shall have election of sheriff in every shire where the shrievalty is not of inheritance. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Contr. from OE. shereve. See Sheriff. ] A sheriff. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To shrive; to question. [ Obs. ] “She gan him soft to shrieve.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. shrift, schrift, AS. scrift, fr. scrīfan to shrive. See Shrive. ] 1. The act of shriving. [ 1913 Webster ]

In shrift and preaching is my diligence. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Confession made to a priest, and the absolution consequent upon it. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Therefore, my lord, address you to your shrift,
And be yourself; for you must die this instant. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shrift father, a priest to whom confession is made. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Shriek. ] A shriek; shrieking. [ Obs ] Spenser. “All hoarse for shright.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. & p. p. of Shriek. [ 1913 Webster ]

She cried alway and shright. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to Icel. skrīkja a shrieker, the shrike, and E. shriek; cf. AS. scrīc a thrush. See Shriek, v. i. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of oscinine birds of the family Laniidae, having a strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip. Most shrikes are insectivorous, but the common European gray shrike (Lanius excubitor), the great northern shrike (Lanius borealis), and several others, kill mice, small birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on that account called also butcher birds. See under Butcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds of the family Formicaridae. The cuckoo shrikes of the East Indies and Australia are Oscines of the family Campephagidae. The drongo shrikes of the same regions belong to the related family Dicruridae. See Drongo. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crow shrike. See under Crow. --
Shrike thrush. (a) Any one of several species of Asiatic timaline birds of the genera Thamnocataphus, Gampsorhynchus, and allies. (b) Any one of several species of shrikelike Australian singing birds of the genus Colluricincla. --
Shrike tit. (a) Any one of several Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, having a strong toothed bill and sharp claws. They creep over the bark of trees, like titmice, in search of insects. (b) Any one of several species of small Asiatic birds belonging to Allotrius, Pteruthius, Cutia, Leioptila, and allied genera, related to the true tits. Called also hill tit. --
Swallow shrike. See under Swallow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Shriller superl. Shrillest. ] [ OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See Shrill, v. i. ] Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; -- said of a sound, or of that which produces a sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give
To sounds confused. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A shrill sound. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Shrilled p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling. ] [ OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skrölta to jolt, Sw. skrälla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr&unr_;la. Cf. Skirl. ] To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with a sharp, shrill tone; to become shrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

His voice shrilled with passion. L. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter or express in a shrill tone; to cause to make a shrill sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

How poor Andromache shrills her dolors forth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]