2. Etym: [Cf. F. griffe, G. griff, prop., a grasping.] (Weaving)
Defn: An arrangement of parallel bars for lifting the hooked wires which raise the warp threads in a loom for weaving figured goods. Knight.
GRIFFEGriffe, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The offspring of a mulatto woman and a negro; also, a mulatto.[Local, U. S.]
GRIFFINGrif"fin, n.
Defn: An Anglo-Indian name for a person just arrived from Europe. H.Kingsley.
GRIFFIN; GRIFFON Grif"fin, Grif"fon, n. Etym: [OE. griffin, griffon, griffoun, F. griffon, fr. L. gryphus, equiv to gryps, Gr.
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A fabulous monster, half lion and half eagle. It is often represented in Grecian and Roman works of art.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A representation of this creature as an heraldic charge.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor; - - called also gripe, and grype. It is supposed to be the "eagle" of the Bible. The bearded griffin is the lammergeir. [Written also gryphon.]
4. An English early apple.
GRIG Grig, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. kräk little creature, reptile; or D. kriek cricket, E. cricket.]
1. (Zoöl.) (a) A cricket or grasshopper. [Prov. Eng.] (b) Any small eel. (c) The broad-nosed eel See Glut. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Heath. [Prov. Eng.] Audrey. As merry as a grig Etym: [etymology uncertain], a saying supposed by some to be a corruption of "As merry as a Greek; " by others, to be an allusion to the cricket.
GRIL Gril, a. Etym: [OE. gril harsh; akin to G. grell offending the ear or eye, shrill, dazzling, MHG. grel angry; cf. AS. gallan to provoke.]
Defn: Harah; hard; severe; stern; rough. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
GRILLGrill, n. Etym: [F. gril. See Grill, v. t.]
1. A gridiron. [They] make grills of [wood] to broil their meat. Cotton.
2. That which is broiled on a gridiron, as meat, fish, etc.
GRILLGrill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Grilling.] Etym:[F. griller, fr. gril gridiron, OF. graïl, L. craticulum forcraticula fine hurdlework, a small gridiron, dim. of crates hurdle.See Grate, n.]
1. To broil on a grill or gridiron. Boiling of men in caldrons, grilling them on gridirons. Marvell.
2. To torment, as if by broiling. Dickens.
GRILLADEGril*lade" (, n. Etym: [F. See Grill, v. t.]
Defn: The act of grilling; also, that which is grilled.
GRILLAGEGril"lage, n. Etym: [F.] (Hydraulic Eagin.)
Defn: A framework of sleepers and crossbeams forming a foundation in marshy or treacherous soil.
GRILLEGrille, a. Etym: [F. See Grill, v. t.]
Defn: A lattice or grating.The grille which formed part of the gate. L. Oliphant.
GRILLROOMGrill"room`, n.
Defn: A room specially fitted for broiling food, esp. one in a restaurant, hotel, or clubhouse, arranged for prompt service.
GRILLYGril"ly, v. t. Etym: [See Grill, v. t.]
Defn: To broil; to grill; hence, To harass. [Obs.] Hudibras.
GRILSEGrilse, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young salmon after its first return from the sea.
GRIMGrim, a. [Compar. Grimmer (-mer); superl. Grimmest (.] Etym: [AS.grim; akin to G. grimm, equiv. to G. & D. grimmig, Dan. grim, grum,Sw. grym, Icel. grimmr, G. gram grief, as adj., hostile; cf. Gr.
Defn: Of forbidding or fear-inspiring aspect; fierce; stern; surly;cruel; frightful; horrible.Whose grim aspect sets every joint a-shaking. Shak.The ridges of grim war. Milton.
Syn.— Fierce; ferocious; furious; horrid; horrible; frightful; ghastly; grisly; hideous; stern; sullen; sour.
GRIMACE Gri*mace", n. Etym: [F., prob. of Teutonic origin; cf. AS. gr mask, specter, Ical. gr mask, hood, perh. akin to E. grin.]
Defn: A distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from affectation, or momentary aad occasional, to express some feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a smirk; a made-up face. Moving his face into such a hideons grimace, that every feature of it appeared under a different distortion. Addison.
Note: "Half the French words used affectedly by Melantha in Dryden's "Marriage a-la-Mode," as innovations in our language, are now in common usa: chagrin, double—entendre, éclaircissement, embarras, équivoque, foible, grimace, naïvete, ridicule. All these words, which she learns by heart to use occasionally, are now in common use." I. Disraeli.
GRIMACEGri*mace", v. i.
Defn: To make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces. H.Martineau.
GRIMACEDGri*maced", a.
Defn: Distorted; crabbed.
GRIMALKINGri*mal"kin, n. Etym: [For graymalkin; gray + malkin.]
Defn: An old cat, esp. a she-cat. J. Philips.
GRIME Grime, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. grim, griim, lampblack, soot, grime, Icel. gr mask, sort of hood, OD. grijmsel, grimsel, soot, smut, and E. grimace.]
Defn: Foul matter; dirt, rubbed in; sullying blackness, deeply ingrained.
GRIMEGrime, v. t.
Defn: To sully or soil deeply; to dirt. Shak.
GRIMILYGrim"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a grimy manner.
GRIMINESSGrim"i*ness n.
Defn: The state of being grimy.
GRIMLYGrim"ly, a.
Defn: Grim; hideous; stern. [R.]In glided Margaret's grimly ghost, And stood at William's feet. D.Mallet.
GRIMLYGrim"ly, adv.
Defn: In a grim manner; fiercely. Shak.
GRIMMEGrimme, n. Etym: [Cf. F. grimme.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West African antelope (Cephalophus rufilotus) of a deep bay color, with a broad dorsal stripe of black; — called also conquetoon.
GRIMNESSGrim"ness, n. Etym: [AS. grimnes.]
Defn: Fierceness of look; sternness; crabbedness; forbiddingness.
GRIMSIRGrim"sir, n.
Defn: A stern man. [Obs.] Burton.
GRIMYGrim"y, a. [Compar. Grimier; superl. Grimiest.]
Defn: Full of grime; begrimed; dirty; foul.
GRINGrin, n. Etym: [AS. grin.]
Defn: A snare; a gin. [Obs.]Like a bird that hasteth to his grin. Remedy of Love.
GRINGrin, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Grinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Grinning.] Etym:[OE. grinnen, grennen, AS. grennian, Sw. grina; akin to D. grijnen,G. greinen, OHG. grinan, Dan. grine. Groan.]
1. To show the teeth, as a dog; to shsrl.
2. To set the teeth together and open the lips, or to open the mouth and withdraw the lips from the teeth, so as to show them, as in laughter, acorn, or pain. The pangs of death do make him grin. Shak.
GRINGrin, v. t.
Defn: To express by grinning.Grinned horrible a ghastly smile.Milton.
GRINGrin, n.
Defn: The act of closing the teeth and showing them, or of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth; a hard, forced, or smeering smile. I.Watts. He showed twenty teeth at a grin. Addison.
GRINDGrind, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ground; p. pr. & vb. n. Grinding.] Etym:[AS. grindan; perh. akin to L. frendere to gnash, grind. Cf. Grist.]
1. To reduce to powder by friction, as in a mill, or with the teeth; to crush into small fragments; to produce as by the action of millstones. Take the millstones, and grind meal. Is. xivii. 2.
2. To wear down, polish, or sharpen, by friction; to make smooth, sharp, or pointed; to whet, as a knife or drill; to rub against one another, as teeth, etc.
3. To oppress by severe exactions; to harass. To grind the subject or defraud the prince. Dryden.
4. To study hard for examination. [College Slang]
GRINDGrind, v. i.
1. To perform the operation of grinding something; to turn the millstones. Send thee Into the common prison, there to grind. Milton.
2. To become ground or pulverized by friction; as, this corn grinds well.
3. To become polished or sharpened by friction; as, glass grinds smooth; steel grinds to a sharp edge.
4. To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate.
5. To perform hard aud distasteful service; to drudge; to study hard, as for an examination. Farrar.
GRINDGrind, n.
1. The act of reducing to powder, or of sharpening, by friction.
2. Any severe continuous work or occupation; esp., hard and uninteresting study. [Colloq.] T. Hughes.
3. A hard student; a dig. [College Slang]
GRINDEDGrind"ed, obs. p. p. of Grind.
Defn: Ground. Sir W. Scott.
GRINDELIAGrin*de"li*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after D. H. Grindel, a Russian.](Med.)
Defn: The dried stems and leaves of tarweed (Grindelia), used as a remedy in asthma and bronchitis.
GRINDERGrind"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, grinds.
2. One of the double teeth, used to grind or masticate the food; a molar.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The restless flycatcher (Seisura inquieta) of Australia; — called also restless thrush and volatile thrush. It makes a noise like a scissors grinder, to which the name alludes. Grinder's asthma, phthisis, or rot (Med.), a lung disease produced by the mechanical irritation of the particles of steel and stone given off in the operation of grinding.
GRINDERYGrind"er*y, n.
Defn: Leather workers' materials. [Eng.] Grindery warehouse, a shop where leather workers' materials and tools are kept on sale. [Eng.]
GRINDINGGrind"ing, a. & n.
Defn: from Grind. Grinding frame, an English name for a cottonspinning machine.— Grinding mill. (a) A mill for grinding grain. (b) A lapidary'slathe.
GRINDINGLYGrind"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a grinding manner. [Colloq.]
GRINDLEGrin"dle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bowfin; — called also Johnny Grindle. [Local, U. S.]
GRINDLE STONEGrin"dle stone".
Defn: A grindstone. [Obs.]
GRINDLETGrind"let, n.
Defn: A small drain.
GRINDSTONEGrind"stone`, n.
Defn: A flat, circular stone, revolving on an axle, for grinding or sharpening tools, or shaping or smoothing objects. To hold, pat, or bring one's nose to the grindstone, to oppress one; to keep one in a condition of servitude. They might be ashamed, for lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedæmonians to hold their noses to the grindstone. Sir T. North.
GRINGOGrin"go, n. [Amer. Sp., fr. Sp. gringo gibberish; cf. griego Greek,F. grigou wretch.]
Defn: Among Spanish Americans, a foreigner, esp. an Englishman orAmerican; — often used as a term of reproach.
GRINNERGrin"ner, n.
Defn: One who grins. Addison.
GRINNINGLYGrin"ning*ly, adv.
Defn: In a grinning manner.
GRINTGrint,
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Grind, Etym: contr. from grindeth.[Obs.] Chaucer.
GRINTEGrin"te, obs.
Defn: imp. of Grin, v. i., 1.[He] grinte with his teeth, so was he wroth. Chaucer.
GRINTINGGrint"ing, n.
Defn: Grinding. [Obs.] Chaucer.
GRIPGrip, n. Etym: [L. gryps, gryphus. See Griffin, Grype.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The griffin. [Obs.]
GRIPGrip, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. grip furrow, hitch, D. greb.]
Defn: A small ditch or furrow. Ray.
GRIPGrip, v. t.
Defn: To trench; to drain.
GRIPGrip, n. Etym: [AS. gripe. Cf. Grip, v. t., Gripe, v. t.]
1. An energetic or tenacious grasp; a holding fast; strength in grasping.
2. A peculiar mode of clasping the hand, by which members of a secret association recognize or greet, one another; as, a masonic grip.
3. That by which anything is grasped; a handle or gripe; as, the grip of a sword.
4. A device for grasping or holding fast to something.
GRIPGrip, v. t. Etym: [From Grip a grasp; or P. gripper to seize; — ofGerman origin. See Gripe, v. t.]
Defn: To give a grip to; to grasp; to gripe.
GRIP CARGrip car.
Defn: A car with a grip to clutch a traction cable.
GRIPEGripe, n. Etym: [See Grype.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A vulture; the griffin. [Obs.]Like a white hind under the gripe's sharp claws. Shak.Gripe's egg, an alchemist's vessel. [Obs.] E. Jonson.
GRIPEGripe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Griped; p. pr. & vb. n. Griping.] Etym:[AS. gripan; akin to D. grijpen, G. greifen, OHG. gr, Icel. gripa,Sw. gripe, Dan. gribe, Goth. greipan; cf. Lith. graibyti, Russ.grabite to plunder, Skr. grah, grabh, to seize. Cf. Grip, v. t.,Grope.]
1. To catch with the hand; to clasp closely with the fingers; to clutch.
2. To seize and hold fast; to embrace closely. Wouldst thou gripe both gain and pleasure Robynson (More's Utopia).
3. To pinch; to distress. Specifically, to cause pinching and spasmodic pain to the bowels of, as by the effects of certain purgative or indigestible substances. How inly sorrow gripes his soul. Shak.
GRIPEGripe, v. i.
1. To clutch, hold, or pinch a thing, esp. money, with a gripe or as with a gripe.
2. To suffer griping pains. Jocke.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: To tend to come up into the wind, as a ship which, when sailing closehauled, requires constant labor at the helm. R. H. Dana, Jr.
GRIPEGripe, n.
1. Grasp; seizure; fast hold; clutch. A barren scepter in my gripe. Shak.
2. That on which the grasp is put; a handle; a grip; as, the gripe of a sword.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A device for grasping or holding anything; a brake to stop a wheel.
4. Oppression; cruel exaction; affiction; pinching distress; as, the gripe of poverty.
5. Pinching and spasmodic pain in the intestines; — chiefly used in the plural.
6. (Naut.) (a) The piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end; the forefoot. (b) The compass or sharpness of a ship's stern under the water, having a tendency to make her keep a good wind. (c) pl.
Defn: An assemblage of ropes, dead-eyes, and hocks, fastened to ringbolts in the deck, to secure the boats when hoisted; also, broad bands passed around a boat to secure it at the davits and prevent swinging. Gripe penny, a miser; a niggard. D. L. Mackenzie.
GRIPEFULGripe"ful, a.
Defn: Disposed to gripe; extortionate.
GRIPERGrip"er, a.
Defn: One who gripes; an oppressor; an extortioner. Burton.
GRIPINGLYGrip"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a griping or oppressive manner. Bacon.
GRIPMANGrip"man, n.
Defn: The man who manipulates a grip.
GRIPPEGrippe, n. Etym: [F.] (Med.)
Defn: The influenza or epidemic catarrh. Dunglison.
GRIPPERGrip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, grips or seizes.
2. pl.
Defn: In printing presses, the fingers or nippers.
GRIPPLEGrip"ple, n.
Defn: A grasp; a gripe. [Obs.] Spenser.
GRIPPLEGrip"ple, a. Etym: [Dim. fr. gripe.]
Defn: Griping; greedy; covetous; tenacious. [Obs.] Spenser.
GRIPPLENESSGrip"ple*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being gripple. [Obs.]
GRIPSACKGrip"sack`, n.
Defn: A traveler's handbag. [Colloq.]
GRIS Gris, a. Etym: [OF. & F., fr. LL. griseus; of German origin; cf. MHG. gris, G. greis, hoary. Cf. Grizzle.]
Defn: Gray. [R.] Chaucer.
GRIS Gris, n. Etym: [OF., fr. gris gray. Cf. G. grauwerk (lit. gray work) the gray skin of the Siberian squirrel. See Gris, a.]
Defn: A costly kind of fur. [Obs.] Chaucer.
GRISGris (grîs), n. sing. & pl. Etym: [See Grice a pig.]
Defn: A little pig. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
GRISAILLEGri"saille`, n. Etym: [F., from gris gray.]
1. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Decorative painting in gray monochrome; — used in English especially for painted glass.
2. A kind of French fancy dress goods. Knight.
GRISAMBERGris"am`ber, n. Etym: [See Ambergris.]
Defn: Ambergris. [Obs.] Milton.
GRISEGrise (gris), n.
Defn: See Grice, a pig. [Prov. Eng.]
GRISEGrise (gris or gres), n. Etym: [Prop. pl. of gree a step.]
Defn: A step (in a flight of stairs); a degree. [Obs.]Every grise of fortune Is smoothed by that below. Shak.
GRISEOUSGris"e*ous, a. Etym: [LL. griseus. See Gris.]
Defn: Of a light color, or white, mottled with black or brown; grizzled or grizzly. Maunder.
GRISETTE Gri*sette", n. Etym: [F., fr. grisette a gray woolen cloth, fr. gris gray. Grisettes were so called because they wore gray gowns made of this stuff. See Gars.]
Defn: A French girl or young married woman of the lower class; more frequently, a young working woman who is fond of gallantry. Sterne.
GRISKINGris"kin, n. Etym: [Grise a pig + -kin.]
Defn: The spine of a hog. [Obs.]
GRISLEDGri"sled, a. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Grizzled.
GRISLINESSGris"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being grisly; horrid. Sir P. Sidney.
GRISLYGris"ly, a. Etym: [OE, grisly, grislich, AS. grislic, gryslic, fr.gro shudder; cf. OD. grijselick horrible, OHG. grisenlch, and alsoAS. gresan to frighten, and E. gruesome.]
Defn: Frightful; horrible; dreadful; harsh; as, grisly locks; agrisly specter. "Grisly to behold." Chaucer.A man of grisly and stern gravity. Robynson (More's Utopia).Grisly bear. (Zoöl.) See under Grizzly.
GRISON Gri"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. grison gray, gray-haired, gris gray. See Gris.] (Zoöl.) (a) A South American animal of the family Mustelidae (Galictis vittata). It is about two feet long, exclusive of the tail. Its under parts are black. Also called South American glutton. (b) A South American monkey (Lagothrix infumatus), said to be gluttonous.
GRISONS Gri"sons, n. pl. Etym: [F.] (Geog.) (a) Inhabitants of the eastern Swiss Alps. (b) sing.
Defn: The largest and most eastern of the Swiss cantons.
GRISTGrist, n. Etym: [AS. grist, fr. grindan. See Grind.]
1. Ground corn; that which is ground at one time; as much grain as is carried to the mill at one time, or the meal it produces. Get grist to the mill to have plenty in store. Tusser. Q.
2. Supply; provision. Swift.
3. In rope making, a given size of rope, common grist being a rope three inches in circumference, with twenty yarns in each of the three strands. Knight. All is grist that comes to his mill, all that he has anything to do with is a source of profit. [Colloq.] — To bring grist to the maill, to bring profitable business into one's hands; to be a source of profit. [Colloq.] Ayliffe.
GRISTLE Gris"tle, n. Etym: [OE. gristel, gristil, AS. gristl; akin to OFries. gristel, grestel. Perh. a dim. of grist but cf. OHG. krustila, krostela. Cf. Grist.] (Anat.)
Defn: Cartilage. See Cartilage. Bacon.
GRISTLYGris"tly, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, gristle; like gristle; cartilaginous.
GRISTMILLGrist"mill", n.
Defn: A mill for grinding grain; especially, a mill for grinding grists, or portions of grain brought by different customers; a custom mill.
GRITGrit, n. Etym: [OE, greet, greot, sand, gravel, AS. greót grit, sant,dust; akin to OS griott, OFries. gret gravel, OHG. grioz, G. griess,Icel. grjot, and to E. groats, grout. See Groats, Grout, and cf.Grail gravel.]
1. Sand or gravel; rough, hard particles.
2. The coarse part of meal.
3. pl.
Defn: Grain, esp. oats or wheat, hulled and coarsely ground; in high milling, fragments of cracked wheat smaller than groats.
4. (Geol.)
Defn: A hard, coarse-grained siliceous sandstone; as, millstone grit; — called also gritrock and gritstone. The name is also applied to a finer sharp-grained sandstone; as, grindstone grit.
5. Structure, as adapted to grind or sharpen; as, a hone of good grit.
6. Firmness of mind; invincible spirit; unyielding courage; fortitude. C. Reade. E. P. Whipple.
GRITGrit, v. i.
Defn: To give forth a grating sound, as sand under the feet; tograte; to grind.The sanded floor that grits beneath the tread. Goldsmith.
GRITGrit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gritted; p. pr. &, vb. n. Gritting.]
Defn: To grind; to rub harshly together; to grate; as, to grit the teeth. [Collog.]
GRITHGrith, n. Etym: [AS. grith peace; akin to Icel. grid.]
Defn: Peace; security; agreement. [Obs.] Gower.
GRITROCK; GRITSTONEGrit"rock`, Grit"stone` n. (Geol.)
Defn: See Grit, n., 4.
GRITTINESSGrit"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being gritty.
GRITTYGrit"ty, a.
1. Containing sand or grit; consisting of grit; caused by grit; full of hard particles.
2. Spirited; resolute; unyielding. [Colloq., U. S.]
GRIVETGriv"et, n. Etym: [Cf. F. grivet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A monkey of the upper Nile and Abyssinia (Cercopithecus griseoviridis), having the upper parts dull green, the lower parts white, the hands, ears, and face black. It was known to the ancient Egyptians. Called also tota.
GRIZEGrize, n.
Defn: Same as 2d Grise. [Obs.]
GRIZELINGriz"e*lin, a.
Defn: See Gridelin.
GRIZZLE Griz"zle, n. Etym: [F. gris: cf. grisaille hair partly gray, fr. gris gray. See Gris, and cf. Grisaille.]
Defn: Gray; a gray color; a mixture of white and black. Shak.
GRIZZLEDGriz"zled, a.
Defn: Gray; grayish; sprinkled or mixed with gray; of a mixed whiteand black.Grizzled hair flowing in elf locks. Sir W. Scott.
GRIZZLYGriz"zly, a.
Defn: Somewhat gray; grizzled. Old squirrels that turn grizzly. Bacon. Grizzly bear (Zoöl.), a large and ferocious bear (Ursus horribilis) of Western North America and the Rocky Mountains. It is remarkable for the great length of its claws.
GRIZZLYGriz"zly, n.; pl. Grizzlies (.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A grizzly bear. See under Grizzly, a.
2. pl.
Defn: In hydraulic mining, gratings used to catch and throw out large stones from the sluices. [Local, U. S.] Raymond.
GROANGroan, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Groaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Groaning.] Etym:[OE. gronen, granen, granien, AS. gr, fr. the root of grennian togrin. *35. See 2d Grin, and cf. Grunt.]
1. To give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing; to utter a groan, as in pain, in sorrow, or in derision; to moan. For we . . . do groan, being burdened. 2 Cor. v. 4. He heard the groaning of the oak. Sir W. Scott.
2. To strive after earnestly, as with groans. Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, Or that which groaneth to be so. Herbert.
GROANGroan, v. t.
Defn: To affect by groans.
GROANGroan, n.
Defn: A low, moaning sound; usually, a deep, mournful sound uttered in pain or great distress; sometimes, an expression of strong disapprobation; as, the remark was received with groans. Such groans of roaring wind and rain. Shak. The wretched animal heaved forth such groans. Shak.
GROANFULGroan"ful, a.
Defn: Agonizing; sad. [Obs.] Spenser.
GROAT Groat, n. Etym: [LG. grote, orig., great, that is, a great piece of coin, larger than other coins in former use. See Great.]
1. An old English silver coin, equal to four pence.
2. Any small sum of money.
GROATS Groats, n. pl. Etym: [OE. grot, AS. gratan; akin to Icel. grautr porridge, and to E. gritt, grout. See Grout.]
Defn: Dried grain, as oats or wheat, hulled and broken or crushed; in high milling, cracked fragments of wheat larger than grits. Embden groats, crushed oats.
GROBIANGro"bi*an, n. [G., fr. grob rude. Cf. Gruff, a.]
Defn: A rude or clownish person; boor; lout.
GROCER Gro"cer, n. Etym: [Formerly written grosser, orig., one who sells by the gross, or deals by wholesale, fr. F. grossier, marchand grossier, fr. gros large, great. See Gross.]
Defn: A trader who deals in tea, sugar, spices, coffee, fruits, and various other commodities. Grocer's itch (Med.), a disease of the akin, caused by handling sugar and treacle.
GROCERYGro"cer*y, n.; pl. Groceries. Etym: [F. grosserie wholesale. SeeGrocer.]
1. The commodities sold by grocers, as tea, coffee, spices, etc.; — in the United States almost always in the plural form, in this sense. A deal box . . . to carry groceries in. Goldsmith. The shops at which the best families of the neighborhood bought grocery and millinery. Macaulay.
2. A retail grocer's shop or store. [U.s.];
GROG Grog, n. Etym: [So named fronm "Old Grog" a nickmname given to Admiral Vernon, in allusion to his wearing a grogram cloak in foul weather. He is said to have been the first to dilute the rum of the sailors (about 1745).]
Defn: A mixture of spirit and water not sweetened; hence, any intoxicating liquor. Grog blossom, a redness on the nose or face of persons who drink ardent spirits to excess. [Collog.]
GROGGERYGrog"ger*y, n.; pl. Groggeries.
Defn: A grogshop. [Slang, U. S.]
GROGGINESSGrog"gi*ness, n.
1. State of being groggy.
2. (Man.)
Defn: Tenderness or stiffness in the foot of a horse, which causes him to move in a hobbling manner.
GROGGYGrog"gy, a.
1. Overcome with grog; tipsy; unsteady on the legs. [Colloq.]
2. Weakened in a fight so as to stagger; — said of pugilists. [Cant or Slang]
3. (Man.)
Defn: Moving in a hobbling manner, owing to ten der feet; — said of a horse. Youatt.
GROGRAM; GROGRAN Grog"ram, Grog"ran, n. Etym: [OF. gros-grain, lit., gros-grain, of a coarse texture. See Gross, and Grain a kernel, and cf. Grog.]
Defn: A coarse stuff made of silk and mohair, or of coarse silk.
GROGSHOPGrog"shop`, n.
Defn: A shop or room where strong liquors are sold and drunk; a dramshop.
GROINGroin, n. Etym: [F. groin, fr. grogner to grunt, L. grunnire.]
Defn: The snout of a swine. [Obs.] Chaucer.
GROINGroin, v. i. Etym: [F. grogner to grunt, grumble.]
Defn: To grunt to growl; to snarl; to murmur. [Obs.] Chaucer.Bears that groined coatinually. Spenser.
GROIN Groin, n. Etym: [Icel. grein distinction, division, branch; akin to Sw. gren, branch, space between the legs, Icel. greina to distinguish, divide, Sw. grena to branch, straddle. Cf. Grain a branch.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The line between the lower part of the abdomen and the thigh, or the region of this line; the inguen.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The projecting solid angle formed by the meeting of two vaults, growing more obtuse as it approaches the summit.
3. (Math.)
Defn: The surface formed by two such vaults.
4. A frame of woodwork across a beach to accumulate and retain shingle. [Eng.] Weale.
GROINGroin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Groined; p. pr. & vb. n. Groining.](Arch.)
Defn: To fashion into groins; to build with groins.The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles ofChristian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity. Emerson.
GROINEDGroined, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Built with groins; as, a groined ceiling; a groined vault.
GROLIERGro"lier`, n.
Defn: The name by which Jean Grolier de Servier (1479-1565), a French bibliophile, is commonly known; — used in naming a certain style of binding, a design, etc.
Grolier binding, a book binding decorated with a pattern imitated from those given covers of books bound for Jean Grolier, and bearing his name and motto. —Grolier design or school, the pattern of interlacing bars, bands, or ribbons, with little scrolls of slender gold lines, assumed to be an imitation of the designs on Jean Grolier's book bindings.
GROMETGrom"et, n.
Defn: Same as Grommet.
GROMILLGrom"ill, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Gromwell.
GROMMET Grom"met, n. Etym: [F. gourmette curb, curb chain, fr. gourmer to curb, thump, beat; cf. Armor. gromm a curb, gromma to curb.]
1. A ring formed by twisting on itself a single strand of an unlaid rope; also, a metallic eyelet in or for a sail or a mailbag. Sometimes written grummet.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A ring of rope used as a wad to hold a cannon ball in place.
GROMWELL Grom"well, n. Etym: [Called also gromel, grommel, graymill, and gray millet, all prob. fr. F. grmil, cf. W. cromandi.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Lithospermum (L. arvense), anciently used, because of its stony pericarp, in the cure of gravel. The German gromwell is the Stellera. [Written also gromill.]
GRONDGrond,
Defn: obs. imp. of Grind. Chaucer.
GRONTEGron"te,
Defn: obs. imp. of Groan. Chaucer.
GROOM Groom, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. grome, groyme, grume, gome, guym, man, lover, OD. grom boy, youth; perh. the r is an insertion as in E. bridegroom, and the word is the same as AS. guma man. See Bridegroom.]
1. A boy or young man; a waiter; a servant; especially, a man or boy who has charge of horses, or the stable. Spenser.
2. One of several officers of the English royal household, chiefly in the lord chamberlain's department; as, the groom of the chamber; the groom of the stole.
3. A man recently married, or about to be married; a bridegroom. Dryden. Groom porter, formerly an officer in the English royal household, who attended to the furnishing of the king's lodgings and had certain privileges.
GROOMGroom, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Groomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Grooming.]
Defn: To tend or care for, or to curry or clean, as a, horse.
GROOMERGroom"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, grooms horses; especially, a brush rotated by a flexible or jointed revolving shaft, for cleaning horses.
GROOMSMANGrooms"man, n.; pl. Groomsmen (.
Defn: A male attendant of a bridegroom at his wedding; — the correlative of bridesmaid.
GROOPERGroop"er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Grouper.
GROOVEGroove, n. Etym: [D. groef, groeve; akin to E. grove. See Grove.]
1. A furrow, channel, or long hollow, such as may be formed by cutting, molding, grinding, the wearing force of flowing water, or constant travel; a depressed way; a worn path; a rut.
2. Hence: The habitual course of life, work, or affairs; fixed routine. The gregarious trifling of life in the social groove. J. Morley.
3. Etym: [See Grove.] (Mining)
Defn: A shaft or excavation. [Prov. Eng.]
GROOVEGroove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grooved; p. pr. & vb. n. Groving.]
Defn: To cut a groove or channel in; to form into channels or grooves; to furrow.
GROOVERGroov"er, n.
1. One who or that which grooves.
2. A miner. [Prov. Eng.] Holloway.
GROOVINGGroov"ing, n.
Defn: The act of forming a groove or grooves; a groove, or collection of grooves.
GROPEGrope, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Groped; p. pr. & vb. n. Groping.] Etym:[OE. gropen, gropien, grapien, AS. gr to touch, grope, fr. gr togripe. See Gripe.]
1. To feel with or use the hands; to handle. [Obs.]
2. To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the hands, when one can not see. We grope for the wall like the blind. Is. lix. 10. To grope a little longer among the miseries and sensualities ot a worldly life. Buckminster.
GROPEGrope, v. t.
1. To search out by feeling in the dark; as, we groped our way at midnight.
2. To examine; to test; to sound. [Obs.] Chaucer. Felix gropeth him, thinking to have a bribe. Genevan Test. (Acts xxiv. ).
GROPERGrop"er, n.
Defn: One who gropes; one who feels his way in the dark, or searches by feeling.
GROPING-LYGrop"ing-ly, adv.
Defn: In a groping manner.
GROSGros, n. Etym: [F. See Gross.]
Defn: A heavy silk with a dull finish; as, gros de Naples; gros deTours.
GROSBEAKGros"beak, n. Etym: [Gross + beak: cf. F. gros-bec.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of various species of finches having a large, stout beak.The common European grosbeak or hawfinch is Coccothraustes vulgaris.
Note: Among the best known American species are the rose-breasted (Habia Ludoviciana); the blue (Guiraca coerulea); the pine (Pinicola enucleator); and the evening grosbeak. See Hawfinch, and Cardinal grosbeak, Evening grosbeak, under Cardinal and Evening. [Written also grossbeak.] Habia Ludoviciana).
GROSCHENGrosch"en, n. Etym: [G.]
Defn: A small silver coin and money of account of Germany, worth about two cents. It is not included in the new monetary system of the empire.
GROSGRAINGros"grain`, a. Etym: [F. Cf. Grogram.]
Defn: Of a coarse texture; — applied to silk with a heavy thread running crosswise.
GROSS Gross, a. [Compar. Grosser (; superl. Grossest.] Etym: [F. gros, L. grossus, perh. fr. L. crassus thick, dense, fat, E. crass, cf. Skr. grathita tied together, wound up, hardened. Cf. Engross, Grocer, Grogram.]
1. Great; large; bulky; fat; of huge size; excessively large. "A gross fat man." Shak. A gross body of horse under the Duke. Milton.
2. Coarse; rough; not fine or delicate.
3. Not easily aroused or excited; not sensitive in perception or feeling; dull; witless. Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear. Milton.
4. Expressing, Or originating in, animal or sensual appetites; hence, coarse, vulgar, low, obscene, or impure. The terms which are delicate in one age become gross in the next. Macaulay.
5. Thick; dense; not attenuated; as, a gross medium.
6. Great; palpable; serious; vagrant; shameful; as, a gross mistake; gross injustice; gross negligence.
7. Whole; entire; total; without deduction; as, the gross sum, or gross amount, the gross weight; — opposed to net. Gross adventure (Law) the loan of money upon bottomry, i. e., on a mortgage of a ship. — Gross average (Law), that kind of average which falls upon the gross or entire amount of ship, cargo, and freight; — commonly called general average. Bouvier. Burrill. — Gross receipts, the total of the receipts, before they are diminished by any deduction, as for expenses; — distinguished from net profits. Abbott. — Gross weight the total weight of merchandise or goods, without deduction for tare, tret, or waste; — distinguished from neat, or net, weight.
GROSS Gross, n. Etym: [F. gros (in sense 1), grosse (in sense 2) See Gross, a.]
1. The main body; the chief part, bulk, or mass. "The gross of the enemy." Addison. For the gross of the people, they are considered as a mere herd of cattle. Burke.
2. sing. & pl.
Defn: The number of twelve dozen; twelve times twelve; as, a gross ofbottles; ten gross of pens. Advowson in gross (Law), an advowsonbelonging to a person, and not to a manor.— A great gross, twelve gross; one hundred and forty-four dozen.— By the gross, by the quantity; at wholesale.— Common in gross. (Law) See under Common, n.— In the gross, In gross, in the bulk, or the undivided whole; allparts taken together.
GROSSBEAKGross"beak`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Grosbeak.
GROSS-HEADEDGross"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Thick-skulled; stupid.
GROSSIFICATIONGross`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Gross + L. ficare (in comp.) to make.See -fy.]
1. The act of making gross or thick, or the state of becoming so.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The swelling of the ovary of plants after fertilization.Henslow.
GROSSLYGross"ly, adv.
Defn: In a gross manner; greatly; coarsely; without delicacy; shamefully; disgracefully.
GROSSNESSGross"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being gross; thickness; corpulence;coarseness; shamefulness.Abhor the swinish grossness that delights to wound the' ear ofdelicacy. Dr. T. Dwight.
GROSSULARGros"su*lar, a. Etym: [NL. grossularius, from Grossularia a subgenusof Ribes, including the gooseberry, fr. F. groseille. SeeGooseberry.]
Defn: Pertaining too, or resembling, a gooseberry; as, grossular garnet.
GROSSULARGros"su*lar, n. Etym: [See Grossular, a.] (Min.)
Defn: A translucent garnet of a pale green color like that of the gooseberry; — called also grossularite.
GROSSULARIAGros`su*la"ria, n. Etym: [NL. See Grossular.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Grossular.
GROSSULINGros"su*lin, n. Etym: [See Grossular.] (Chem.)
Defn: A vegetable jelly, resembling pectin, found in gooseberries(Ribes Grossularia) and other fruits.
GROTGrot, n. Etym: [F. grotte, It. grotta. See Grotto.]
Defn: A grotto. [Poetic] Milton.
GROT; GROTEGrot, Grote (, n.
Defn: A groat. [Obs.] Chaucer.
GROTESQUEGro*tesque", a. Etym: [F., fr. It. grottesco, fr. grotta grotto. SeeGrotto.]
Defn: Like the figures found in ancient grottoes; grottolike; wildly or strangely formed; whimsical; extravagant; of irregular forms and proportions; fantastic; ludicrous; antic. "Grotesque design." Dryden. "Grotesque incidents." Macaulay.
GROTESQUEGro*tesque, n.
1. A whimsical figure, or scene, such as is found in old crypts and grottoes. Dryden.
2. Artificial grotto-work.
GROTESQUELYGro*tesque"ly, adv.
Defn: In a grotesque manner.
GROTESQUENESSGro*tesque"ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being grotesque.
GROTESQUERYGro*tesqu"er*y, n. [Written also grotesquerie.] [From Grotesque.]
Defn: Grotesque action, speech, or manners; grotesque doings. "The sustained grotesquery of Feather-top." K. L. Bates.
Vileness, on the other hand, becomes grotesquerie, wonderfully converted into a subject of laughter. George Gissing.
GROTTOGrot"to, n.; pl. Grottoes. Etym: [Formerly grotta, fr. It. grotta,LL. grupta, fr. L. crypta a con cealed subterranran passage vault,cavern, Gr. Grot, Crypt.]
Defn: A natural covered opening in the earth; a cave; also, an artificial recess, cave, or cavernlike apartment.
GROTTO-WORKGrot"to-work`, n.
Defn: Artificial and ornamental rockwork in imitation of a grotto.Cowper.
GROUND Ground, n. Etym: [OE. ground, grund, AS. grund; akin to D. grond, OS., G., Sw., & Dan. grund, Icel. grunnr bottom, Goth. grundus (in composition); perh. orig. meaning, dust, gravel, and if so perh. akin to E. grind.]
1. The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the globe, or some indefinite portion of it. There was not a man to till the ground. Gen. ii. 5. The fire ran along upon the ground. Ex. ix. 23. Hence:
Defn: A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the earth.
2. Any definite portion of the earth's surface; region; territory; country. Hence: A territory appropriated to, or resorted to, for a particular purpose; the field or place of action; as, a hunting or fishing ground; a play ground. From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground. Milton.
3. Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (pl.), the gardens, lawns, fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; as, the grounds of the estate are well kept. Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds. Dryden. 4.
4. The basis on which anything rests; foundation. Hence: The foundation of knowledge, belief, or conviction; a premise, reason, or datum; ultimate or first principle; cause of existence or occurrence; originating force or agency; as, the ground of my hope.
5. (Paint. & Decorative Art) (a) That surface upon which the figures of a composition are set, and which relieves them by its plainness, being either of one tint or of tints but slightly contrasted with one another; as, crimson Bowers on a white ground. See Background, Foreground, and Middle-ground. (b) In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are raised in relief. (c) In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the embroidered pattern is applied; as, Brussels ground. See Brussels lace, under Brussels.
6. (Etching)
Defn: A gummy composition spread over the surface of a metal to be etched, to prevent the acid from eating except where an opening is made by the needle.
7. (Arch.)
Defn: One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to which moldings, etc., are attached; — usually in the plural.
Note: Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering floated flush with them.
8. (Mus.) (a) A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody. (b) The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song. Moore (Encyc.). On that ground I'll build a holy descant. Shak.
9. (Elec.)
Defn: A conducting connection with the earth, whereby the earth is made part of an electrical circuit.
10. pl.
Defn: Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs; lees; feces; as, coffee grounds.
11. The pit of a theater. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Ground angling, angling with a weighted line without a float. — Ground annual (Scots Law), an estate created in land by a vassal who instead of selling his land outright reserves an annual ground rent, which becomes a perpetual charge upon the land. — Ground ash. (Bot.) See Groutweed. — Ground bailiff (Mining), a superintendent of mines. Simmonds. — Ground bait, bits of bread, boiled barley or worms, etc., thrown into the water to collect the fish, Wallon. — Ground bass or base (Mus.), fundamental base; a fundamental base continually repeated to a varied melody. — Ground beetle (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of carnivorous beetles of the family Carabidæ, living mostly in burrows or under stones, etc. — Ground chamber, a room on the ground floor. — Ground cherry. (Bot.) (a) A genus (Physalis) of herbaceous plants having an inflated calyx for a seed pod: esp., the strawberry tomato (P. Alkekengi). See Alkekengl. (b) A European shrub (Prunus Chamæcerasus), with small, very acid fruit. — Ground cuckoo. (Zoöl.) See Chaparral cock. — Ground cypress. (Bot.) See Lavender cotton. — Ground dove (Zoöl.), one of several small American pigeons of the genus Columbigallina, esp. C. passerina of the Southern United States, Mexico, etc. They live chiefly on the ground. — Ground fish (Zoöl.), any fish which constantly lives on the botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut. — Ground floor, the floor of a house most nearly on a level with the ground; — called also in America, but not in England, the first floor. — Ground form (Gram.), the stem or basis of a word, to which the other parts are added in declension or conjugation. It is sometimes, but not always, the same as the root. — Ground furze (Bot.), a low slightly thorny, leguminous shrub (Ononis arvensis) of Europe and Central Asia,; — called also rest- harrow. — Ground game, hares, rabbits, etc., as distinguished from winged game. — Ground hele (Bot.), a perennial herb (Veronica officinalis) with small blue flowers, common in Europe and America, formerly thought to have curative properties. — Ground of the heavens (Astron.), the surface of any part of the celestial sphere upon which the stars may be regarded as projected. — Ground hemlock (Bot.), the yew (Taxus baccata var. Canadensisi) of eastern North America, distinguished from that of Europe by its low, straggling stems. — Ground hog. (Zoöl.) (a) The woodchuck or American marmot (Arctomys monax). See Woodchuck. (b) The aardvark. — Ground hold (Naut.), ground tackle. [Obs.] Spenser. — Ground ice, ice formed at the bottom of a body of water before it forms on the surface. — Ground ivy. (Bot.) A trailing plant; alehoof. See Gill. — Ground joist, a joist for a basement or ground floor; a. sleeper. — Ground lark (Zoöl.), the European pipit. See Pipit. — Ground laurel (Bot.). See Trailing arbutus, under Arbutus. — Ground line (Descriptive Geom.), the line of intersection of the horizontal and vertical planes of projection. — Ground liverwort (Bot.), a flowerless plant with a broad flat forking thallus and the fruit raised on peduncled and radiated receptacles (Marchantia polymorpha). — Ground mail, in Scotland, the fee paid for interment in a churchyard. — Ground mass (Geol.), the fine-grained or glassy base of a rock, in which distinct crystals of its constituents are embedded. — Ground parrakeet (Zoöl.), one of several Australian parrakeets, of the genera Callipsittacus and Geopsittacus, which live mainly upon the ground. — Ground pearl (Zoöl.), an insect of the family Coccidæ (Margarodes formicarum), found in ants' nests in the Bahamas, and having a shelly covering. They are strung like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives. — Ground pig (Zoöl.), a large, burrowing, African rodent (Aulacodus Swinderianus) about two feet long, allied to the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no spines; — called also ground rat. — Ground pigeon (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of pigeons which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris), of the Samoan Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See Goura, and Ground dove (above). — Ground pine. (Bot.) (a) A blue-flowered herb of the genus Ajuga (A. Chamæpitys), formerly included in the genus Teucrium or germander, and named from its resinous smell. Sir L. Hill. (b) A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus Lycopodium (L. clavatum); — called also club moss. (c) A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight inches in height, of the same genus (L. dendroideum) found in moist, dark woods in the northern part of the United States. Gray. — Ground plan (Arch.), a plan of the ground floor of any building, or of any floor, as distinguished from an elevation or perpendicular section. — Ground plane, the horizontal plane of projection in perspective drawing. — Ground plate. (a) (Arch.) One of the chief pieces of framing of a building; a timber laid horizontally on or near the ground to support the uprights; a ground sill or groundsel. (b) (Railroads) A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a mudsill. (c) (Teleg.) A metallic plate buried in the earth to conduct the electric current thereto. Connection to the pipes of a gas or water main is usual in cities. Knight. — Ground plot, the ground upon which any structure is erected; hence, any basis or foundation; also, a ground plan. — Ground plum (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Astragalus caryocarpus) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas, and having a succulent plum-shaped pod. — Ground rat. (Zoöl.) See Ground pig (above). — Ground rent, rent paid for the privilege of building on another man's land. — Ground robin. (Zoöl.) See Chewink. — Ground room, a room on the ground floor; a lower room. Tatler. — Ground sea, the West Indian name for a swell of the ocean, which occurs in calm weather and without obvious cause, breaking on the shore in heavy roaring billows; — called also rollers, and in Jamaica, the North sea. — Ground sill. See Ground plate (a) (above). — Ground snake (Zoöl.), a small burrowing American snake (Celuta amoena). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt tail. — Ground squirrel. (Zoöl.) (a) One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the genera Tamias and Spermophilus, having cheek pouches. The former genus includes the Eastern striped squirrel or chipmunk and some allied Western species; the latter includes the prairie squirrel or striped gopher, the gray gopher, and many allied Western species. See Chipmunk, and Gopher. (b) Any species of the African genus Xerus, allied to Tamias. — Ground story. Same as Ground floor (above). — Ground substance (Anat.), the intercellular substance, or matrix, of tissues. — Ground swell. (a) (Bot.) The plant groundsel. [Obs.] Holland. (b) A broad, deep swell or undulation of the ocean, caused by a long continued gale, and felt even at a remote distance after the gale has ceased. — Ground table. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth. — Ground tackle (Naut.), the tackle necessary to secure a vessel at anchor. Totten. — Ground thrush (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of bright-colored Oriental birds of the family Pittidæ. See Pitta. — Ground tier. (a) The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's hold. Totten. (b) The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a vessel's hold. (c) The lowest range of boxes in a theater. — Ground timbers (Shipbuilding) the timbers which lie on the keel and are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers. Knight. — Ground tit. (Zoöl.) See Ground wren (below). — Ground wheel, that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine, etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism. — Ground wren (Zoöl.), a small California bird (Chamæa fasciata) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhibits the arid plains. Called also gronnd tit, and wren lit. — To bite the ground, To break ground. See under Bite, Break. — To come to the ground, To fall to the ground, to come to nothing; to fail; to miscarry. — To gain ground. (a) To advance; to proceed forward in confict; as, an army in battle gains ground. (b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the enemy. (c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential. — To get, or To gather, ground, to gain ground. [R.] "Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." Milton. There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher. South. — To give ground, to recede; to yield advantage. These nine . . . began to give me ground. Shak. —To lose ground, to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline. — To stand one's ground, to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. Atterbury. — To take the ground to touch bottom or become stranded; — said of a ship.
GROUNDGround, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Grounding.]
1. To lay, set, or run, on the ground.
2. To found; to fix or set, as on a foundation, reason, or principle; to furnish a ground for; to fix firmly. Being rooted and grounded in love. Eph. iii. 17. So far from warranting any inference to the existence of a God, would, on the contrary, ground even an argument to his negation. Sir W. Hamilton
3. To instruct in elements or first principles.
4. (Elec.)
Defn: To connect with the ground so as to make the earth a part of an electrical circuit.
5. (Fine Arts)
Defn: To cover with a ground, as a copper plate for etching (see Ground, n., 5); or as paper or other materials with a uniform tint as a preparation for ornament.
GROUNDGround, v. i.
Defn: To run aground; to strike the bottom and remain fixed; as, the ship grounded on the bar.
GROUNDGround,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Grind. Ground cock, a cock, the plug of which is ground into its seat, as distinguished from a compression cock. Knight. — Ground glass, glass the transparency of which has been destroyed by having its surface roughened by grinding. — Ground joint, a close joint made by grinding together two pieces, as of metal with emery and oil, or of glass with fine sand and water.
GROUNDAGEGround"age, n.
Defn: A local tax paid by a ship for the ground or space it occupies while in port. Bouvier.
GROUNDEDLYGround"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a grounded or firmly established manner. Glanvill.
GROUNDENGround"en, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Grind. Chaucer.
GROUNDINGGround"ing, n.
Defn: The act, method, or process of laying a groundwork or foundation; hence, elementary instruction; the act or process of applying a ground, as of color, to wall paper, cotton cloth, etc.; a basis.
GROUNDLESSGround"less, a. Etym: [AS. grundleás bottomless.]
Defn: Without ground or foundation; wanting cause or reason forsupport; not authorized; false; as, groundless fear; a groundlessreport or assertion.— Ground"less*ly, adv.— Ground"less*ness, n.
GROUNDLINGGround"ling, n. Etym: [Ground + -ling.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish that keeps at the bottom of the water, as the loach.
2. A spectator in the pit of a theater, which formerly was on the ground, and without floor or benches. No comic buffoon to make the groundlings laugh. Coleridge.
GROUNDLYGround"ly, adv.
Defn: Solidly; deeply; thoroughly. [Obs.] Those whom princes do once groundly hate, Let them provide to die as sure us fate. Marston.
GROUNDNUT Ground"nut`, n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of the Arachis hypogæa (native country uncertain); the peanut; the earthnut. (b) A leguminous, twining plant (Apios tuberosa), producing clusters of dark purple flowers and having a root tuberous and pleasant to the taste. (c) The dwarf ginseng (Aralia trifolia). [U. S.] Gray. (d) A European plant of the genus Bunium (B. flexuosum) having an edible root of a globular shape aud sweet, aromatic taste; — called also earthnut, earth chestnut, hawknut, and pignut.
GROUNDSEL Ground"sel, n. Etym: [OE. grundswilie, AS. gpundeswylige, grundeswelge, earlier gundiswilge; gund matter, pus + swelgan to swallow. So named as being good for a running from the eye. See Swallow, v.] (Bot.)
Defn: An annual composite plant (Senecio vulgaris) one of the most common, and widely distributed weeds on the globe.
GROUNDSELGround"sel, n. Etym: [Ground + sill.]
Defn: See Ground
GROUNDSILLGround"sill`
Defn:
GROUNDWORKGround"work`, n.
Defn: That which forms the foundation or support of anything; the basis; the essential or fundamental part; first principle. Dryden.
GROUPGroup, n. Etym: [F groupe, It. gruppo, groppo, cluster, bunch,packet, group; of G. origin: cf. G. krepf craw, crop, tumor, bunch.See Crop, n.]