The “vocabulary” of this dictionary referred to within the definitions of certain collocations are those words serving as headwords for main entries, and distinguished from word combinations (“collocations”) which follow the main part of certain entries. In the XML-tagged version, these headwords are marked by the tags . [ PJC ]

2. A sum or stock of words employed. [ 1913 Webster ]

His vocabulary seems to have been no larger than was necessary for the transaction of business. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to imply superiority; prime; first-class; first-rate. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ See Exodus vii. 9 and Numbers xvii. 8 ] 1. (Arch.) A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A plant with a tall flowering stem; esp. the great mullein, or hag-taper, and the golden-rod. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Abb. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance. [ 1913 Webster ]

A B C book, a primer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in Africa (4th century), mentioned by St. Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence, after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as abortionist. [ PJC ]

or /mhw>, n. [ Ger., fr. abräumen to remove. ] A red ocher used to darken mahogany and for making chloride of potassium. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. (Bot.) pinnate with a pair of leaflets at the apex, i.e. without an odd leaflet, or other appendage, at the end; -- said of a leaf shape
Syn. -- even-pinnate, paripinnate [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

‖ [ L., without this. ] (Law) The technical words of denial used in traversing what has been alleged, and is repeated. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of United Arab Emirates. Population (2000) = 363, 432. [ PJC ]

‖ [ It. See Chapel. ] (Mus.) (a) In church or chapel style; -- said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal. (b) A time indication, equivalent to alla breve. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being accountable; accountability. [ 1913 Webster ]

A book in which accounts are kept. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F., lit., on horseback. ] Astride; with a part on each side; -- used specif. in designating the position of an army with the wings separated by some line of demarcation, as a river or road. [ 1913 Webster ]

A position à cheval on a river is not one which a general willingly assumes. Swinton. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. Achillis tendo. ] (Anat.) The strong tendon formed of the united tendons of the large muscles in the calf of the leg, an inserted into the bone of the heel; -- so called from the mythological account of Achilles being held by the heel when dipped in the River Styx. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Iron Metal.) That variety of either the Bessemer or the open-hearth process in which the converter or hearth is lined with acid, that is, highly siliceous, material. Opposed to basic process. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The involucre or cup in which the acorn is fixed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Chem.) a thermoplastic made by polymerization of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or some derivative of these (such as the esters or amides). It can be formed into a clear hard plastic, and is the basis for the commercial plastics called Lucite and Plexiglass. [ PJC ]

n. [ From actinomyces, the genus of the organism in which they were first found. ] The most well-known of the actinomycins (C62H86N12O16), a class of antibiotics which act by binding to DNA and inhibiting synthesis of RNA; they act agains gram-positive bacteria and many eukaryotic organisma. Actinomycin D has been used in human medicine to treat certain tumors.
Syn. -- dactinomycin, actinomycin IV, Cosmegen[ trade name ], actinomycin C1, actinomycin I1 [ PJC ]

See under Adam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Astron.) an optical system used in some telescopes since the 1980's which rapidly changes the shape of the primary reflecting mirror to adjust for distortions of light which are caused by atmospheric turbulence. By reducing the distortions caused by the atmosphere, telescopes fitted with such optics can achieve a higher resolving power than normal telescopes with static mirrors. [ PJC ]

n. 1. (Palaeontology) the evolutionary generation of multiple specialized life forms from one ancestral form, evidenced in the fossil record. The inverse of extinction. [ PJC ]

‖ [ L., for catching. ] A phrase used adjectively sometimes of meretricious attempts to catch or win popular favor. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dragon fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Ethiopia. Population (2000) = 2, 200, 186. [ PJC ]

[ Named from Thomas Addison, M. D., of London, who first described it. ] (Med.) A morbid condition causing a peculiar brownish discoloration of the skin, hypotension, and loss of weight; it is due to insufficient secretion of adrenocortical hormones. Untreated disease is usually fatal. Called also chronic adrenocortical insufficiency [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

{ } n. A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Dull-witted; stupid. “The addle-brained Oberstein.” Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dull and addle-pated. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ So named after Aden, a seaport in Southern Arabia, where it occurs. ] (Med.) One of the numerous names of the lesion of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. Called also Aleppo boil, Aleppo button, Aleppo evil, Bagdad boil, Biskra boil, Cochin China ulcer, Delhi boil, Jerico boil, Oriental boil, Oriental sore, Persian ulcer, tropical ulcer, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + AS ]

‖ [ L., to the man. ] A phrase applied to an appeal or argument addressed to the principles, interests, or passions of a man. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L., to infinity. ] Without limit; endlessly. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ety>[ L. ] Meanwhile; temporary. [ 1913 Webster ]

an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid (HO.CO.(CH2)4.CO.OH), containing six carbon atoms in a linear chain. It is found in beet juice. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic plastics such as Nylon, as well as other products. [ PJC ]

{ . } (Aëronautics) A small plane or surface, usually capable of adjustment but not of manipulation, for preserving lateral balance in an aëroplane or flying machine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ At one's pleasure; as one wishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Jap. adzuki. ] A cultivated variety of the Asiatic gram, now introduced into the United States. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ [ L., according to the value. ] (Com.) A term used to denote a duty or charge laid upon goods, at a certain rate per cent upon their value, as stated in their invoice, -- in opposition to a specific sum upon a given quantity or number; as, an ad valorem duty of twenty per cent. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Aëronautics) The front edge (in direction of motion) of a supporting surface; -- contr. with following edge, which is the rear edge. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Aëronautics) The first of two or more surfaces arranged in tandem; -- contr. with following surface, which is the rear surface. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ [ F., shaded enamel. ] (Fine Arts) An art or process of flooding transparent colored glaze over designs stamped or molded on earthenware or porcelain. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (a) A stretched wire or rope elevated above the ground and forming a way along which a trolley may travel, for conveying a load suspended from the trolley. (b) An elevated cableway. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A sickness felt by aëronauts due to high speed of flights and rapidity in changing altitudes, combining some symptoms of mountain sickness and some of seasickness. The nauseous symptoms similar to seasickness experienced by passengers in pressurized aircraft is called air sickness. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. the resistance caused by a gas to the motion of a solid body moving through it. Studied in aerodynamics. [ PJC ]

(Chem.) Same as Ethiops mineral. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a policy of making active efforts to improve the employment or educational opportunities available to members of minority groups or women; -- achieved by employers or schools by using various techniques, but excluding the use of simple quotas or outright discrimination against white males. affirmative action is required by law for certain employers in the United States. [ PJC ]

(Abbrev.) American Federation of Labor.
Syn. -- AFL. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ [ L. ] (Logic & Math.) With stronger reason. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Arab. 'ifrīt. ] (Moham. Myth.) A powerful evil jinnee, demon, or monstrous giant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) same as African wild dog.
Syn. -- painted wolf, African hunting dog. [ PJC ]