v. t. [ OE. abrochen, OF. abrochier. See Broach. ] To set abroach; to let out, as liquor; to broach; to tap. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + broach. ] 1. Broached; in a condition for letting out or yielding liquor, as a cask which is tapped. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hogsheads of ale were set abroach. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: In a state to be diffused or propagated; afoot; astir. “Mischiefs that I set abroach.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. acrochen, accrochen, to obtain, OF. acrochier, F. accrocher; à (L. ad) + croc hook (E. crook). ] 1. To hook, or draw to one's self as with a hook. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To usurp, as jurisdiction or royal prerogatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power. Stubbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. ache, L. apium parsley. ] A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild celery, parsley. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ Gr. a`ga`llochon, of Eastern origin: cf. Skr. aguru, Heb. pl. ahālīm. ] A soft, resinous wood (Aquilaria Agallocha) of highly aromatic smell, burnt by the orientals as a perfume. It is called also agalwood and aloes wood. The name is also given to some other species. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The letter h or H. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Mech.) A kind of pipe wrench having a flaring jaw with teeth on one side. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. &unr_;, Gr. &unr_; short at both ends; 'amfi` + brachy`s short. ] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short (˘ -- ˘); as, hăbēr&ebreve_;. In modern prosody the accented syllable takes the place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as, pro-phet&bprime_;ic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Anastomosing + branch. ] A branch of a river that reënters, or anastomoses with, the main stream; also, less properly, a branch which loses itself in sandy soil. [ Australia ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such branches of a river as after separation reunite, I would term anastomosing branches; or, if a word might be coined, anabranches, and the islands they form branch islands. Col. Jackson. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; without head or chief; 'an priv. + &unr_; beginning, the first place, magistracy, government. ] The author of anarchy; one who excites revolt. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imperial anarchs doubling human woes. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Naut.) A detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck at night when a vessel is at anchor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. 1 the French (Norman) language used in medieval England.
Syn. -- Anglo-Norman [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A cavity which leads into the stomach, as in birds. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. anti- + pasch. ] (Eccl.) The Sunday after Easter; Low Sunday. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ OE. apechen, for empechen, OF. empeechier, F. empêcher, to hinder. See Impeach. ] To impeach; to accuse; to asperse; to inform against; to reproach. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And oft of error did himself appeach. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Approached; p. pr. & vb. n. Approaching. ] [ OE. approchen, aprochen, OF. approcher, LL. appropriare, fr. L. ad + propiare to draw near, prope near. ] 1. To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance nearer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city? 2 Sam. xi. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

But exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest statesman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance. [ Archaic ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To come near to in place, time, or character; to draw nearer to; as, to approach the city; to approach my cabin; he approached the age of manhood. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was an admirable poet, and thought even to have approached Homer. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) To take approaches to. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. approche. See Approach, v. i. ] 1. The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near. “The approach of summer.” Horsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

A nearer approach to the human type. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A access, or opportunity of drawing near. [ 1913 Webster ]

The approach to kings and principal persons. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Movements to gain favor; advances. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A way, passage, or avenue by which a place or buildings can be approached; an access. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. (Fort.) The advanced works, trenches, or covered roads made by besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Hort.) See Approaching. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Golf) A stroke whose object is to land the ball on the putting green. It is made with an iron club. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

8. (Aviation) that part of a flight during which an airplane descends toward the landing strip. [ PJC ]

9. (Bowling) the steps taken by a bowler just before delivering the ball toward the pins. [ PJC. ]

n. [ F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc. ] 1. (Geom.) Any part of a curved line. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal thrust. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. “Colors of the showery arch.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages, erected to commemorate a triumph. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Arched p. pr. & vb. n. Arching. ] 1. To cover with an arch or arches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To form into an arch; to curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Arch-, pref. ] 1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Arch-, pref. ] A chief. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a. ] A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Aristarchus, a Greek grammarian and critic, of Alexandria, about 200 b. c. ] A severe critic. Knowles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Orach. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Asiarcha, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; + &unr_; ruler. ] One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites. Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attached p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching. ] [ OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack. ] 1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen. [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To adhere; to be attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these facts cannot be doubted. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest; as, dower will attach. Cooley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An attachment. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A game of cards in which the players bid for the privilege of determining or “pitching” the trump suit. R. F. Foster. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Avouched (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Avouching. ] [ OF. avochier, LL. advocare to recognize the existence of a thing, to advocate, fr. L. advocare to call to; ad + vocare to call. Cf. Avow to declare, Advocate, and see Vouch, v. t. ] 1. To appeal to; to cite or claim as authority. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They avouch many successions of authorities. Coke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To maintain a just or true; to vouch for. [ 1913 Webster ]

We might be disposed to question its authenticity, it if were not avouched by the full evidence. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To declare or assert positively and as matter of fact; to affirm openly. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this which he avouches does appear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such antiquities could have been avouched for the Irish. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To acknowledge deliberately; to admit; to confess; to sanction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. Deut. xxvi. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Evidence; declaration. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. azédarac, Sp. acederaque, Pers. āzāddirakht noble tree. ] 1. (Bot.) a handsome tree (Melia azedarach) of the mahogany family, native to Northern India and China, having long clusters of fragrant purple blossoms and small ornamental but inedible yellow fruits. It has been naturalized as a shade tree and is common in the southern United States; -- called also, chinaberry, China tree, Pride of India, Pride of China, and Bead tree.
Syn. -- chinaberry, chinaberry tree, China tree, Persian lilac, pride-of-India, azedarach, Melia azederach, Melia azedarach [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Med.) The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and emetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. any of the seats occupied by backbenchers in the House of Commons of Great Britain. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Back, adv. + stitch. ] A stitch made by setting the needle back of the end of the last stitch, and bringing it out in front of the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sew with backstitches; as, to backstitch a seam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bache, bacche, fr. AS. bacan to bake; cf. G. gebäck and D. baksel. See Bake, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quantity of bread baked at one time. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A quantity of anything produced at one operation; a group or collection of persons or things of the same kind; as, a batch of letters; the next batch of business. “A new batch of Lords.” Lady M. W. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Beaches [ Cf. Sw. backe hill, Dan. bakke, Icel. bakki hill, bank. Cf. Bank. ] 1. Pebbles, collectively; shingle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The shore of the sea, or of a lake, which is washed by the waves; especially, a sandy or pebbly shore; the strand. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beach flea (Zool.), the common name of many species of amphipod Crustacea, of the family Orchestidæ, living on the sea beaches, and leaping like fleas. --
Beach grass (Bot.), a coarse grass (Ammophila arundinacea), growing on the sandy shores of lakes and seas, which, by its interlaced running rootstocks, binds the sand together, and resists the encroachment of the waves. --
Beach wagon, a light open wagon with two or more seats. --
Raised beach, an accumulation of water-worn stones, gravel, sand, and other shore deposits, above the present level of wave action, whether actually raised by elevation of the coast, as in Norway, or left by the receding waters, as in many lake and river regions. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beached p. pr. & vb. n. Beaching. ] To run or drive (as a vessel or a boat) upon a beach; to strand; as, to beach a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Bot.) The English cow parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium) Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a widely cultivated southern European acanthus (Acanthus mollis) with whitish purple-veined flowers. See Acanthus, n., 1.
Syn. -- bear's breech, bear's-breech, bear's breeches, sea holly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bedrenched (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bedrenching. ] To drench; to saturate with moisture; to soak. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Beeches [ OE. beche, AS. b&unr_;ce; akin to D. beuk, OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. bög, Sw. bok, Russ. buk, L. fagus, Gr. &unr_; oak, &unr_; to eat, Skr. bhaksh; the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See Book, and cf. 7th Buck, Buckwheat. ] (Bot.) A tree of the genus Fagus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the Fagus ferruginea that of America. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana). --
Beech marten (Zool.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina). --
Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn. --
Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree. --
Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Belched p. pr. & vb. n. Belching. ] [ OE. belken, AS. bealcan, akin to E. bellow. See Bellow, v. i. ] 1. To eject or throw up from the stomach with violence; to eruct. [ 1913 Webster ]

I belched a hurricane of wind. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To eject violently from within; to cast forth; to emit; to give vent to; to vent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Within the gates that now
Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To eject wind from the stomach through the mouth; to eructate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To issue with spasmodic force or noise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of belching; also, that which is belched; an eructation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Malt liquor; -- vulgarly so called as causing eructation. [ Obs. ] Dennis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Babylonian) the chief Babylonian god; his consort was Sarpanitu.
Syn. -- Marduk, Merodach, Baal Merodach. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Benches [ OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. bänk, Dan bænk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach. ] 1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The seat where judges sit in court. [ 1913 Webster ]

To pluck down justice from your awful bench. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bench mark (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. See bench mark in the vocabulary. --
Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council. --
Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes. --
Bench show, an exhibition of dogs. --
Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat. [ 1913 Webster ]