WRITE
Write, v. i.
1. To form characters, letters, or figures, as representative of
sounds or ideas; to express words and sentences by written signs.
Chaucer.
So it stead you, I will write, Please you command. Shak.
2. To be regularly employed or occupied in writing, copying, or
accounting; to act as clerk or amanuensis; as, he writes in one of
the public offices.
3. To frame or combine ideas, and express them in written words; to
play the author; to recite or relate in books; to compose.
They can write up to the dignity and character of the authors.
Felton.
4. To compose or send letters.
He wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry
concerning their freedom. 1 Esdras iv. 49.
WRITER
Writ”er, n. Etym: [AS. writere.]
1. One who writes, or has written; a scribe; a clerk.
They [came] that handle the pen of the writer. Judg. v. 14.
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Ps. xlv. 1.
2. One who is engaged in literary composition as a profession; an
author; as, a writer of novels.
This pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile. Shak.
3. A clerk of a certain rank in the service of the late East India
Company, who, after serving a certain number of years, became a
factor. Writer of the tallies (Eng. Law), an officer of the exchequer
of England, who acted as clerk to the auditor of the receipt, and
wrote the accounts upon the tallies from the tellers’ bills. The use
of tallies in the exchequer has been abolished. Wharton (Law. Dict.)
— Writer’s cramp, palsy, or spasm (Med.), a painful spasmodic
affection of the muscles of the fingers, brought on by excessive use,
as in writing, violin playing, telegraphing, etc. Called also
scrivener’s palsy.
— Writer to the signet. See under Signet.
WRITERSHIP
Writ”er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a writer.
WRITHE
Writhe, v. t.
[imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, Obs. or Poetic Writhen (;
p. pr. & vb.
n. Writhing.]
Etym: [OE. writhen, AS. wri to twist; akin
to OHG. ridan, Icel. ri, Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. Wreathe, Wrest,
Wroth.]
1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to
distort; to wring. “With writhing [turning] of a pin.” Chaucer.
Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro. Milton.
Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown. Dryden.
His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands. Tennyson.
2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert.
The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to
be that whereunto his words are writhed. Hooker.
3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [R.]
The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign
in writhing money from them by every species of oppression. Sir W.
Scott.
WRITHE
Writhe, v. i.
Defn: To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe
with agony. Also used figuratively.
After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with
shame and vexation. Macaulay.
WRITHEN
Writh”en, a.
Defn: Having a twisted distorted from.
A writhen staff his step unstable guides. Fairfax.
WRITHLE
Wri”thle, v. t. Etym: [Freq. of writhe.]
Defn: To wrinkle. [Obs.] Shak.
WRITING
Writ”ing, n.
1. The act or art of forming letters and characters on paper, wood,
stone, or other material, for the purpose of recording the ideas
which characters and words express, or of communicating them to
others by visible signs.
2. Anything written or printed; anything expressed in characters or
letters; as:
(a) Any legal instrument, as a deed, a receipt, a bond, an agreement,
or the like.
(b) Any written composition; a pamphlet; a work; a literary
production; a book; as, the writings of Addison.
(c) An inscription.
And Pilate wrote a title . . . And the writing was, Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews. John xix. 19.
3. Handwriting; chirography. Writing book, a book for practice in
penmanship.
— Writing desk, a desk with a sloping top for writing upon; also, a
case containing writing materials, and used in a similar manner.
— Writing lark (Zoöl.), the European yellow-hammer; — so called
from the curious irregular lines on its eggs. [Prov. Eng.] — Writing
machine. Same as Typewriter.
— Writing master, one who teaches the art of penmanship.
— Writing obligatory (Law), a bond.
— Writing paper, paper intended for writing upon with ink, usually
finished with a smooth surface, and sized.
— Writing school, a school for instruction in penmanship.
— Writing table, a table fitted or used for writing upon.
WRITTEN
Writ”ten,
Defn: p. p. of Write, v.
WRIZZLE
Wriz”zle, v. t.
Defn: To wrinkle. [Obs.] Spenser.
WROKEN
Wro”ken, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Wreak. Chaucer.
WRONG
Wrong, obs.
Defn: imp. of Wring. Wrung. Chaucer.
WRONG
Wrong, a. Etym: [OE. wrong, wrang, a. & n., AS. wrang, n.;
originally, awry, wrung, fr. wringan to wring; akin to D. wrang
bitter, Dan. vrang wrong, Sw. vrång, Icel. rangr awry, wrong. See
Wring.]
1. Twisted; wry; as, a wrong nose. [Obs.] Wyclif (Lev. xxi. 19).
2. Not according to the laws of good morals, whether divine or human;
not suitable to the highest and best end; not morally right;
deviating from rectitude or duty; not just or equitable; not true;
not legal; as, a wrong practice; wrong ideas; wrong inclinations and
desires.
3. Not fit or suitable to an end or object; not appropriate for an
intended use; not according to rule; unsuitable; improper; incorrect;
as, to hold a book with the wrong end uppermost; to take the wrong
way.
I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places. Shak.
4. Not according to truth; not conforming to fact or intent; not
right; mistaken; erroneous; as, a wrong statement.
5. Designed to be worn or placed inward; as, the wrong side of a
garment or of a piece of cloth.
Syn.
— Injurious; unjust; faulty; detrimental; incorrect; erroneous;
unfit; unsuitable.
WRONG
Wrong, adv.
Defn: In a wrong manner; not rightly; amiss; morally ill;
erroneously; wrongly.
Ten censure wrong for one that writes amiss. Pope.
WRONG
Wrong, n. Etym: [AS. wrang. See Wrong, a.]
Defn: That which is not right. Specifically:
(a) Nonconformity or disobedience to lawful authority, divine or
human; deviation from duty; — the opposite of moral Ant: right.
When I had wrong and she the right. Chaucer.
One spake much of right and wrong. Milton.
(b) Deviation or departure from truth or fact; state of falsity;
error; as, to be in the wrong.
(c) Whatever deviates from moral rectitude; usually, an act that
involves evil consequences, as one which inflicts injury on a person;
any injury done to, or received from; another; a trespass; a
violation of right.
Friend, I do thee no wrong. Matt. xx. 18.
As the king of England can do no wrong, so neither can he do right
but in his courts and by his courts. Milton.
The obligation to redress a wrong is at least as binding as that of
paying a debt. E. Evereth.
Note: Wrongs, legally, are private or public. Private wrongs are
civil injuries, immediately affecting individuals; public wrongs are
crimes and misdemeanors which affect the community. Blackstone.
WRONG
Wrong, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Wronged; p. pr. & vb. n. Wronging.]
1. To treat with injustice; to deprive of some right, or to withhold
some act of justice from; to do undeserved harm to; to deal unjustly
with; to injure.
He that sinneth . . . wrongeth his own soul. Prov. viii. 36.
2. To impute evil to unjustly; as, if you suppose me capable of a
base act, you wrong me.
I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I
will wrong such honorable men. Shak.
WRONGDOER
Wrong”do`er, n.
1. One who injures another, or who does wrong.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who commits a tort or trespass; a trespasser; a tort
feasor. Ayliffe.
WRONGDOING
Wrong”do`ing, n.
Defn: Evil or wicked behavior or action.
WRONGER
Wrong”er, n.
Defn: One who wrongs or injures another. Shak. “Wrongers of the
world.” Tennyson.
WRONGFUL
Wrong”ful, a.
Defn: Full of wrong; injurious; unjust; unfair; as, a wrongful taking
of property; wrongful dealing.
— Wrong”ful*ly, adv.
— Wrong”ful*ness, n.
WRONGHEAD
Wrong”head`, n.
Defn: A person of a perverse understanding or obstinate character.
[R.]
WRONGHEAD
Wrong”head`, a.
Defn: Wrongheaded. [R.] Pope.
WRONGHEADED
Wrong”head`ed, a.
Defn: Wrong in opinion or principle; having a perverse understanding;
perverse.
— Wrong”head`ed*ly, adv.
— Wrong”head`ed*ness, n. Macaulay.
WRONGLESS
Wrong”less, a.
Defn: Not wrong; void or free from wrong. [Obs.] — Wrong”less*ly,
adv. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
WRONGLY
Wrong”ly, adv.
Defn: In a wrong manner; unjustly; erroneously; wrong; amiss; as, he
judges wrongly of my motives. “And yet wouldst wrongly win.” Shak.
WRONGNESS
Wrong”ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wrong; wrongfulness; error;
fault.
The best great wrongnesses within themselves. Bp. Butler.
The rightness or wrongness of this view. Latham.
WRONGOUS
Wron”gous, a. Etym: [Cf. OE. wrongwis. See Wrong, and cf. Righteous.]
1. Constituting, or of the nature of, a wrong; unjust; wrongful. [R.]
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: Not right; illegal; as, wrongous imprisonment. Craig.
WRONG-TIMED
Wrong”-timed`, a.
Defn: Done at an improper time; ill-timed.
WROOT
Wroot, obs.
Defn: imp. of Write. Wrote. Chaucer.
WROTE
Wrote, v. i. Etym: [OE. wroten. See 1st Root.]
Defn: To root with the snout. See 1st Root. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WROTE
Wrote,
Defn: imp. & archaic p. p. of Write.
WROTH
Wroth, a. Etym: [OE. wroth, wrap, AS. wraedh wroth, crooked, bad;
akin to wriedhan to writhe, and to OS. wreedhangry, D. wreed cruel,
OHG. reid twisted, Icel. reiedhr angry, Dan. & Sw. vred. See Writhe,
and cf. Wrath.]
Defn: Full of wrath; angry; incensed; much exasperated; wrathful.
“Wroth to see his kingdom fail.” Milton.
Revel and truth as in a low degree, They be full wroth [i. e., at
enmity] all day. Chaucer.
Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Gen. iv. 5.
WROUGHT
Wrought,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Work.
Alas that I was wrought [created]! Chaucer.
WROUGHT
Wrought, a.
Defn: Worked; elaborated; not rough or crude. Wrought iron. See under
Iron.
WRUNG
Wrung,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Wring.
WRY
Wry, v. t. Etym: [AS. wreón.]
Defn: To cover. [Obs.]
Wrie you in that mantle. Chaucer.
WRY
Wry, a. [Compar. Wrier; superl. Wriest.] Etym: [Akin to OE. wrien to
twist, to bend, AS. wrigian to tend towards, to drive.]
1. Turned to one side; twisted; distorted; as, a wry mouth.
2. Hence, deviating from the right direction; misdirected; out of
place; as, wry words.
Not according to the wry rigor of our neighbors, who never take up an
old idea without some extravagance in its application. Landor.
3. Wrested; perverted.
He . . . puts a wry sense upon Protestant writers. Atterbury.
Wry face, a distortion of the countenance indicating impatience,
disgust, or discomfort; a grimace.
WRY
Wry, v. i.
1. To twist; to writhe; to bend or wind.
2. To deviate from the right way; to go away or astray; to turn side;
to swerve.
This Phebus gan awayward for to wryen. Chaucer.
How many Must murder wives much better than themselves For wrying but
a little! Shak.
WRY
Wry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wried; p. pr. & vb. n. Wrying.] Etym: [OE.
wrien. See Wry, a.]
Defn: To twist; to distort; to writhe; to wrest; to vex. Sir P.
Sidney.
Guests by hundreds, not one caring If the dear host’s neck were
wried. R. Browning.
WRYBILL
Wry”bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Crookbill.
WRYMOUTH
Wry”mouth`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of large, elongated, marine fishes
of the genus Cryptacanthodes, especially C. maculatus of the American
coast. A whitish variety is called ghostfish.
WRYNECK
Wry”neck, n. (Med.)
1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck is
drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the muscles of the
neck; torticollis.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Old World birds of the genus
Jynx, allied to the woodpeckers; especially, the common European
species (J. torguilla); — so called from its habit of turning the
neck around in different directions. Called also cuckoo’s mate,
snakebird, summer bird, tonguebird, and writheneck.
WRYNECKED
Wry”necked`, a.
Defn: Having a distorted neck; having the deformity called wryneck.
WRYNESS
Wry”ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wry, or distorted. W. Montagu.
WRYTHEN
Wryth”en, obs. p. p. of Writhe.
Defn: Writhen.
WULFENITE
Wul”fen*ite, n. Etym: [So named after F. X. Wulfen, an Australian
mineralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: Native lead molybdate occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually
tabular, and of a bright orange-yellow to red, gray, or brown color;
— also called yellow lead ore.
WULL
Wull, v. t. & i.
Defn: See 2d Will.
Pour out to all that wull. Spenser.
WUNG-OUT
Wung”-out`, a.
Defn: Having the sails set in the manner called wing-and-wing.
[Sailors’ slang]
WURBAGOOL
Wur”ba*gool, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fruit bat (Pteropus medius) native of India. It is similar to
the flying fox, but smaller.
WURMAL
Wur”mal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wormil.
WURRALUH
Wur”ra*luh, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Australian white-quilled honey eater (Entomyza albipennis).
WUST; WUSTE
Wust, Wuste, obs.
Defn: imp. of Wit. Piers Plowman.
WYANDOTS
Wy`an*dots”, n. pl.; sing. Wyandot (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Same as Hurons. [Written also Wyandottes, and Yendots.]
WYCH-ELM
Wych”-elm`, n. Etym: [OE. wiche a kind of elm, AS. wice a kind of
tree. Cf. Wicker.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of elm (Ulmus montana) found in Northern and Western
Europe; Scotch elm.
Note: By confusion this word is often written witch-elm.
WYCH-HAZEL
Wych”-ha`zel, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The wych-elm; — so called because its leaves are like those of
the hazel.
WYCLIFITE; WYCLIFFITE
Wyc”lif*ite, Wyc”liff*ite, n.
Defn: A follower of Wyclif, the English reformer; a Lollard.
WYD
Wyd, a.
Defn: Wide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYE
Wye, n.; pl. Wyes (.
1. The letter Y.
2. A kind of crotch. See Y, n. (a).
WYKE
Wyke, n.
Defn: Week. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYLA
Wy”la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A helmeted Australian cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus); —
called also funeral cockatoo.
WYN; WYNN; WEN
Wyn, Wynn, n. Also Wen. [AS. wen.]
Defn: One of the runes adopted into the Anglo-Saxon, or Old English,
alphabet. It had the value of modern English w, and was replaced from
about a. d. 1280 at first by uu, later by w.
X.
WYND
Wynd, n. Etym: [See Wind to turn.]
Defn: A narrow lane or alley. [Scot.] Jamieson.
The narrow wynds, or alleys, on each side of the street. Bryant.
WYNKERNEL
Wyn”ker*nel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]
WYNN
Wynn, n.
Defn: A kind of timber truck, or carriage.
WYPE
Wype, n.
Defn: The wipe, or lapwing. [Prov. Eng.]
WYS
Wys, a.
Defn: Wise. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WYTE; WYTEN
Wyte, Wy”ten, obs.
Defn: pl. pres. of Wit.
WYTHE
Wythe, n. (Naut.).
Defn: Same as Withe, n., 4.
WYVERN
Wy”vern, n. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Wiver.
X
X (eks).
Defn: X, the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, has three
sounds; a compound nonvocal sound (that of ks), as in wax; a compound
vocal sound (that of gz), as in example; and, at the beginning of a
word, a simple vocal sound (that of z), as in xanthic. See Guide to
Pronunciation, §§ 217, 270, 271.
The form and value of X are from the Latin X, which is from the Greek
X, which in some Greek alphabets had the value of ks, though in the
one now in common use it represents an aspirated sound of k.
XANTHAMIDE
Xanth*am”ide, n. [Xanthic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An amido derivative of xanthic acid obtained as a white
crystalline substance, C2H5O.CS.NH2; — called also xanthogen amide.
XANTHATE
Xan”thate, n. [See Xanthic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xanthic; a xanthogenate.
XANTHELASMA
Xan`the*las”ma, n. [NL.; Gr. xanqo`s yellow + ‘e`lasma a metal
plate.] (Med.)
Defn: See Xanthoma.
XANTHIAN
Xan”thi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Xanthus, an ancient town on Asia Minor; —
applied especially to certain marbles found near that place, and now
in the British Museum.
XANTHIC
Xan”thic, a. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow: cf. F. xanthique.]
1. Tending toward a yellow color, or to one of those colors, green
being excepted, in which yellow is a constituent, as scarlet, orange,
etc.
2. (Chem.)
(a) Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow color; as, xanthic
acid.
(b) Of or pertaining to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic.
(c) Of or pertaining to xanthin.
Xanthic acid (Chem.), a heavy, astringent, colorless oil,
C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is produced by leading carbon
disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So
called from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also
xanthogenic acid. — Xanthic colors (Bot.), those colors (of flowers)
having some tinge of yellow; — opposed to cyanic colors. See under
Cyanic.
XANTHIDE
Xan”thide, n. [See Xantho-.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound or derivative of xanthogen. [Archaic]
XANTHIDIUM
Xan*thid”i*um, n.; pl. Xanthidia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of minute unicellular algæ of the desmids. These algæ
have a rounded shape and are armed with glochidiate or branched
aculei. Several species occur in ditches, and others are found fossil
in flint or hornstone.
XANTHIN
Xan”thin, n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow.]
1. (Physiol. Chem.) A crystalline nitrogenous body closely related to
both uric acid and hypoxanthin, present in muscle tissue, and
occasionally found in the urine and in some urinary calculi. It is
also present in guano. So called from the yellow color of certain of
its salts (nitrates).
2. (Chem.) A yellow insoluble coloring matter extracted from yellow
flowers; specifically, the coloring matter of madder. [Formerly
written also xanthein.]
3. (Chem.) One of the gaseous or volatile decomposition products of
the xanthates, and probably identical with carbon disulphide. [Obs.]
XANTHINE; XANTHIN
Xan”thine, n. Also Xan”thin . [Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white microcrystalline nitrogenous compound, C5H4O2N4,
present in muscle tissue, in the liver, spleen, pancreas, and other
organs, and also in urine (in small quantities) and some urinary
calculi, and in the juices of certain plants; — so called because it
leaves a yellow residue when evaporated to dryness with nitric acid.
Xanthine is closely related to uric acid.
XANTHININE
Xan”thi*nine, n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow + quinine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous substance related to urea and uric acid,
produced as a white powder; — so called because it forms yellow
salts, and because its solution forms a blue fluorescence like
quinine.
XANTHIUM
Xan”thi*um, n. [NL., fr. Gr. xa`nqion a plant used for dyeing the
hair yellow, said to be the Xanthium strumarium, from xanqo`s
yellow.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite plants in which the scales of the
involucre are united so as to form a kind of bur; cocklebur; clotbur.
XANTHO-
Xan”tho-.
Defn: A combining form from Gr. xanqo`s yellow; as in xanthocobaltic
salts. Used also adjectively in chemistry.
XANTHOCARPOUS
Xan`tho*car”pous, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having yellow fruit.
XANTHOCHROI
Xan*thoch”ro*i, n. pl. [NL. See Xanthochroic.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A division of the Caucasian races, comprising the lighter-
colored members.
The Xanthochroi, or fair whites, . . . are the prevalent inhabitants
of Northern Europe, and the type may be traced into North Africa, and
eastward as far as Hindostan.
Tylor.
XANTHOCHROIC
Xan`tho*chro”ic, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. chro`a color.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Having a yellowish or fair complexion; of or pertaining to the
Xanthochroi.
XANTHOCHROID
Xan”tho*chroid, a. [See under Xanthrochroic, -oid.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Having a yellowish or fair complexion. — n.
Defn: A person having xanthochroid traits.
XANTHOCHROISM
Xan*thoch”ro*ism, n.
Defn: Abnormal coloration of feathers in which yellow replaces the
normal color, as in certain parrots. It is commonly due to lack of
the dark pigment which with yellow forms green.
XANTHODONTOUS
Xan`tho*don”tous, a. [Xantho-+ Gr. ‘odoy`s, ‘odo`ntos, tooth.]
Defn: Having yellow teeth.
XANTHOGEN
Xan”tho*gen, n. [Xantho- + -gen.] (Chem.)
(a) The hypothetical radical supposed to be characteristic of
xanthic acid. [Archaic]
(b) Persulphocyanogen. [R.]
XANTHOGENATE
Xan”tho*gen*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xanthic acid.
XANTHOGENIC
Xan`tho*gen”ic, a. [See Xantho-, and -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: Producing a yellow color or compound; xanthic. See Xanthic
acid, under Xanthic.
XANTHOMA
Xan*tho”ma, n. [NL. See Xantho-, and -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A skin disease marked by the development or irregular yellowish
patches upon the skin, especially upon the eyelids; — called also
xanthelasma.
XANTHOMATOUS
Xan*thom”a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to xanthoma.
XANTHOMELANOUS
Xan`tho*mel”a*nous, a. [Pref. xantho- + Gr. , , black.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lighter division of the Melanochroi, or
those races having an olive or yellow complexion and black hair.
XANTHOPHANE
Xan”tho*phane, n. [Xantho- + Gr. fai`nein to show.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The yellow pigment present in the inner segments of the retina
in animals. See Chromophane.
XANTHOPHYLL
Xan”tho*phyll, n. [Xantho- + Gr. fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: A yellow coloring matter found in yellow autumn leaves, and
also produced artificially from chlorophyll; — formerly called also
phylloxanthin.
XANTHOPOUS
Xan”tho*pous, a. [Xantho- + Gr. poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a yellow stipe, or stem.
XANTHOPROTEIC
Xan`tho*pro*te”ic, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, xanthoprotein; showing the
characters of xanthoprotein; as, xanthoproteic acid; the
xanthoproteic reaction for albumin.
XANTHOPROTEIN
Xan`tho*pro”te*in, n. [Xantho-+ protein.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A yellow acid substance formed by the action of hot nitric acid
on albuminous or proteid matter. It is changed to a deep orange-
yellow color by the addition of ammonia.
XANTHOPUCCINE
Xan`tho*puc”cine, n. [Xantho-+ puccoon + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of three alkaloids found in the root of the yellow puccoon
(Hydrastis Canadensis). It is a yellow crystalline substance, and
resembles berberine.
XANTHORHAMNIN
Xan`tho*rham”nin, n. [Xantho-+ NL. Rhamnus, the generic name of the
plant bearing Persian berries.] (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from Persian berries as a yellow
crystalline powder, used as a dyestuff.
XANTHORHIZA
Xan`tho*rhi”za, n. [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow + “ri`za root.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubby ranunculaceous plants of North America,
including only the species Xanthorhiza apiifolia, which has roots of
a deep yellow color; yellowroot. The bark is intensely bitter, and is
sometimes used as a tonic.
XANTHORHOEA
Xan`tho*rhoe”a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xanqo`s yellow + (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of endogenous plants, native to Australia, having a
thick, sometimes arborescent, stem, and long grasslike leaves. See
Grass tree.
XANTHOSE
Xan”those, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An orange-yellow substance found in pigment spots of certain
crabs.
XANTHOSIS
Xan*tho”sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Med.)
Defn: The yellow discoloration often observed in cancerous tumors.
XANTHOSPERMOUS
Xan`tho*sper”mous, a. Etym: [Xantho- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having yellow seeds.
XANTHOUS
Xan”thous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Yellow; specifically (Ethnol.), of or pertaining to those races
of man which have yellowish, red, auburn, or brown hair.
XANTHOXYLENE
Xan*thox”y*lene, n. Etym: [See Xanthoxylum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon of the terpene series extracted from the
seeds of a Japanese prickly ash (Xanthoxylum pipertium) as an
aromatic oil.
XANTHOXYLUM
Xan*thox”y*lum, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xanqo`s yellow + xy`lon
wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of prickly shrubs or small trees, the bark and rots of
which are of a deep yellow color; prickly ash.
Note: The commonest species in the Northern United States is
Xanthoxylum Americanum. See Prickly ash, under Prickly.
XEBEC
Xe”bec, n. Etym: [Sp. jabegue, formerly spelt xabeque, or Pg. xabeco;
both from Turk. sumbeki a kind of Asiatic ship; cf. Per. sumbuk, Ar.
sumb a small ship.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small three-masted vessel, with projecting bow stern and
convex decks, used in the Mediterranean for transporting merchandise,
etc. It carries large square sails, or both. Xebecs were formerly
armed and used by corsairs.
XEME
Xeme (zem), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Arctic fork-tailed gull (Xema Sabinii).
XENELASIA
Xen`e*la”si*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A Spartan institution which prohibited strangers from residing
in Sparta without permission, its object probably being to preserve
the national simplicity of manners.
XENIUM
Xe”ni*um, n.; pl. Xenia. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: A present given to a guest or stranger, or to a foreign
ambassador.
XENODOCHIUM
Xen`o*do*chi”um, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. xenodochium a building for the
reception of strangers, Gr. (a) (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: A house for the reception of strangers.
(b) In the Middle Ages, a room in a monastery for the reception and
entertainment of strangers and pilgrims, and for the relief of
paupers. [Called also Xenodocheion.]
XENODOCHY
Xe*nod”o*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Reception of strangers; hospitality. [R.]
XENOGAMY
Xe*nog”a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange, foreign + (Bot.)
Defn: Cross fertilization.
XENOGENESIS
Xen`o*gen”e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos a stranger + E. genesis.]
(Biol.)
(a) Same as Heterogenesis.
(b) The fancied production of an organism of one kind by an organism
of another. Huxley.
XENOGENETIC
Xen`o*ge*net”ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to xenogenesis; as, the xenogenetic origin of
microzymes. Huxley.
XENOMANIA
Xen`o*ma”ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + E. mania.]
Defn: A mania for, or an inordinate attachment to, foreign customs,
institutions, manners, fashions, etc. [R.] Saintsbury.
XENOMI
Xen”o*mi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of soft-rayed fresh-water fishes of which the
blackfish of Alaska (Dallia pectoralis) is the type.
XENON
Xen”on, n. [Gr. , neut. of strange.] (Chem.)
Defn: A very heavy, inert gaseous element occurring in the atmosphere
in the proportion of one volume is about 20 millions. It was
discovered by Ramsay and Travers in 1898. It can be condensed to a
liquid boiling at -109º C., and to a solid which volatilizes without
melting. Symbol Xe or X; atomic weight 130.2.
XENOPTERYGII
Xe*nop`te*ryg”i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xe`nos strange +
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of fishes including Gobiesox and allied genera.
These fishes have soft-rayed fins, and a ventral sucker supported in
front by the pectoral fins. They are destitute of scales.
XENOTIME
Xen”o*time, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos guest, stranger + xenotim.] (Min.)
Defn: A native phosphate of yttrium occurring in yellowish-brown
tetragonal crystals.
XENURINE
Xe*nu”rine, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cabassou.
XENYL
Xen”yl, n. Etym: [Gr. xe`nos strange + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The radical characteristic of xenylic compounds.
XENYLIC
Xe*nyl”ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, designating, certain amido
compounds obtained by reducing certain nitro derivatives of diphenyl.
XERAPHIM
Xer”a*phim, n. Etym: [Pg. xarafin, xerafin, fr. Ar. ashrafi noble,
the name of a gold coin.]
Defn: An old money of account in Bombay, equal to three fifths of a
rupee.
XERES
Xer”es, n.
Defn: Sherry. See Sherry.
XERIF
Xer”if, n.
Defn: A shereef.
XERIFF
Xer”iff, n. Etym: [See Shereef.]
Defn: A gold coin formerly current in Egypt and Turkey, of the value
of about 9s. 6d., or about $2.30; — also, in Morocco, a ducat.
XERODERMA
Xe`ro*der”ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
(a) Ichthyosis.
(b) A skin disease characterized by the presence of numerous small
pigmented spots resembling freckles, with which are subsequently
mingled spots of atrophied skin.
XERONATE
Xe”ro*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xeronic acid.
XERONIC
Xe*ron”ic, a. Etym: [Gr. conic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid, C8H12O4, related to
fumaric acid, and obtained from citraconic acid as an oily substance
having a bittersweet taste; — so called from its tendency to form
its anhydride.
XEROPHAGY
Xe*roph”a*gy, n. Etym: [L. xerophagia, Gr.
Defn: Among the primitive Christians, the living on a diet of dry
food in Lent and on other fasts.
XEROPHILOUS
Xe*roph”i*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Drought-loving; able withstand the absence or lack of moisture.
Plants which are peculiarly adapted to dry climates are termed by De
Candolle xerophilous. Goodale.
XEROPHTHALMIA
Xe`roph*thal”mi*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Ophthalmia.] (Med.)
Defn: An abnormal dryness of the eyeball produced usually by long-
continued inflammation and subsequent atrophy of the conjunctiva.
XEROPHTHALMY
Xe`roph*thal”my, n. (Med.)
Defn: Xerophthalmia.
XIPHIAS
Xiph”i*as, n. Etym: [L., a swordfish, a sword-shaped comet, fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes comprising the common swordfish.
2. (Anat.)
(a) The constellation Dorado.
(b) A comet shaped like a sword
XIPHIDIUM
Xi*phid”i*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Hæmodraceæ, having two-ranked,
sword-shaped leaves.
XIPHIOID
Xiph”i*oid, a. Etym: [Xiphius + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cetacean of the genus
Xiphius or family Xiphiidæ.
XIPHIPLASTRON
Xiph”i*plas”tron, n.; pl. Xiphiplastra. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a
sword + plastron.] (Anat.)
Defn: The posterior, or fourth, lateral plate in the plastron of
turtles; — called also xiphisternum.
XIPHISTERNUM
Xiph”i*ster”num, n.; pl. Xiphisterna. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a
sword + sternum.] (Anat.)
(a) The posterior segment, or extremity, of the sternum; — sometimes
called metasternum, ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, or xiphoid
process.
(b) The xiphiplastron.
— Xiph”i*ster”nal a.
XIPHIUS
Xiph”i*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xi`fos a sword.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of cetaceans having a long, pointed, bony beak, usually
two tusklike teeth in the lower jaw, but no teeth in the upper jaw.
XIPHODON
Xiph”o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos a sword + (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of artiodactylous mammals found in the
European Tertiary formations. It had slender legs, didactylous feet,
and small canine teeth.
XIPHOID
Xiph”oid, a. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos a sword + xiphoide.] (Anat.)
(a) Like a sword; ensiform.
(b) Of or pertaining to the xiphoid process; xiphoidian.
XIPHOIDIAN
Xiph*oid”i*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Xiphoid.
XIPHOPHYLLOUS
Xi*phoph”yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. xi`fos sword + (Bot.)
Defn: Having sword-shaped leaves.
XIPHOSURA
Xiph`o*su”ra, n. pl.
Defn: See Xiphura.
XIPHURA
Xi*phu”ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. xi`fos sword + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Limuloidea. Called also Xiphosura. X ray. See under
Ray.
XP
XP. [Belongs here in appearance only.]
Defn: The first two letters of the Greek word XRISTOS, Christ; — an
abbreviation used with the letters separate or, oftener, in a
monogram, often inclosed in a circle, as a symbol or emblem of
Christ. It use as an emblem was introduced by Constantine the Great,
whence it is known as the Constantinian symbol, or monogram. See
Labarum.
X RAYS; X-RAYS
X rays, or X”-rays`, n. pl.
Defn: The Röntgen rays; — so called by their discoverer because of
their enigmatical character.
X-RAY TUBE
X”-ray” tube. (Physics)
Defn: A vacuum tube suitable for producing Röntgen rays.
XYLAMIDE
Xy*lam”ide, n. Etym: [Xylic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An acid amide derivative of xylic acid, obtained as a white
crystalline substance.
XYLAN
Xy”lan, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gummy substance of the pentosan class, present in woody
tissue, and yielding xylose on hydrolysis; wood gum.
XYLANTHRAX
Xy*lan”thrax, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood +
Defn: Wood coal, or charcoal; — so called in distinction from
mineral coal.
XYLATE
Xy”late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of xylic acid.
XYLEM
Xy”lem, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: That portion of a fibrovascular bundle which has developed, or
will develop, into wood cells; — distinguished from phloëm.
XYLENE
Xy”lene, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic
series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in
crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids,
C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively
orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol.
Note: Each of these xylenes is the nucleus and prototype of a
distinct series of compounds.
XYLENOL
Xy”le*nol, n. Etym: [Xylene + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of six metameric phenol derivatives of xylene, obtained
as crystalline substances, (CH3)2.C6H3.OH.
XYLETIC
Xy*let”ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a complex acid related to
mesitylenic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance by the
action of sodium and carbon dioxide on crude xylenol.
XYLIC
Xy”lic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, xylene;
specifically, designating any one of several metameric acids produced
by the partial oxidation of mesitylene and pseudo-cumene.
XYLIDIC
Xy*lid”ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, either one of two distinct acids
which are derived from xylic acid and related compounds, and are
metameric with uvitic acid.
XYLIDINE
Xy”li*dine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of six metameric hydrocarbons, (CH3)2.C6H3.NH2,
resembling aniline, and related to xylene. They are liquids, or
easily fusible crystalline substances, of which three are derived
from metaxylene, two from orthoxylene, and one from paraxylene. They
are called the amido xylenes.
Note: The xylidine of commerce, used in making certain dyes, consists
chiefly of the derivatives of paraxylene and metaxylene.
XYLINDEIN
Xy*lin”de*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A green or blue pigment produced by Peziza in certain kinds of
decayed wood, as the beech, oak, birch, etc., and extracted as an
amorphous powder resembling indigo.
XYLITE
Xy”lite, n. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon found in crude wood spirits.
XYLITONE
Xy”li*tone, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow oil having a geraniumlike odor, produced as a side
product in making phorone; — called also xylite oil.
XYLO-
Xy”lo-.
Defn: A combining form from Gr. xy`lon wood; as in xylogen,
xylograph.
XYLOBALSAMUM
Xy`lo*bal”sa*mum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + xylobalsamum
balsam wood, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The dried twigs of a Syrian tree (Balsamodendron Gileadense).
U. S. Disp.
XYLOCARPOUS
Xy`lo*car”pous, a. Etym: [Xylo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing fruit which becomes hard or woody.
XYLOCOPA
Xy*loc”o*pa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of hymenopterous insects including the carpenter. See
Carpenter bee, under Carpenter.
— Xy*loc”o*pine, a.
XYLOGEN
Xy”lo*gen, n. Etym: [Xylo- + -gen.]
(a) (Bot.) Nascent wood; wood cells in a forming state.
(b) Lignin.
XYLOGRAPH
Xy”lo*graph, n. Etym: [Xylo- + -graph.]
Defn: An engraving on wood, or the impression from such an engraving;
a print by xylography.
XYLOGRAPHER
Xy*log”ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who practices xylography.
XYLOGRAPHIC; XYLOGRAPHICAL
Xy`lo*graph”ic, Xy`lo*graph”ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. xylographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to xylography, or wood engraving.
XYLOGRAPHY
Xy*log”ra*phy, n. Etym: [Xylo- + -graphy: cf. F. xylographie.]
1. The art of engraving on wood.
2. The art of making prints from the natural grain of wood. Knight.
3. A method pf printing in colors upon wood for purposes of house
decoration. Ure.
XYLOID
Xy”loid, a. Etym: [Xylo- + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling wood; having the nature of wood.
XYLOIDIN
Xy*loid”in, n. Etym: [Xylo- + -oid.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance resembling pyroxylin, obtained by the action of
nitric acid on starch; — called also nitramidin.
XYLOL
Xy”lol, n. Etym: [Xylo- + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Xylene.
XYLOLOGY
Xy*lol”o*gy, n. [Pref. xylo-+ -logy.]
Defn: The branch of dendrology treating of the gross and minute
structure of wood.
XYLONITE
Xy”lon*ite, n.
Defn: See Zylonite.
XYLOPHAGA
Xy*loph”a*ga, n. Etym: [NL. See Xylophagous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine bivalves which bore holes in wood. They are
allied to Pholas.
XYLOPHAGAN
Xy*loph”a*gan, n. Etym: [See Xylophagous.] (Zoöl.)
(a) One of a tribe of beetles whose larvæ bore or live in wood.
(b) Any species of Xylophaga.
(c) Any one of the Xylophagides.
XYLOPHAGIDES
Xy`lo*phag”i*des, n. pl. Etym: [See Xylophagous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe or family of dipterous flies whose larvæ live in
decayed wood. Some of the tropical species are very large.
XYLOPHAGOUS
Xy*loph”a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zoöl.)
(a) Eating, boring in, or destroying, wood; — said especially of
certain insect larvæ, crustaceans, and mollusks.
(b) Of or pertaining to the genus Xylophaga.
XYLOPHILAN
Xy*loph”i*lan, n. Etym: [See Xylophilous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of beetles (Xylophili) whose larvæ live on
decayed wood.
XYLOPHILOUS
Xy*loph”i*lous, a. Etym: [Xylo- + Gr. filei^n to love.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the xylophilans.
XYLOPHONE
Xy”lo*phone, n. Etym: [Xylo- + Gr. fwnh` sound.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument common among the Russians, Poles, and Tartars,
consisting of a series of strips of wood or glass graduated in length
to the musical scale, resting on belts of straw, and struck with two
small hammers. Called in Germany strohfiedel, or straw fiddle.
2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different
kinds of wood. Knight.
XYLOPLASTIC
Xy`lo*plas”tic, a. Etym: [Xylo- + -plastic.] (Technol.)
Defn: Formed of wood pulp by molds; relating to casts made of wood
pulp in molds.
XYLOPYROGRAPHY
Xy`lo*py*rog”ra*phy. n. Etym: [Xylo- + Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The art or practice of burning pictures on wood with a hot
iron; — called also poker painting. See Poker picture, under Poker.
XYLOQUINONE
Xy`lo*qui”none, n. Etym: [Xylene + quinone.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a group of quinone compounds obtained respectively
by the oxidation of certain xylidine compounds. In general they are
yellow crystalline substances.
XYLORCIN
Xy*lor”cin, n. Etym: [Xylene + orcin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A derivative of xylene obtained as a white crystalline
substance which on exposure in the air becomes red; — called also
betaorcin.
XYLOSE
Xy”lose, n. [Pref. xylo- + -ose.] (Chem.)
Defn: An unfermentable sugar of the pentose class, C5H10O5, formed by
the hydrolysis of xylan; wood sugar.
XYLOSTEIN
Xy*los”te*in, n. Etym: [Xylo- + Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside found in the poisonous berries of a species of
honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum), and extracted as a bitter, white,
crystalline substance.
XYLOTILE
Xy”lo*tile, n.
Defn: Same as Parkesine.
XYLOTOMIST
Xy*lot”o*mist, n.
Defn: One versed or engaged in xylotomy.
XYLOTOMOUS
Xy*lot”o*mous, a. [Pref. xylo-+ root of Gr. to cut.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Capable of boring or cutting wood; — said of many insects.
XYLOTOMY
Xy*lot”o*my, n. [Pref. xylo-+ -tomy.]
Defn: Art of preparing sections (transverse, tangential, or radial)
of wood, esp. by means of a microtome, for microscopic examination.
XYLOTRYA
Xy*lo”try*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine bivalves closely allied to Teredo, and
equally destructive to timber. One species (Xylotrya fimbriata) is
very common on the Atlantic coast of the United States.
XYLYL
Xy”lyl, n. Etym: [Xylo- + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three metameric radicals which are characteristic
respectively of the three xylenes.
XYLYLENE
Xy”lyl*ene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three metameric radicals, CH2.C6H4.CH2, derived
respectively from the three xylenes. Often used adjectively; as,
xylylene alcohol.
XYRIDACEOUS
Xyr`i*da”ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order (Xyrideæ) of endogenous
plants, of which Xyris is the type.
XYRIS
Xy”ris, n. Etym: [L., a kind of Iris, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of endogenous herbs with grassy leaves and small yellow
flowers in short, scaly-bracted spikes; yellow-eyed grass. There are
about seventeen species in the Atlantic United States.
XYST; XYSTUS
Xyst, Xys”tus, n. Etym: [L. xystus, Gr. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: A long and open portico, for athletic exercises, as wrestling,
running, etc., for use in winter or in stormy weather.
XYSTARCH
Xyst”arch, n. Etym: [L. xystarches, Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: An office Dr. W. Smith.
XYSTER
Xys”ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for scraping bone.
Y
Defn: Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the
beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see Y-), is
usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the
middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to
Pronunciation, §§ 145, 178-9, 272.
Note: It derives its form from the Latin Y, which is from the Greek
u, i, o, and j. g; as in full, fill, AS. fyllan; E. crypt, grotto;
young, juvenile; day, AS. dæg. See U, I, and J, G.
Note: Y has been called the Pythagorean letter, because the Greek
letter
Y
Y, n.; pl. Y’s ( or Ys.
Defn: Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling
in form the letter Y. Specifically:
(a) One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of a
leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a wye.
(b) A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting.
(c) (Railroads) A portion of track consisting of two diverging tracks
connected by a cross track. Y level (Surv.), an instrument for
measuring differences of level by means of a telescope resting in
Y’s.
— Y moth (Zoöl.), a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma)
which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y, on each
of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white
species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma
moth, and silver Y.
Y
Y, pron.
Defn: I. [Obs.] King Horn. Wyclif.
Y-; I-
Y-, or I-. Etym: [OE. y-, i-, AS. ge-, akin to D. & G. ge-, OHG. gi-,
ga-, Goth. ga-, and perhaps to Latin con-; originally meaning,
together. Cf. Com-, Aware, Enough, Handiwork, Ywis.]
Defn: A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs,
adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle English
period, it was little employed except with verbs, being chiefly used
with past participles, though occasionally with the infinitive
Ycleped, or yclept, is perhaps the only word not entirely obsolete
which shows this use.
That no wight mighte it see neither yheere. Chaucer.
Neither to ben yburied nor ybrent. Chaucer.
Note: Some examples of Chaucer’s use of this prefix are; ibe, ibeen,
icaught, ycome, ydo, idoon, ygo, iproved, ywrought. It inough,
enough, it is combined with an adjective. Other examples are in the
Vocabulary. Spenser and later writers frequently employed this prefix
when affecting an archaic style, and sometimes used it incorrectly.
YA
Ya, adv.
Defn: Yea. [Obs.] Chaucer.
YACARE
Yac”a*re`, n. Etym: [See Jacare.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American crocodilian (Jacare sclerops) resembling the
alligator in size and habits. The eye orbits are connected together,
and surrounded by prominent bony ridges. Called also spectacled
alligator, and spectacled cayman. [Written also jacare.]
Note: The name is also applied to allied species.
YACCA
Yac”ca, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A West Indian name for two large timber trees (Podocarpus
coriaceus, and P. Purdicanus) of the Yew family. The wood, which is
much used, is pale brownish with darker streaks.
YACHT
Yacht, n. Etym: [D. jagt, jacht; perhaps properly, a jagen to chase,
hunt, akin to G. jagen, OHG. jag, of uncertain origin; or perhaps
akin to OHG. gahi quick, sudden (cf. Gay).] (Naut.)
Defn: A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private
parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey distinguished
persons from one place to another; a seagoing vessel used only for
pleasure trips, racing, etc. Yacht measurement. See the Note under
Tonnage, 4.
YACHT
Yacht, v. i.
Defn: To manage a yacht; to voyage in a yacht.
YACHTER
Yacht”er, n.
Defn: One engaged in sailing a jacht.
YACHTING
Yacht”ing, n.
Defn: Sailing for pleasure in a yacht.
YACHTMAN
Yacht”man, n.
Defn: See Yachtsman.
YACHTSMAN
Yachts”man, n.; pl. Yachtsmen (.
Defn: One who owns or sails a yacht; a yachter.
YAF
Yaf, obs. imp. of Give. Etym: [AS. geaf, imp. of giefan to give. See
Give]
Defn: Gave. See Give. Chaucer.
YAFFINGALE
Yaf”fin*gale, n. Etym: [See Yaffle, and cf. Nightingale.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]
YAFFLE
Yaf”fle, n. Etym: [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European green woodpecker (Picus, or Genius, viridis). It
is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also eccle, hewhole,
highhoe, laughing bird, popinjay, rain bird, yaffil, yaffler,
yaffingale, yappingale, yackel, and woodhack.
YAGER
Ya”ger, n. Etym: [G. jäger a hunter, from jagen to chase, hunt.]
(Mil.)
Defn: In the German army, one belonging to a body of light infantry
armed with rifles, resembling the chasseur of the French army.
[Written also jager.]
YAGUARUNDI
Ya`gua*run”di, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Jaguarondi. [Written also yaguarondi, and yagouarondi.]
YAHOO
Ya”hoo, n.
1. One of a race of filthy brutes in Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels.”
See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.
2. Hence, any brutish or vicious character.
3. A raw countryman; a lout; a greenhorn. [U. S.]
YAHWEH; YAHWE; JAHVEH; JAHVE
Yah”weh, Yah”we, n. Also Jah”veh, Jah”ve, etc.
Defn: A modern transliteration of the Hebrew word translated Jehovah
in the Bible; — used by some critics to discriminate the tribal god
of the ancient Hebrews from the Christian Jehovah. Yahweh or Yahwe is
the spelling now generally adopted by scholars.
YAHWISM; JAHVISM
Yah”wism, n. Also Jah”vism.
1. The religion or worship of Yahweh (Jehovah), or the system of
doctrines, etc., connected with it.
2. Use of Yahweh as a name of God.
YAHWIST; JAHVIST; JAHWIST; JEHOVIST
Yah”wist, n. Also Jah”vist, Jah”wist, older Je*ho”vist.
Defn: The author of the passages of the Old Testament, esp. those of
the Hexateuch, in which God is styled Yahweh, or Jehovah; the author
of the Yahwistic, or Jehovistic, Prophetic Document (J); also, the
document itself.
YAJUR-VEDA
Yaj”ur-Ve”da, n. Etym: [Skr. yajur-v.]
Defn: See Veda.
YAK
Yak, n. Etym: [Thibetan gyag.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bovine mammal (Poëphagus grunnies) native of the high plains
of Central Asia. Its neck, the outer side of its legs, and its
flanks, are covered with long, flowing, fine hair. Its tail is long
and bushy, often white, and is valued as an ornament and for other
purposes in India and China. There are several domesticated
varieties, some of which lack the mane and the long hair on the
flanks. Called also chauri gua, grunting cow, grunting ox, sarlac,
sarlik, and sarluc. Yak lace, a coarse pillow lace made from the
silky hair of the yak.
YAKAMILK
Yak”a*milk, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Trumpeter, 3 (a).
YAKARE
Yak”a*re`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Yacare.
YAKIN
Ya”kin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large Asiatic antelope (Budorcas taxicolor) native of the
higher parts of the Himalayas and other lofty mountains. Its head and
neck resemble those of the ox, and its tail is like that of the goat.
Called also budorcas.
YAKOOTS
Ya*koots”, n. pl.; sing. Yakoot (.
Defn: (Ethnol.) A nomadic Mongolian tribe native of Northern Siberia,
and supposed to be of Turkish stock. They are mainly pastoral in
their habits. [Written also Yakuts.]
YAKSHA
Yak”sha, n. Etym: [Skr.] (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: A kind of demigod attendant on Kuvera, the god of wealth.
YAKUT
Ya*kut”, n.
Defn: The Turkish language of the Yakuts, a Mongolian people of
northeastern Siberia, which is lingua franca over much of eastern
Siberia.
YALAH
Ya”lah, n.
Defn: The oil of the mahwa tree.
YAM
Yam, n. Etym: [Pg. inhame, probably from some native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large, esculent, farinaceous tuber of various climbing plants
of the genus Dioscorea; also, the plants themselves. Mostly natives
of warm climates. The plants have netted-veined, petioled leaves, and
pods with three broad wings. The commonest species is D. sativa, but
several others are cultivated. Chinese yam, a plant (Dioscorea
Batatas) with a long and slender tuber, hardier than most of the
other species.
— Wild yam. (a) A common plant (Dioscorea villosa) of the Eastern
United States, having a hard and knotty rootstock. (b) An
orchidaceous plant (Gastrodia sesamoides) of Australia and Tasmania.
YAMA
Ya”ma, n. Etym: [Skr. yama a twin.] (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: The king of the infernal regions, corresponding to the Greek
Pluto, and also the judge of departed souls. In later times he is
more exclusively considered the dire judge of all, and the tormentor
of the wicked. He is represented as of a green color, with red
garments, having a crown on his head, his eyes inflamed, and sitting
on a buffalo, with a club and noose in his hands.
YAMEN
Ya”men, n. [Chin. ya a civil or military court + men a gate.]
Defn: In China, the official headquarters or residence of a mandarin,
including court rooms, offices, gardens, prisons, etc.; the place
where the business of any public department is transcated.
YAMMA
Yam”ma, n. Etym: [See Llama.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The llama.
YAMP
Yamp, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Carum Gairdneri); also, its small
fleshy roots, which are eaten by the Indians from Idaho to
California.
YANG
Yang, n. Etym: [Of imitative origin.]
Defn: The cry of the wild goose; a honk.
YANG
Yang, v. i.
Defn: To make the cry of the wild goose.
YANK
Yank, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. yank a sudden and severe blow.]
Defn: A jerk or twitch. [Colloq. U. S.]
YANK
Yank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Yanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Yanking.]
Defn: To twitch; to jerk. [Colloq. U. S.]
YANK
Yank, n.
Defn: An abbreviation of Yankee. [Slang]
YANKEE
Yan”kee, n. Etym: [Commonly considered to be a corrupt pronunciation
of the word English, or of the French word Anglais, by the native
Indians of America. According to Thierry, a corruption of Jankin, a
diminutive of John, and a nickname given to the English colonists of
Connecticut by the Dutch settlers of New York. Dr. W. Gordon (“Hist.
of the Amer. War,” ed, 1789, vol. i., pp. 324, 325) says it was a
favorite cant word in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1713, and that it
meant excellent; as, a yankee good horse, yankee good cider, etc. Cf.
Scot yankie a sharp, clever, and rather bold woman, and Prov. E. bow-
yankees a kind of leggins worn by agricultural laborers.]
Defn: A nickname for a native of citizen of New England, especially
one descended from old New England stock; by extension, an inhabitant
of the Northern States as distinguished from a Southerner; also,
applied sometimes by foreigners to any inhabitant of the United
States.
From meanness first this Portsmouth Yankey rose, And still to
meanness all his conduct flows. Oppression, A poem by an American
(Boston, 1765).
YANKEE
Yan”kee, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a Yankee; characteristic of the Yankees.
The alertness of the Yankee aspect. Hawthorne.
Yankee clover. (Bot.) See Japan clover, under Japan.
YANKEE-DOODLE
Yan`kee-Doo”dle, n.
1. The name of a tune adopted popularly as one of the national airs
of the United States.
2. Humorously, a Yankee.
We might have withheld our political noodles From knocking their
heads against hot Yankee-Doodles. Moore.
YANKEEISM
Yan”kee*ism, n.
Defn: A Yankee idiom, word, custom, or the like. Lowell.
YAOURT
Yaourt, n. Etym: [Turk. yoghurt.]
Defn: A fermented drink, or milk beer, made by the Turks.
YAP
Yap, v. i. Etym: [Icel. gjalpa; akin to yelp. Cf. Yaup.]
Defn: To bark; to yelp. L’Estrange.
YAP
Yap, n.
Defn: A bark; a yelp.
YAPOCK
Ya”pock, n. Etym: [Probably from the river Oyapok, between French
Guiana and Brazil.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American aquatic opossum (Chironectes variegatus) found
in Guiana and Brazil. Its hind feet are webbed, and its fore feet do
not have an opposable thumb for climbing. Called also water opossum.
[Written also yapack.]
YAPON
Ya”pon, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Yaupon.
YARAGE
Yar”age (; 48), n. Etym: [See Yare, a.] (Naut.)
Defn: The power of moving, or being managed, at sea; — said with
reference to a ship. Sir T. North.
YARD
Yard, n. Etym: [OE. yerd, AS. gierd, gyrd, a rod, ierde, OS. gerda,
D. garde, G. gerte, OHG. gartia, gerta, gart, Icel. gaddr a goad,
sting, Goth. gazds, and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf. Gad, n.,
Gird, n., Gride, v. i., Hastate.]
1. A rod; a stick; a staff. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
If men smote it with a yerde. Chaucer.
2. A branch; a twig. [Obs.]
The bitter frosts with the sleet and rain Destroyed hath the green in
every yerd. Chaucer.
3. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, etc. [Obs.]
4. A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches,
being the standard of English and American measure.
5. The penis.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: A long piece of timber, nearly cylindrical, tapering toward the
ends, and designed to support and extend a square sail. A yard is
usually hung by the center to the mast. See Illust. of Ship. Golden
Yard, or Yard and Ell (Astron.), a popular name the three stars in
the belt of Orion.
— Under yard [i. e., under the rod], under contract. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
YARD
Yard, n. Etym: [OE. yard, yerd, AS. geard; akin to OFries. garda
garden, OS. gardo garden, gard yard, D. gaard garden, G. garten, OHG.
garto garden, gari inclosure, Icel. gar yard, house, Sw. gård, Dan.
g, Goth. gards a house, garda sheepfold, L. hortus garden, Gr. Court,
Garden, Garth, Horticulture, Orchard.]
1. An inclosure; usually, a small inclosed place in front of, or
around, a house or barn; as, a courtyard; a cowyard; a barnyard.
A yard . . . inclosed all about with sticks In which she had a cock,
hight chanticleer. Chaucer.
2. An inclosure within which any work or business is carried on; as,
a dockyard; a shipyard. Liberty of the yard, a liberty, granted to
persons imprisoned for debt, of walking in the yard, or within any
other limits prescribed by law, on their giving bond not to go beyond
those limits.
— Prison yard, an inclosure about a prison, or attached to it.
— Yard grass (Bot.), a low-growing grass (Eleusine Indica) having
digitate spikes. It is common in dooryards, and like places,
especially in the Southern United States. Called also crab grass.
— Yard of land. See Yardland.
YARD
Yard, v. t.
Defn: To confine (cattle) to the yard; to shut up, or keep, in a
yard; as, to yard cows.
YARDARM
Yard”arm`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Either half of a square-rigged vessel’s yard, from the center
or mast to the end.
Note: Ships are said to be yardarm and yardarm when so near as to
touch, or interlock yards.
YARDFUL
Yard”ful, n.; pl. Yardfuls (.
Defn: As much as a yard will contain; enough to fill a yard.
YARDLAND
Yard”land`, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A measure of land of uncertain quantity, varying from fifteen
to forty acres; a virgate. [Obs.]
YARDSTICK
Yard”stick`, n.
Defn: A stick three feet, or a yard, in length, used as a measure of
cloth, etc.
YARDWAND
Yard”wand`, n.
Defn: A yardstick. Tennyson.
YARE
Yare, a. Etym: [OE. yare, ýaru, AS. gearu; akin to OS. garu, OHG.
garo, G. gar, Icel. gerr perfect, görva quite, G. gerben to tan, to
curry, OHG. garawen, garwen, to make ready. Cf. Carouse, Garb
clothing, Gear, n.]
Defn: Ready; dexterous; eager; lively; quick to move. [Obs.] “Be yare
in thy preparation.” Shak.
The lesser [ship] will come and go, leave or take, and is yare;
whereas the greater is slow. Sir W. Raleigh.
YARE
Yare, adv.
Defn: Soon. [Obs.] Cursor Mundi.
YARELY
Yare”ly, adv.
Defn: In a yare manner. [Obs.] Shak.
YARK
Yark, v. t. & i.
Defn: To yerk. [Prov. Eng.]
YARKE
Yar”ke, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Saki.
YARN
Yarn, n. Etym: [OE. yarn, ýarn, AS. gearn; akin to D. garen, G.,
OHG., Icel., Sw., & Dan. garn; of uncertain origin. Cf. Cord.]
1. Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other material, as of
cotton, flax, hemp, or silk; material spun and prepared for use in
weaving, knitting, manufacturing sewing thread, or the like.
2. (Rope Making)
Defn: One of the threads of which the strands of a rope are composed.
3. A story told by a sailor for the amusement of his companions; a
story or tale; as, to spin a yarn. [Colloq.]
YARNEN
Yarn”en, a.
Defn: Made of yarn; consisting of yarn. [Obs.] “A pair of yarnen
stocks.” Turbervile.
YARNUT
Yar”nut`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Yernut.
YARR
Yarr, v. i. Etym: [OE. ýarren.]
Defn: To growl or snarl as a dog. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
YARRISH
Yar”rish, a. Etym: [Prov. E. yar sour, yare brackish.]
Defn: Having a rough, dry taste. [Prov. Eng.]
YARROW
Yar”row, n. Etym: [OE. yarowe, yarwe, ýarowe, AS. gearwe; akin to D.
gerw, OHG. garwa, garawa, G. garbe, schafgarbe, and perhaps to E.
yare.] (Bot.)
Defn: An American and European composite plant (Achillea Millefolium)
with very finely dissected leaves and small white corymbed flowers.
It has a strong, and somewhat aromatic, odor and taste, and is
sometimes used in making beer, or is dried for smoking. Called also
milfoil, and nosebleed.
YARWHIP
Yar”whip`, n. Etym: [So called from its sharp cry uttered when taking
wing.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bar-tailed godwit; — called also yardkeep, and
yarwhelp. See Godwit. [Prov. Eng.]
YATAGHAN
Yat”a*ghan, n. Etym: [Turk. yataghan.]
Defn: A long knife, or short saber, common among Mohammedan nations,
usually having a double curve, sometimes nearly straight. [Written
also ataghan, attaghan.] Chaucer.
YATE
Yate, n.
Defn: A gate. See 1st Gate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Spenser.
YAUD
Yaud, n.
Defn: See Yawd. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
YAUL
Yaul, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Yawl.
YAULP
Yaulp, v. i.
Defn: To yaup.
YAUP
Yaup, v. i. Etym: [See Yap, and Yelp.]
Defn: To cry out like a child; to yelp. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]
[Written also yawp.]
YAUP
Yaup, n. Etym: [Written also yawp.]
1. A cry of distress, rage, or the like, as the cry of a sickly bird,
or of a child in pain. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
YAUPER
Yaup”er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, yaups.
YAUPON
Yau”pon, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (Ilex Cassine) of the Holly family, native from
Virginia to Florida. The smooth elliptical leaves are used as a
substitute for tea, and were formerly used in preparing the black
drink of the Indians of North Carolina. Called also South-Sea tea.
[Written also yapon, youpon, and yupon.]
YAUTIA
Yau*ti”a, n. [Native name in the Antilles.]
Defn: In Porto Rico, any of several araceous plants or their starchy
edible roots, which are cooked and eaten like yams or potatoes, as
the taro.
YAW
Yaw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawing.] Etym: [Cf.
Yew, v. i.]
Defn: To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane juice in
the clarifiers in sugar works.
YAW
Yaw, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. gagen to rock, gageln to totter,
shake, Norw. gaga to bend backward, Icel. gagr bent back, gaga to
throw the neck back.] (Naut.)
Defn: To steer wild, or out of the line of her course; to deviate
from her course, as when struck by a heavy sea; — said of a ship.
Just as he would lay the ship’s course, all yawing being out of the
question. Lowell.
YAW
Yaw, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her
course; a deviation from a straight course in steering.
YAWD
Yawd, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. jalda a mare, E. jade a nag.]
Defn: A jade; an old horse or mare. [Written also yaud.] [Prov. Eng.
& Scot.] Grose.
YAWI
Yawi, n.
Defn: A fore-and-aft-rigged vessel with a mainmast stepped a little
farther forward than in a sloop and carrying a mainsail and jibs,
with a jigger mast far aft, usually placed abaft the rudder post.
YAWL
Yawl, n. Etym: [D. jol; akin to LG. & Dan. jolle, Sw. julle. Cf.
Jolly-boat.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small ship’s boat, usually rowed by four or six oars.
[Written also yaul.]
YAWL
Yawl, v. i. Etym: [OE. ýaulen, ýoulen, gaulen, goulen, Icel. gaula to
low, bellow. Cf. Gowl.]
Defn: To cry out like a dog or cat; to howl; to yell. Tennyson.
There howling Scyllas yawling round about. Fairfax.
YAWL-RIGGED
Yawl”-rigged”, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having two masts with fore-and-aft sails, but differing from a
schooner in that the after mast is very small, and stepped as far aft
as possible. See Illustration in Appendix.
YAWN
Yawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawning.] Etym:
[OE. yanien, ýanien, ganien, gonien, AS. ganian; akin to ginian to
yawn, ginan to yawn, open wide, G. gähnen to yawn, OHG. ginen,
geinon, Icel. gina to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L.
hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin, cf. Gr. b. Cf. Begin,
Gin to begin, Hiatus.]
1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or
fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. “The lazy, yawning drone.” Shak.
And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod
beneath. Trumbull.
2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit of
anything.
‘t is now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn.
Shak.
3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.
Shak.
4. To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by
yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. “One long, yawning gaze.”
Landor.
YAWN
Yawn, n.
1. An involuntary act, excited by drowsiness, etc., consisting of a
deep and long inspiration following several successive attempts at
inspiration, the mouth, fauces, etc., being wide open.
One person yawning in company will produce a spontaneous yawn in all
present. N. Chipman.
2. The act of opening wide, or of gaping. Addison.
3. A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.]
Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned
spirits. Marston.
YAWNINGLY
Yawn”ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a yawning manner.
YAWP
Yawp, v. & n.
Defn: See Yaup.
YAWS
Yaws, n. Etym: [African yaw a raspberry.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease, occurring in the Antilles and in Africa,
characterized by yellowish or reddish tumors, of a contagious
character, which, in shape and appearance, often resemble currants,
strawberries, or raspberries. There are several varieties of this
disease, variously known as framboesia, pian, verrugas, and crab-
yaws.
YAW-WEED
Yaw”-weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A low, shrubby, rubiaceous plant (Morinda Royoc) growing along
the seacoast of the West Indies. It has small, white, odorous
flowers.
YAZOO FRAUD
Yaz”oo Fraud. (U. S. Hist.)
Defn: The grant by the State of Georgia, by Act of Jan. 7, 1795, of
35,000,000 acres of her western territory, for $500,000, to four
companies known as the Yazoo Companies from the region granted ; —
commonly so called, the act being known as the Yazoo Frauds Act,
because of alleged corruption of the legislature, every member but
one being a shareholder in one or more of the companies. The act
granting the land was repealed in 1796 by a new legislature, and the
repealing provision was incorporated in the State constitution in
1798. In 1802 the territory was ceded to the United States. The
claims of the purchasers, whom Georgia had refused to compensate,
were sustained by the United States Supreme Court, which (1810)
declared the repealing act of 1796 unconstitutional. Congress in 1814
ordered the lands sold and appropriated $5,000,000 to pay the claims.
YBE
Y*be”, obs. p. p. of Be.
Defn: Been. Chaucer.
YCLEPED
Y*cleped”, p. p. Etym: [AS. geclipod, p. p. of clipian, cleopian,
cliopian, to call. See Clepe, and also the Note under Y-.]
Defn: Called; named; — obsolete, except in archaic or humorous
writings. [Spelt also yclept.]
It is full fair to ben yclept madame. Chaucer.
But come, thou goddess fair and free. In heaven ycleped Euphrosyne.
Milton.
Those charming little missives ycleped valentines. Lamb.
Y CURRENT
Y current. (Elec.)
Defn: The current through one branch of the star arrangement of a
three-phase circuit.
YDO
Y*do”, obs. p. p. of Do.
Defn: Done. Chaucer.
YDRAD
Y*drad”, obs. p. p. of Dread.
Defn: Dreaded.
Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. Spenser.
YE
Ye,
Defn: an old method of printing the article the (AS. þe), the “y”
being used in place of the Anglo-Saxon thorn. It is sometimes
incorrectly pronounced ye. See The, and Thorn, n., 4.
YE
Y”ë (e”e), n.; pl. Yën (.
Defn: An eye. [Obs.]
From his yën ran the water down. Chaucer.
YE
Ye (ye), pron. Etym: [OE. ye, ýe, nom. pl., AS. ge, gi; cf. OS. ge,
gi, OFries. gi, i, D. gij, Dan. & Sw. i, Icel. er, OHG. ir, G. ihr,
Goth. jus, Lith. jus, Gr. yuyam.
Defn: The plural of the pronoun of the second person in the
nominative case.
Ye ben to me right welcome heartily. Chaucer.
But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified. 1 Cor. vi. 11.
This would cost you your life in case ye were a man. Udall.
Note: In Old English ye was used only as a nominative, and you only
as a dative or objective. In the 16th century, however, ye and you
became confused and were often used interchangeably, both as
nominatives and objectives, and you has now superseded ye except in
solemn or poetic use. See You, and also the first Note under Thou.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye. Shak.
I come, kind gentlemen, strange news to tell ye. Dryden.
YE
Ye, adv. Etym: [See Yea.]
Defn: Yea; yes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
YEA
Yea (ya or ye; 277), adv. Etym: [OE. ye, ya, ýe, ýa, AS. geá; akin to
OFries. g, i, OS., D., OHG., G., Dan. & Sw. ja, Icel, ja, Goth. ja,
jai, and probably to Gr. Yes.]
1. Yes; ay; a word expressing assent, or an affirmative, or an
affirmative answer to a question, now superseded by yes. See Yes.
Let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay. Matt. v. 37.
2. More than this; not only so, but; — used to mark the addition of
a more specific or more emphatic clause. Cf. Nay, adv., 2.
I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Phil. i. 18.
Note: Yea sometimes introduces a clause, with the sense of indeed,
verily, truly. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of
the garden” Gen. iii. 1.
YEA
Yea, n.
Defn: An affirmative vote; one who votes in the affirmative; as, a
vote by yeas and nays.
Note: In the Scriptures, yea is used as a sign of certainty or
stability. “All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.”
2 Cor. i. 20.
YEAD
Yead, v. i.
Defn: Properly, a variant of the defective imperfect yode, but
sometimes mistaken for a present. See the Note under Yede. [Obs.]
Years yead away and faces fair deflower. Drant.
YEAN
Yean, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Yeaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Yeaning.]
Etym: [AS. eánian, or geeánian; perhaps akin to E. ewe, or perhaps to
L. agnus, Gr. Ean.]
Defn: To bring forth young, as a goat or a sheep; to ean. Shak.
YEANLING
Yean”ling, n. Etym: [Yean + -ling. Cf. Eanling.]
Defn: A lamb or a kid; an eanling. Shak.
YEAR
Year, n. Etym: [OE. yer, yeer, ýer, AS. geár; akin to OFries. i, g,
D. jaar, OHG. jar, G. jahr, Icel. ar, Dan. aar, Sw. år, Goth. j, Gr.
yare year. sq. root4, 279. Cf. Hour, Yore.]
1. The time of the apparent revolution of the sun trough the
ecliptic; the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution
around the sun, called the astronomical year; also, a period more or
less nearly agreeing with this, adopted by various nations as a
measure of time, and called the civil year; as, the common lunar year
of 354 days, still in use among the Mohammedans; the year of 360
days, etc. In common usage, the year consists of 365 days, and every
fourth year (called bissextile, or leap year) of 366 days, a day
being added to February on that year, on account of the excess above
365 days (see Bissextile).
Of twenty year of age he was, I guess. Chaucer.
Note: The civil, or legal, year, in England, formerly commenced on
the 25th of March. This practice continued throughout the British
dominions till the year 1752.
2. The time in which any planet completes a revolution about the sun;
as, the year of Jupiter or of Saturn.
3. pl.
Defn: Age, or old age; as, a man in years. Shak. Anomalistic year,
the time of the earth’s revolution from perihelion to perihelion
again, which is 365 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 48 seconds.
— A year’s mind (Eccl.), a commemoration of a deceased person, as
by a Mass, a year after his death. Cf. A month’s mind, under Month.
— Bissextile year. See Bissextile.
— Canicular year. See under Canicular.
— Civil year, the year adopted by any nation for the computation of
time.
— Common lunar year, the period of 12 lunar months, or 354 days.
— Common year, each year of 365 days, as distinguished from leap
year.
— Embolismic year, or Intercalary lunar year, the period of 13
lunar months, or 384 days.
— Fiscal year (Com.), the year by which accounts are reckoned, or
the year between one annual time of settlement, or balancing of
accounts, and another.
— Great year. See Platonic year, under Platonic.
— Gregorian year, Julian year. See under Gregorian, and Julian.
— Leap year. See Leap year, in the Vocabulary.
— Lunar astronomical year, the period of 12 lunar synodical months,
or 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, 36 seconds.
— Lunisolar year. See under Lunisolar.
— Periodical year. See Anomalistic year, above.
— Platonic year, Sabbatical year. See under Platonic, and
Sabbatical.
— Sidereal year, the time in which the sun, departing from any
fixed star, returns to the same. This is 365 days, 6 hours, 9
minutes, and 9.3 seconds.
— Tropical year. See under Tropical.
— Year and a day (O. Eng. Law), a time to be allowed for an act or
an event, in order that an entire year might be secured beyond all
question. Abbott.
— Year of grace, any year of the Christian era; Anno Domini; A. D.
or a. d.
YEARA
Ye*a”ra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The California poison oak (Rhus diversiloba). See under Poison,
a.
YEARBOOK
Year”book`, n.
1. A book published yearly; any annual report or summary of the
statistics or facts of a year, designed to be used as a reference
book; as, the Congregational Yearbook.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A book containing annual reports of cases adjudged in the
courts of England.
Note: The Yearbooks are the oldest English reports extant, beginning
with the reign of Edward II., and ending with the reign of Henry
VIII. They were published annually, and derive their name from that
fact. They consist of eleven parts, or volumes, are written in Law
French, and extend over nearly two hundred years. There are, however,
several hiatuses, or chasms, in the series. Kent. Bouvier.
YEARED
Yeared, a.
Defn: Containing years; having existed or continued many years; aged.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
YEARLING
Year”ling, n. Etym: [Year + -ling.]
Defn: An animal one year old, or in the second year of its age; —
applied chiefly to cattle, sheep, and horses.
YEARLING
Year”ling, a.
Defn: Being a year old. “A yearling bullock to thy name small smoke.”
Pope.
YEARLY
Year”ly, a. Etym: [AS. geárlic.]
1. Happening, accruing, or coming every year; annual; as, a yearly
income; a yearly feast.
2. Lasting a year; as, a yearly plant.
3. Accomplished in a year; as, the yearly circuit, or revolution, of
the earth. Shak.
YEARLY
Year”ly, adv. Etym: [AS. geárlice.]
Defn: Annually; once a year to year; as, blessings yearly bestowed.
Yearly will I do this rite. Shak.
YEARN
Yearn, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Yearned; p. pr. & vb. n. Yearning.]
Etym:
[Also earn, ern; probably a corruption of OE. ermen to grieve, AS.
ierman, yrman, or geierman, geyrman, fr. earm wretched, poor; akin to
D. & G. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms. The y- in English is perhaps due
to the AS. ge (see Y-).]
Defn: To pain; to grieve; to vex. [Obs.] “She laments, sir, for it,
that it would yearn your heart to see it.” Shak.
It yearns me not if men my garments wear. Shak.
YEARN
Yearn, v. i.
Defn: To be pained or distressed; to grieve; to mourn. [Obs.]
“Falstaff he is dead, and we must yearn therefore.” Shak.
YEARN
Yearn, v. i. & t. Etym: [See Yearnings.]
Defn: To curdle, as milk. [Scot.]
YEARN
Yearn, v. i. Etym: [OE. yernen, , , AS. geornian, gyrnan, fr. georn
desirous, eager; akin to OS. gern desirous, girnean, gernean, to
desire, D. gaarne gladly, willingly, G. gern, OHG. gerno, adv., gern,
a., G. gier greed, OHG. giri greed, ger desirous, ger to desire, G.
begehren, Icel. girna to desire, gjarn eager, Goth. faíhugaírns
covetous, gaírnjan to desire, and perhaps to Gr. hary to desire, to
like.
Defn: To be filled with longing desire; to be harassed or rendered
uneasy with longing, or feeling the want of a thing; to strain with
emotions of affection or tenderness; to long; to be eager.
Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he
sought where to weep. Gen. xliii. 30.
Your mother’s heart yearns towards you. Addison.
YEARNFUL
Yearn”ful, a. Etym: [OE. , AS. geornfull.]
Defn: Desirous. [Obs.] Ormulum. P. Fletcher.
YEARNINGLY
Yearn”ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With yearning.
YEARNINGS
Yearn”ings, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. AS. geirnan, geyrnan, to rum. See 4th
Earn.]
Defn: The maws, or stomachs, of young calves, used a rennet for
curdling milk. [Scot.]
YEAR’S PURCHASE
Year’s purchase.
Defn: The amount that is yielded by the annual income of property; —
used in expressing the value of a thing in the number of years
required for its income to yield its purchase price, in reckoning the
amount to be paid for annuities, etc.
YEARTH
Yearth, n.
Defn: The earth. [Obs.] “Is my son dead or hurt or on the yerthe
felled” Ld. Berners.
YEAST
Yeast, n. Etym: [OE. ýeest, ýest, AS. gist; akin to D. gest, gist, G.
gischt, gäscht, OHG. jesan, jerian, to ferment, G. gischen, gäschen,
gähren, Gr. zei^n to boil, Skr. yas. sq. root111.]
1. The foam, or troth (top yeast), or the sediment (bottom yeast), of
beer or other in fermentation, which contains the yeast plant or its
spores, and under certain conditions produces fermentation in
saccharine or farinaceous substances; a preparation used for raising
dough for bread or cakes, and making it light and puffy; barm;
ferment.
2. Spume, or foam, of water.
They melt thy yeast of waves, which mar Alike the Armada’s pride, or
spoils of Trafalgar. Byron.
Defn: A form of fungus which grows as indvidual rounded cells, rather
than in a mycelium, and reproduces by budding; esp. members of the
orders Endomycetales and Moniliales. Some fungi may grow both as a
yeast or as a mycelium, depending on the conditions of growth. Yeast
cake, a mealy cake impregnated with the live germs of the yeast
plant, and used as a conveniently transportable substitute for yeast.
— Yeast plant (Bot.), the vegetable organism, or fungus, of which
beer yeast consists. The yeast plant is composed of simple cells, or
granules, about one three-thousandth of an inch in diameter, often
united into filaments which reproduce by budding, and under certain
circumstances by the formation of spores. The name is extended to
other ferments of the same genus. See Saccharomyces.
— Yeast powder, a baling powder, — used instead of yeast in
leavening bread.
YEAST-BITTEN
Yeast”-bit`ten, a. (Brewing)
Defn: A term used of beer when the froth of the yeast has reëntered
the body of the beer.
YEASTINESS
Yeast”i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being yeasty, or frothy.
YEASTY
Yeast”y, a.
Defn: Frothy; foamy; spumy, like yeast.
YEDDING
Yed”ding, n. Etym: [AS. geddung, gidding, giedding, from gieddian,
giddian, to sing, speak.]
Defn: The song of a minstrel; hence, any song. [Obs.] Chaucer.
YEDE
Yede, obs. imp.
Defn: Went. See Yode.
All as he bade fulfilled was indeed This ilke servant anon right out
yede. Chaucer.
Note: Spenser and some later writers mistook this for a present of
the defective imperfect yode. It is, however, only a variant of yode.
See Yode, and cf. Yead.
[He] on foot was forced for to yeed. Spenser
YEEL
Yeel, n.
Defn: An eel. [Obs.] Holland.
YELDHALL
Yeld”hall`, n.
Defn: Guildhall. [Obs.] Chaucer.
YELDRIN; YELDRINE
Yel”drin or; Yel”drine, n. Etym: [Cf. Yellow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The yellow-hammer; — called also yeldrock, and yoldrin. [Prov.
Eng.]
YELK
Yelk, n.
Defn: Same as Yolk.
YELL
Yell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Yelling.] Etym:
[OE. yellen, , AS. giellan, gillan, gyllan; akin to D. gillen, OHG.
gellan, G. gellen, Icel. gjalla, Sw. gälla to ring, resound, and to
AS., OS., & OHG. galan to sing, Icel. gala. Cf. 1st Gale, and
Nightingale.]
Defn: To cry out, or shriek, with a hideous noise; to cry or scream
as with agony or horror.
They yelleden as feendes doon in helle. Chaucer.
Nor the night raven, that still deadly yells. Spenser.
Infernal ghosts and hellish furies round Environed thee; some howled,
some yelled. Milton.
YELL
Yell, v. t.
Defn: To utter or declare with a yell; to proclaim in a loud tone.
Shak.
YELL
Yell, n.
Defn: A sharp, loud, hideous outcry.
Their hideous yells Rend the dark welkin. J. Philips.
YELLOW
Yel”low, a. [Compar. Yellower; superl. Yellowest.] Etym: [OE. yelow,
yelwe, ýelow, ýeoluw, from AS. geolu; akin to D. geel, OS. & OHG.
gelo, G. gelb, Icel. gulr, Sw. gul, Dan. guul, L. helvus light bay,
Gr. hari tawny, yellowish. Chlorine, Gall a bitter liquid, Gold,
Yolk.]
Defn: Being of a bright saffronlike color; of the color of gold or
brass; having the hue of that part of the rainbow, or of the solar
spectrum, which is between the orange and the green.
Her yellow hair was browded [braided] in a tress. Chaucer.
A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought First fruits, the green ear
and the yellow sheaf. Milton.
The line of yellow light dies fast away. Keble.
Yellow atrophy (Med.), a fatal affection of the liver, in which it
undergoes fatty degeneration, and becomes rapidly smaller and of a
deep yellow tinge. The marked symptoms are black vomit, delirium,
convulsions, coma, and jaundice.
— Yellow bark, calisaya bark.
— Yellow bass (Zoöl.), a North American fresh-water bass (Morone
interrupta) native of the lower parts of the Mississippi and its
tributaries. It is yellow, with several more or less broken black
stripes or bars. Called also barfish.
— Yellow berry. (Bot.) Same as Persian berry, under Persian.
— Yellow boy, a gold coin, as a guinea. [Slang] Arbuthnot.
— Yellow brier. (Bot.) See under Brier.
— Yellow bugle (Bot.), a European labiate plant (Ajuga Chamæpitys).
— Yellow bunting (Zoöl.), the European yellow-hammer.
— Yellow cat (Zoöl.), a yellow catfish; especially, the bashaw.
— Yellow copperas (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of iron; — called
also copiapite.
— Yellow copper ore, a sulphide of copper and iron; copper pyrites.
See Chalcopyrite.
— Yellow cress (Bot.), a yellow-flowered, cruciferous plant
(Barbarea præcox), sometimes grown as a salad plant.
— Yellow dock. (Bot.) See the Note under Dock.
— Yellow earth, a yellowish clay, colored by iron, sometimes used
as a yellow pigment.
— Yellow fever (Med.), a malignant, contagious, febrile disease of
warm climates, attended with jaundice, producing a yellow color of
the skin, and with the black vomit. See Black vomit, in the
Vocabulary.
— Yellow flag, the quarantine flag. See under Quarantine, and 3d
Flag.
— Yellow jack. (a) The yellow fever. See under 2d Jack. (b) The
quarantine flag. See under Quarantine.
— Yellow jacket (Zoöl.), any one of several species of American
social wasps of the genus Vespa, in which the color of the body is
partly bright yellow. These wasps are noted for their irritability,
and for their painful stings.
— Yellow lead ore (Min.), wulfenite.
— Yellow lemur (Zoöl.), the kinkajou.
— Yellow macauco (Zoöl.), the kinkajou.
— Yellow mackerel (Zoöl.), the jurel.
— Yellow metal. Same as Muntz metal, under Metal.
— Yellow ocher (Min.), an impure, earthy variety of brown iron ore,
which is used as a pigment.
— Yellow oxeye (Bot.), a yellow-flowered plant (Chrysanthemum
segetum) closely related to the oxeye daisy.
— Yellow perch (Zoöl.), the common American perch. See Perch.
— Yellow pike (Zoöl.), the wall-eye.
— Yellow pine (Bot.), any of several kinds of pine; also, their
yellowish and generally durable timber. Among the most common are
valuable species are Pinus mitis and P. palustris of the Eastern and
Southern States, and P. ponderosa and P. Arizonica of the Rocky
Mountains and Pacific States.
— Yellow plover (Zoöl.), the golden plover.
— Yellow precipitate (Med. Chem.), an oxide of mercury which is
thrown down as an amorphous yellow powder on adding corrosive
sublimate to limewater.
— Yellow puccoon. (Bot.) Same as Orangeroot.
— Yellow rail (Zoöl.), a small American rail (Porzana
Noveboracensis) in which the lower parts are dull yellow, darkest on
the breast. The back is streaked with brownish yellow and with black,
and spotted with white. Called also yellow crake.
— Yellow rattle, Yellow rocket. (Bot.) See under Rattle, and
Rocket.
— Yellow Sally (Zoöl.), a greenish or yellowish European stone fly
of the genus Chloroperla; — so called by anglers.
— Yellow sculpin (Zoöl.), the dragonet.
— Yellow snake (Zoöl.), a West Indian boa (Chilobothrus inornatus)
common in Jamaica. It becomes from eight to ten long. The body is
yellowish or yellowish green, mixed with black, and anteriorly with
black lines.
— Yellow spot. (a) (Anat.) A small yellowish spot with a central
pit, the fovea centralis, in the center of the retina where vision is
most accurate. See Eye. (b) (Zoöl.) A small American butterfly
(Polites Peckius) of the Skipper family. Its wings are brownish, with
a large, irregular, bright yellow spot on each of the hind wings,
most conspicuous beneath. Called also Peck’s skipper. See Illust.
under Skipper, n., 5.
— Yellow tit (Zoöl.), any one of several species of crested titmice
of the genus Machlolophus, native of India. The predominating colors
of the plumage are yellow and green.
— Yellow viper (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance.
— Yellow warbler (Zoöl.), any one of several species of American
warblers of the genus Dendroica in which the predominant color is
yellow, especially D. æstiva, which is a very abundant and familiar
species; — called also garden warbler, golden warbler, summer
yellowbird, summer warbler, and yellow-poll warbler.
— Yellow wash (Pharm.), yellow oxide of mercury suspended in water,
— a mixture prepared by adding corrosive sublimate to limewater.
— Yellow wren (Zoöl.) (a) The European willow warbler. (b) The
European wood warbler.