def>3d sing. pres. of Abide. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. adhibitus, p. p. of adhibere to hold to; ad + habere to have. ] 1. To admit, as a person or thing; to take in. Muirhead. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use or apply; to administer. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To attach; to affix. Alison. [ 1913 Webster ]

conj. [ OE. al be although it be, where al is our all. Cf. Although. ] Even though; although; notwithstanding. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Albeit so masked, Madam, I love the truth. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient. ] Circuit or compass. [ 1913 Webster ]

His great parts did not live within a small ambit. Milward. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. act as a baby-sitter
Syn. -- babysit, sit [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS. bāt food, Sw. bete. See Bait, v. t. ] 1. Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or net. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A light or hasty luncheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bait bug (Zool.), a crustacean of the genus Hippa found burrowing in sandy beaches. See Anomura. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Baited; p. pr. & vb. n. Baiting. ] [ OE. baiten, beitēn, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. bīta. √87. See Bite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the road; as, to bait horses. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

A crooked pin . . . baited with a vile earthworm. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment of one's self or one's beasts, on a journey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes), to flap or flutter. See Batter, v. t. ] To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey. “Kites that bait and beat.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Bandits or Banditti [ It. bandito outlaw, p. p. of bandire to proclaim, to banish, to proscribe, LL. bandire, bannire. See Ban an edict, and cf. Banish. ] An outlaw; a brigand. [ 1913 Webster ]

No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The plural banditti was formerly used as a collective noun. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deerstealers are ever a desperate banditti. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a furnished sitting room with sleeping accommodations (and some plumbing).
Syn. -- bedsitting room, bedsitter. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Befitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Befitting. ] To be suitable to; to suit; to become. [ 1913 Webster ]

That name best befits thee. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Beaux-esprits [ F., fine wit. ] A fine genius, or man of wit. “A man of letters and a bel esprit.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact. ] 1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A theatrical performance, a concert, or the like, the proceeds of which do not go to the lessee of the theater or to the company, but to some individual actor, or to some charitable use. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Beneficence; liberality. [ Obs. ] Webster (1623). [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. Natural advantages; endowments; accomplishments. [ R. ] “The benefits of your own country.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Benefit of clergy. (Law) See under Clergy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Profit; service; use; avail. See Advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Benefited; p. pr. & vb. n. Benefitting. ] To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jer. xviii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. be- + sit. ] To suit; to fit; to become. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Bespit; p. p. Bespit, Bespitten p. pr. & vb. n. Bespitting. ] To daub or soil with spittle. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. buie bond, chain, fr. L. boja neck collar, fetter. Cf. Buoy. ] A double slip of leather by which bells are fastened to a hawk's legs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. biscuit (cf. It. biscotto, Sp. bizcocho, Pg. biscouto), fr. L. bis twice + coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook, bake. See Cook, and cf. Bisque a kind of porcelain. ] 1. A kind of unraised bread, of many varieties, plain, sweet, or fancy, formed into flat cakes, and bakes hard; as, ship biscuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

According to military practice, the bread or biscuit of the Romans was twice prepared in the oven. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small loaf or cake of bread, raised and shortened, or made light with soda or baking powder. Usually a number are baked in the same pan, forming a sheet or card. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Earthen ware or porcelain which has undergone the first baking, before it is subjected to the glazing. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Sculp.) A species of white, unglazed porcelain, in which vases, figures, and groups are formed in miniature. [ 1913 Webster ]

Meat biscuit, an alimentary preparation consisting of matters extracted from meat by boiling, or of meat ground fine and combined with flour, so as to form biscuits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. bītan to bite. See Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel. ] 1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are fastened. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. In the British West Indies, a fourpenny piece, or groat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bitted p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting. ] To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Bite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. bītan to bite; akin to D. beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit part of a bridle. ] 1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; a mite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Somewhat; something, but not very great. [ 1913 Webster ]

My young companion was a bit of a poet. T. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The cutting iron of a plane. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. In the Southern and Southwestern States, a small silver coin (as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12 1/2 cents; also, the sum of 12 1/2 cents. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Information theory, Computers) [ binary digit. ] n.1. The smallest unit of information, equivalent to a choice between two alternatives, as yes or no; on or off. See also qubit. [ PJC ]

2. (Computers) The physical representation of a bit of information in a computer memory or a data storage medium. Within a computer circuit a bit may be represented by the state of a current or an electrical charge; in a magnetic storage medium it may be represented by the direction of magnetization; on a punched card or on paper tape it may be represented by the presence or absence of a hole at a particular point on the card or tape. [ PJC ]

Bit my bit, piecemeal. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3d sing. pr. of Bid, for biddeth. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Med.) A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an edible agaric (Tricholoma personatum) that is pale lilac when young.
Syn. -- blewits. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. [ AS. blōwīte; blōd blood, + wīte wite, fine. ] (Anc. Law) A fine or amercement paid as part of a settlement for the shedding of blood; also, a riot wherein blood was spilled. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a loose protective smock worn over ordinary clothing for dirty work. [ British ]
Syn. -- overall, boilers suit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ A corruption of bowsprit. ] (Naut.) See Bowsprit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Bow + sprit; akin to D. boegspriet; boeg bow of a ship + spriet, E. sprit, also Sw. bogspröt, G. bugspriet. ] (Naut.) A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf.W. braith variegated, Ir. breath, breagh, fine, comely. ] A rough diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) 1. The fruit of a tree (Artocarpus incisa) found in the islands of the Pacific, esp. the South Sea islands. It is of a roundish form, from four to six or seven inches in diameter, and, when baked, somewhat resembles bread, and is eaten as food, whence the name. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The tree itself, which is one of considerable size, with large, lobed leaves. Cloth is made from the bark, and the timber is used for many purposes. Called also breadfruit tree and bread tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Elec.) A key or other device for breaking an electrical circuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Zool.) (a) The young of the common herring; also, a small species of herring; the sprat. (b) The minute marine animals (chiefly Entomostraca) upon which the right whales feed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bruit, brut, noise, bruit, F. bruit, fr. LL. brugitus; cf. L. rugire to roar; perh. influenced by the source of E. bray to make a harsh noise, Armor. brud bruit. ] 1. Report; rumor; fame. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. fld>(Med.) An abnormal sound of several kinds, heard on auscultation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bruited; p. pr. & vb. n. Bruiting. ] To report; to noise abroad. [ 1913 Webster ]

I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a ludicrously false statement. [ vulgar ]
Syn. -- bull, Irish bull, horseshit, shit, crap, crapola, bunk, bunkum, buncombe, guff, rot, tommyrot, balderdash, hogwash, dogshit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. to talk through one's hat. [ vulgar ]
Syn. -- waffle, bull, fake. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. An exceptionally advantageous position from which to extol one's ideas; -- applied especially to the presidency of the United States, which was described thus by President Theodore Rossevelt. [ PJC ]

n. Same as Cabrée. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. codbait, cadbote fly. ] (Zoöl.) See Caddice.

a. Eaten out by canker, or as by canker. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ F. canon, fr. L. canon a rule. ] That part of a bit which is put in a horse's mouth. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cohabited; p. pr. & vb. n. Cohabiting. ] [ L. cohabitare; co- + habitare to dwell, to have possession of (a place), freg. of habere to have. See Habit, n. & v. ] 1. To inhabit or reside in company, or in the same place or country. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Philistines were worsted by the captived ark . . . : they were not able to cohabit with that holy thing. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dwell or live together as husband and wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

The law presumes that husband and wife cohabit together, even after a voluntary separation has taken place between them. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ By the common law as existing in the United States, marriage is presumed when a man and woman cohabit permanently together, being reputed by those who know them to be husband and wife, and admitting the relationship. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cohibited; p. pr. & vb. n. Cohibiting. ] [ L. cohibitus, p. p. of cohibere to confine; co- + habere to hold. ] To restrain. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cubitum, cubitus; elbow, ell, cubit, fr. (because the elbow serves for leaning upon) cubare to lie down, recline; cf. Gr. ky`biton elbow, ky`ptein to bend, stoop, kyfo`s bent, stooping, humpbacked. Cf. Incumbent, Covey. ] 1. (Anat.) The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow to wrist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The cubit varies in length in different countries, the Roman cubit being 17.47 inches, the Greek 18.20, the Hebrew somewhat longer, and the English 18 inches. [ 1913 Webster ]