n. [ Bob + tail. ] An animal (as a horse or dog) with a short tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rag, tag, and bobtail, the rabble. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bobtailed. “Bobtail cur.” Marryat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the tail cut short, or naturally short; curtailed; as, a bobtailed horse or dog; a bobtailed coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. dette, F. dette, LL. debita, fr. L. debitus owed, p. p. of debere to owe, prop., to have on loan; de- + habere to have. See Habit, and cf. Debit, Due. ] 1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

When you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass. “Forgive us our debts.” Matt. vi. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bond debt,
Book debt, etc. See under Bond, Book, etc. --
Debt of nature, death. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. Indebted; obliged to. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I stand debted to this gentleman. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One to whom a debt is due; creditor; -- correlative to debtor. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from debt. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. dettur, dettour, OF. detor, detur, detour, F. débiteur, fr. L. debitor, fr. debere to owe. See Debt. ] One who owes a debt; one who is indebted; -- correlative to creditor. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ I 'll ] bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor. Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

Debtors for our lives to you. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Doubted; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting. ] [ OE. duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F. douter, fr. L. dubitare; akin to dubius doubtful. See Dubious. ] 1. To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

To try your love and make you doubt of mine. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive. [ Obs. ]

Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur; scruple; question. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

To admire superior sense, and doubt their own! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I doubt not that however changed, you keep
So much of what is graceful. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

To doubt not but. I do not doubt but I have been to blame. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] We doubt not now
But every rub is smoothed on our way. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing, etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the contrary) -- but having a preventive sense, after verbs of “doubting” and “denying” that convey a notion of hindrance. E. A. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Edmond [ was a ] good man and doubted God. R. of Gloucester. [ 1913 Webster ]

I doubt some foul play. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

That I of doubted danger had no fear. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fill with fear; to affright. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The virtues of the valiant Caratach
More doubt me than all Britain. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to doubt. See Doubt, v. i. ] 1. A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to know. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an acquittal, is not the want of perfect certainty (which can never exist in any question of fact) but a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance of quilt. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uncertainty of condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. Deut. xxviii. 66. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I stand in doubt of you. Gal. iv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled; objection. [ 1913 Webster ]

To every doubt your answer is the same. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

No doubt, undoubtedly; without doubt. --
Out of doubt, beyond doubt. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

Syn. -- Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision; irresolution; distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity; ambiguity; skepticism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. doutable, L. dubitabilis, from dubitare. Cf. Dubitable. ] 1. Capable of being doubted; questionable. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Worthy of being feared; redoubtable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. doutance. Cf. Dubitancy. ] State of being in doubt; uncertainty; doubt. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affected by such a state of mind; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Methinks I should know you, and know this man;
Yet I am doubtful. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With doubtful feet and wavering resolution. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the doubtful friend [ i. e., one as to whose sincerity there may be doubts ]? Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Characterized by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression; a doubtful phrase. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Of uncertain issue or event. [ 1913 Webster ]

We . . . have sustained one day in doubtful fight. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and doubtful. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Fearful; apprehensive; suspicious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosomed with her. Shak.

Syn. -- Wavering; vacillating; hesitating; undetermined; distrustful; dubious; uncertain; equivocal; ambiguous; problematical; questionable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a doubtful manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. State of being doubtful. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uncertainty of meaning; ambiguity; indefiniteness. “ The doubtfulness of his expressions.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Uncertainty of event or issue. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That is uncertain; that distrusts or hesitates; having doubts. -- Doubt"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Free from fear or suspicion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Undoubtedly; without doubt. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Unquestionably. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. dotos, douteus, F. douteux. ] Doubtful. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Indebted; p. pr. & vb. n. Indebting. ] [ OE. endetten, F. endetter; pref. en- (L. in) + F. dette debt. See Debt. ] To bring into debt; to place under obligation; -- chiefly used in the participle indebted. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy fortune hath indebted thee to none. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Brought into debt; being under obligation; held to payment or requital; beholden. [ 1913 Webster ]

By owing, owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and discharged. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Placed under obligation for something received, for which restitution or gratitude is due; as, we are indebted to our parents for their care of us in infancy; indebted to friends for help and encouragement. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being indebted. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sum owed; debts, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. endettement. ] Indebtedness. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not obtrusive; unobtrusive.

-- In`ob*tru"sive*ly, adv. -- In`ob*tru"sive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To be suspicious of; to have suspicion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I do not misdoubt my wife. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Suspicion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Irresolution; hesitation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a Misgiving; hesitating. [ Obs. ] “Her misdoubtful mind.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obtained p. pr. & vb. n. Obtaining. ] [ F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see Ob-) + tenere to hold. See Tenable. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

By guileful fair words peace may be obtained. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It may be that I may obtain children by her. Gen. xvi. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. See Attain. -- To Obtain, Get, Gain, Earn, Acquire. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To prevail; to succeed. [ archaic and Rare ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

So run that ye may obtain. 1 Cor. ix. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being obtained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who obtains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of obtaining; attainment. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obtectus, p. p. of obtegere to cover over. ] 1. Covered; protected. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Covered with a hard chitinous case, as the pupa of certain flies; also called obtect. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. & i. [ See Obtemperate. ] (Scots Law) To obey (a judgment or decree). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. obtemperare, obtemperatum to obey. ] To obey. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obtended; p. pr. & vb. n. Obtending. ] [ L. obtendere, obtentum, to stretch or place before or against; ob (see Ob-) + tendere to stretch. ] 1. To oppose; to hold out in opposition. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To offer as the reason of anything; to pretend. [ Obs. ] Dryden [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtenebrate to make dark. ] The act of darkening; the state of being darkened; darkness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In every megrim or vertigo, there is an obtenebration joined with a semblance of turning round. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtentio. See Obtend. ] The act of obtending. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obtested; p. pr. & vb. n. Obtesting. ] [ L. obtestari; ob (see Ob-) + testari to witness, fr. testis a witness. ] 1. To call to witness; to invoke as a witness. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To beseech; to supplicate; to beg for. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To protest. [ R. ] E. Waterhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtestatio. ] The act of obtesting; supplication; protestation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Antonio asserted this with great obtestation. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtrectatio, from obtrectare to detract from through envy. See Detract. ] Slander; detraction; calumny. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obtruded, p. pr. & vb. n. Obtruding. ] [ L. obtrudere, obtrusum; ob (see Ob-) + trudere to thrust. See Threat. ] 1. To thrust impertinently; to present to a person without warrant or solicitation; as, to obtrude one's self upon a company; to obtrude one's opinion on another. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

The objects of our senses obtrude their particular ideas upon our minds, whether we will or no. Lock. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To offer with unreasonable importunity; to urge unduly or against the will. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To thrust one's self upon a company or upon attention; to intrude. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Obtrude, Intrude. To intrude is to thrust one's self into a place, society, etc., without right, or uninvited; to obtrude is to force one's self, remarks, opinions, etc., into society or upon persons with whom one has no such intimacy as to justify such boldness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who obtrudes. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. obtruncatus, p. p. of obtruncare. ] To deprive of a limb; to lop. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtruncatio. ] The act of lopping or cutting off. [ R. ] Cockeram. [ 1913 Webster ]