Defn: To weep over; to deplore; to bedew with tears. "His timeless death beweeping." Drayton.
BEWEEPBe*weep", v. i.
Defn: To weep. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEWETBe*wet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewet, Bewetted.]
Defn: To wet or moisten. Gay.
BEWHOREBe*whore", v. t.
1. To corrupt with regard to chastity; to make a whore of. J. Fletcher.
2. To pronounce or characterize as a whore. Shak.
BEWIGBe*wig", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewigged.]
Defn: To cover (the head) with a wig. Hawthorne.
BEWILDERBe*wil"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewildered; p. pr. & vb. n.Bewildering.] Etym: [Pref. be- + wilder.]
Defn: To lead into perplexity or confusion, as for want of a plainpath; to perplex with mazes; or in general, to perplex or confusegreatly.Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search. Addison.
Syn. — To perplex; puzzle; entangle; confuse; confound; mystify; embarrass; lead astray.
BEWILDEREDBe*wil"dered, a.
Defn: Greatly perplexed; as, a bewildered mind.
BEWILDEREDNESSBe*wil"dered*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bewildered; bewilderment. [R.]
BEWILDERINGBe*wil"der*ing, a.
Defn: Causing bewilderment or great perplexity; as, bewilderingdifficulties.— Be*wil"der*ing*ly, adv.
BEWILDERMENTBe*wil"der*ment, n.
1. The state of being bewildered.
2. A bewildering tangle or confusion. He . . . soon lost all traces of it amid bewilderment of tree trunks and underbrush. Hawthorne.
BEWINTERBe*win"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make wintry. [Obs.]
BEWIT Bew"it, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. buie bond, chain, fr. L. boja neck collar, fetter. Cf. Buoy.]
Defn: A double slip of leather by which bells are fastened to a hawk's legs.
BEWITCHBe*witch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewitched; p. pr. & vb. n.Bewitching.]
1. To gain an ascendency over by charms or incantations; to affect (esp. to injure) by witchcraft or sorcery. See how I am bewitched; behold, mine arm Is like a blasted sapling withered up. Shak.
2. To charm; to fascinate; to please to such a degree as to take away the power of resistance; to enchant. The charms of poetry our souls bewitch. Dryden.
Syn.— To enchant; captivate; charm; entrance.
BEWITCHEDNESSBe*witch"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bewitched. Gauden.
BEWITCHERBe*witch"er, n.
Defn: One who bewitches.
BEWITCHERYBe*witch"er*y, n.
Defn: The power of bewitching or fascinating; bewitchment; charm;fascination.There is a certain bewitchery or fascination in words. South.
BEWITCHINGBe*witch"ing, a.
Defn: Having power to bewitch or fascinate; enchanting; captivating;charming.— Be*witch"ing*ly, adv.— Be*witch"ing*ness, n.
BEWITCHMENTBe*witch"ment, n.
1. The act of bewitching, or the state of being bewitched. Tylor.
2. The power of bewitching or charming. Shak.
BEWONDERBe*won"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewondered.]
1. To fill with wonder. [Obs.]
2. To wonder at; to admire. [Obs.]
BEWRAPBe*wrap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrapped.]
Defn: To wrap up; to cover. Fairfax.
BEWRAYBe*wray", v. t.
Defn: To soil. See Beray.
BEWRAY Be*wray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewraying.] Etym: [OE. bewraien, biwreyen; pref. be- + AS. wr to accuse, betray; akin to OS. wr, OHG. ruog, G. rügen, Icel. rægja, Goth. wr to accuse.]
Defn: To expose; to reveal; to disclose; to betray. [Obs. or Archaic]The murder being once done, he is in less fear, and in more hope thatthe deed shall not be bewrayed or known. Robynson (More's Utopia. )Thy speech bewrayeth thee. Matt. xxvi. 73.
BEWRAYERBe*wray"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bewrays; a revealer. [Obs. or Archaic]Addison.
BEWRAYMENTBe*wray"ment, n.
Defn: Betrayal. [R.]
BEWRECKBe*wreck", v. t.
Defn: To wreck. [Obs.]
BEWREKEBe*wreke", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + wreak.]
Defn: To wreak; to avenge. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.
BEWROUGHTBe*wrought", a. Etym: [Pref. be- + wrought, p. p. of work, v. t. ]
Defn: Embroidered. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEYBey, n. Etym: [See Beg a bey.]
Defn: A governor of a province or district in the Turkish dominions; also, in some places, a prince or nobleman; a beg; as, the bey of Tunis.
BEYLICBey"lic, n. Etym: [Turk.]
Defn: The territory ruled by a bey.
BEYOND Be*yond", prep. Etym: [OE. biyonde, bi, AS. begeondan, prep. and adv.; pref. be- + geond yond, yonder. See Yon, Yonder.]
1. On the further side of; in the same direction as, and further on or away than. Beyond that flaming hill. G. Fletcher.
2. At a place or time not yet reached; before. A thing beyond us, even before our death. Pope.
3. Past, out of the reach or sphere of; further than; greater than; as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.
4. In a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of any kind. "Beyond expectation." Barrow. Beyond any of the great men of my country. Sir P. Sidney. Beyond sea. (Law) See under Sea. — To go beyond, to exceed in ingenuity, in research, or in anything else; hence, in a bed sense, to deceive or circumvent. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter. 1 Thess. iv. 6.
BEYONDBe*yond", adv.
Defn: Further away; at a distance; yonder.Lo, where beyond he lyeth languishing. Spenser.
BEZANTBe*zant", n. Etym: [See Byzant.]
1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and value, usually (those current in England) between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants. [Written also besant, byzant, etc.]
2. (Her.)
Defn: A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called bezant. Burke.
3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing circular disks lapping one upon another.
BEZ-ANTLERBez`-ant"ler, n. Etym: [L. bis twice (OF. bes) + E. antler.]
Defn: The second branch of a stag's horn.
BEZEL Bez"el, n. Etym: [From an old form of F. biseau sloping edge, prob. fr. L. bis double. See Bi-.]
Defn: The rim which encompasses and fastens a jewel or other object, as the crystal of a watch, in the cavity in which it is set.
BEZIQUEBé*zique", n. Etym: [F. bésigue.]
Defn: A game at cards in which various combinations of cards in the hand, when declared, score points.
BEZOAR Be"zoar, n. Etym: [F. bézoard, fr. Ar. bazahr, badizahr, fr. Per. pad-zahr bezoar; pad protecting + zahr poison; cf. Pg. & Sp. bezoar.]
Defn: A calculous concretion found in the intestines of certain ruminant animals (as the wild goat, the gazelle, and the Peruvian llama) formerly regarded as an unfailing antidote for poison, and a certain remedy for eruptive, pestilential, or putrid diseases. Hence: Any antidote or panacea.
Note: Two kinds were particularly esteemed, the Bezoar orientale ofIndia, and the Bezoar occidentale of Peru. Bezoar antelope. SeeAntelope.— Bezoar goat (Zoöl.), the wild goat (Capra ægagrus).— Bezoar mineral, an old preparation of oxide of antimony. Ure.
BEZOARDICBez`o*ar"dic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bézoardique, bézoartique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or compounded with, bezoar.— n.
Defn: A medicine containing bezoar.
BEZOARTIC; BEZOARTICALBez`o*ar"tic, Bez`o*ar"tic*al, a. Etym: [See Bezoardic.]
Defn: Having the qualities of an antidote, or of bezoar; healing.[Obs.]
BEZONIANBe*zo"ni*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. besoin need, want, It bisogno.]
Defn: A low fellow or scoundrel; a beggar.Great men oft die by vile bezonians. Shak.
BEZPOPOVTSY Bez`po*pov"tsy, n. [Russ.; bez without + popovtsy, a derivative of pop priest.]
Defn: A Russian sect. See Raskolnik.
BEZZLEBez"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bezzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bezzling.]Etym: [OF. besillier, besiler, to maltreat, pillage; or shortened fr.embezzle. Cf. Embezzle.]
Defn: To plunder; to waste in riot. [Obs.]
BEZZLEBez"zle, v. i.
Defn: To drink to excess; to revel. [Obs.]
BHANGBhang, n. Etym: [Per. bang; cf. Skr. bhanga hemp.]
Defn: An astringent and narcotic drug made from the dried leaves and seed capsules of wild hemp (Cannabis Indica), and chewed or smoked in the East as a means of intoxication. See Hasheesh.
BHEESTY; BHEESTIE Bhees"ty, Bhees"tie, n. [Written also bhistee, bhisti, etc.] [Per. bihishti lit., heavenly.]
Defn: A water carrier, as to a household or a regiment. [India]
BHISTEE; BHISTIBhis"tee, Bhis"ti, n.
Defn: Same as Bheesty. [India]
BHUNDERBhun"der, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Indian monkey (Macacus Rhesus), protected by the Hindoos as sacred. See Rhesus.
BI; BI-Bi*. Etym: [L. bis twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin toE. two. See Bis-, Two, and cf. Di-, Dis-.]
1. In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly; as, bidentate, two-toothed; biternate, doubly ternate, etc.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms, parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is present in double the ordinary proportion; as, bichromate, bisulphide. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.
BIACIDBi*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by negative atoms or radicals to form salts; — said of bases. See Diacid.
BIACUMINATEBi`a*cu"mi*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acuminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having points in two directions.
BIANGULARBi*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angular.]
Defn: Having two angles or corners.
BIANGULATE; BIANGULATED Bi*an"gu*late, Bi*an"gu*la`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulate, angulated.]
Defn: Biangular.
BIANGULOUSBi*an"gu*lous,a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulous.]
Defn: Biangular. [R.]
BIANNUALBi*an"nu*al, a. [Pref. bi- + annual.]
Defn: Occurring twice a year; half-yearly; semiannual.
BIANTHERIFEROUSBi*an`ther*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + antherigerous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two anthers.
BIARTICULATEBi`ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + articulate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having, or consisting of, tow joints.
BIAS Bi"as, n.; pl. Biases. Etym: [F. biasis, perh. fr. LL. bifax two- faced; L. bis + facies face. See Bi-, and cf. Face.]
1. A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line. Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will . . . swerve away. Sir W. Scott.
2. A learning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent inclination. Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts. South. Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their actions. Locke.
3. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
4. A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.
Syn.— Prepossession; prejudice; partiality; inclination. See Bent.
BIASBi"as, a.
1. Inclined to one side; swelled on one side. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
BIASBi"as, adv.
Defn: In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.
BIASBi"as, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Biased; p. pr. & vb. n. Biasing.]
Defn: To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess. Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should it have biased any just critic in the counter direction. De. Quincey.
BIAURICULATEBi`au*ric"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + au riculate.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Having two auricles, as the heart of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two earlike projections at its base, as a leaf.
BIAXAL; BIAXIALBi*ax"al, Bi*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + axal, axial.] (Opt.)
Defn: Having two axes; as, biaxial polarization. Brewster.— Bi*ax"i*al*ly, adv.
BIB Bib, n. Etym: [From Bib, v., because the bib receives the drink that the child slavers from the mouth.]
1. A small piece of cloth worn by children over the breast, to protect the clothes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arctic fish (Gadus luscus), allied to the cod; — called also pout and whiting pout.
3. A bibcock.
BIB; BIBBEBib, Bibbe, v. t. Etym: [L. bibere. See Beverage, and cf. Imbibe.]
Defn: To drink; to tipple. [Obs.]This miller hath . . . bibbed ale. Chaucer.
BIBBib, v. i.
Defn: To drink; to sip; to tipple.He was constantly bibbing. Locke.
BIBACIOUSBi*ba"cious, a. Etym: [L. bibax, bibacis, fr. bibere. See Bib.]
Defn: Addicted to drinking.
BIBACITYBi*bac"i*ty, n.
Defn: The practice or habit of drinking too much; tippling. Blount.
BIBASICBi*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having to hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by positive or basic atoms or radicals to form salts; — said of acids. See Dibasic.
BIBBBibb, n.
Defn: A bibcock. See Bib, n., 3.
BIBBERBib"ber, n.
Defn: One given to drinking alcoholic beverages too freely; a tippler; — chiefly used in composition; as, winebibber.
BIBBLE-BABBLEBib"ble-bab"ble, n. Etym: [A reduplication of babble.]
Defn: Idle talk; babble. Shak.
BIBBSBibbs, n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Pieces of timber bolted to certain parts of a mast tp support the trestletrees.
BIBCOCKBib"cock`, n.
Defn: A cock or faucet having a bent down nozzle. Knight.
BIBELOTBi`be*lot", n. [F.]
Defn: A small decorative object without practical utility.
Her pictures, her furniture, and her bibelots.M. Crawford.
BIBIRINEBi*bi"rine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Bebeerine.
BIBITORYBib"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to drinking or tippling.
BIBLE Bi"ble, n. Etym: [F. bible, L. biblia, pl., fr. Gr. , pl. of , dim. of , , book, prop. Egyptian papyrus.]
1. A book. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. The Book by way of eminence, — that is, the book which is made up of the writings accepted by Christians as of divine origin and authority, whether such writings be in the original language, or translated; the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; — sometimes in a restricted sense, the Old Testament; as, King James's Bible; Douay Bible; Luther's Bible. Also, the book which is made up of writings similarly accepted by the Jews; as, a rabbinical Bible.
3. A book containing the sacred writings belonging to any religion; as, the Koran is often called the Mohammedan Bible. Fig.)
Defn: A book with an authoritative exposition of some topic, respected by many experts on the field. Bible Society, an association for securing the multiplication and wide distribution of the Bible. — Douay Bible. See Douay Bible. — Geneva Bible. See under Geneva.
BIBLERBib"ler, n. Etym: [See Bib, v. t.]
Defn: A great drinker; a tippler. [Written also bibbler and bibbeler.]
BIBLICALBib"li*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the Bible; as, biblical learning; biblical authority.
BIBLICALITYBib`li*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being biblical; a biblical subject. [R.]
BIBLICALLYBib"li*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the Bible.
BIBLICISMBib"li*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. biblicisme.]
Defn: Learning or literature relating to the Bible. [R.]
BIBLICISTBib"li*cist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the knowledge of the Bible; a demonstrator of religious truth by the Scriptures.
BIBLIOGRAPHBib"li*o*graph`, n.
Defn: Bibliographer.
BIBLIOGRAPHER Bib`li*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. , fr. book + to write : cf. F. bibliographe.]
Defn: One who writes, or is versed in, bibliography.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC; BIBLIOGRAPHICAL Bib`li*o*graph"ic, Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bibliographique.]
Defn: Pertaining to bibliography, or the history of books.— Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Bib`li*og"ra*phy n.; pl. Bibliographies. Etym: [Gr. : cf. F. bibliographie.]
Defn: A history or description of books and manuscripts, with notices of the different editions, the times when they were printed, etc.
BIBLIOLATER; BIBLIOLATRISTBib`li*ol"a*ter, Bib`li*ol"a*trist, n. Etym: [See. Bibliolatry.]
Defn: A worshiper of books; especially, a worshiper of the Bible; a believer in its verbal inspiration. De Quincey.
BIBLIOLATRYBib`li*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr. book + service, worship, to serve.]
Defn: Book worship, esp. of the Bible; — applied by Roman Catholic divine Coleridge. F. W. Newman.
BIBLIOLOGICALBib`li*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to bibliology.
BIBLIOLOGYBib`li*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -logy.]
1. An account of books; book lore; bibliography.
2. The literature or doctrine of the Bible.
BIBLIOMANCYBib"li*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -mancy: cf. F. bibliomancie.]
Defn: A kind of divination, performed by selecting passages of Scripture at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events.
BIBLIOMANIABib`li*o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + madness: cf. F. bibliomanie.]
Defn: A mania for acquiring books.
BIBLIOMANIACBib`li*o*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One who has a mania for books.— a.
Defn: Relating to a bibliomaniac.
BIBLIOMANIACALBib`li*o*ma*ni"ac*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a passion for books; relating to a bibliomaniac.
BIBLIOPEGICBib`li*o*peg"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. book + to make fast.]
Defn: Relating to the binding of books. [R.]
BIBLIOPEGISTBib`li*op"e*gist, n.
Defn: A bookbinder.
BIBLIOPEGISTICBib`li*op`e*gis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of binding books. [R.] Dibdin.
BIBLIOPEGYBib`li*op"e*gy, n. Etym: [See Bibliopegic.]
Defn: The art of binding books. [R.]
BIBLIOPHILEBib"li*o*phile, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to love: cf. F. bibliophile.]
Defn: A lover of books.
BIBLIOPHILISMBib`li*oph"i*lism, n.
Defn: Love of books.
BIBLIOPHILISTBib`li*oph"i*list, n.
Defn: A lover of books.
BIBLIOPHOBIABib`li*o*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to fear.]
Defn: A dread of books. [R.]
BIBLIOPOLE Bib"li*o*pole, n. Etym: [L. bibliopola, Gr. ; book + to sell: cf. F. bibliopole.]
Defn: One who sells books.
BIBLIOPOLIC; BIBLIOPOLARBib`li*o*pol"ic, Bib`li*op"o*lar, a. Etym: [See Bibliopole.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sale of books. "Bibliopolic difficulties." Carlyle.
BIBLIOPOLISMBib`li*op"o*lism, n.
Defn: The trade or business of selling books.
BIBLIOPOLISTBib`li*op"o*list, n.
Defn: Same as Bibliopole.
BIBLIOPOLISTICBib`li*op`o*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bibliopolism. Dibdin.
BIBLIOTAPH; BIBLIOTAPHISTBib"li*o*taph, Bib`li*ot"a*phist, n. Etym: [Gr. book + a burial.]
Defn: One who hides away books, as in a tomb. [R.] Crabb.
BIBLIOTHECBib"li*o*thec, n.
Defn: A librarian.
BIBLIOTHECABib`li*o*the"ca, n. Etym: [L. See Bibliotheke.]
Defn: A library.
BIBLIOTHECALBib`li*o*the"cal, a. Etym: [L. bibliothecalis. See Bibliotheke.]
Defn: Belonging to a library. Byrom.
BIBLIOTHECARY Bib`li*oth"e*ca*ry, n. Etym: [L. bibliothecarius: cf. F. bibliothécaire.]
Defn: A librarian. [Obs.] Evelin.
BIBLIOTHEKE Bib"li*o*theke, n. Etym: [L. bibliotheca, Gr. ; book + a case, box, fr. to place: cf. F. bibliothèque.]
Defn: A library. [Obs.] Bale.
BIBLISTBib"list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bibliste. See Bible.]
1. One who makes the Bible the sole rule of faith.
2. A biblical scholar; a biblicist. I. Taylor.
BIBRACTEATEBi*brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + bracteate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with, or having, two bracts.
BIBULOUS Bib"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. bibulus, fr. bibere to drink. See Bib, v. t. ]
1. Readily imbibing fluids or moisture; spongy; as, bibulous blotting paper.
2. Inclined to drink; addicted to tippling.
BIBULOUSLYBib"u*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bibulous manner; with profuse imbibition or absorption. DeQuincey.
BICALCARATEBi*cal"ca*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + calcarate.]
Defn: Having two spurs, as the wing or leg of a bird.
BICALLOSE; BICALLOUSBi*cal"lose, Bi*cal"lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + callose, callous.](Bot.)
Defn: Having two callosities or hard spots. Gray.
BICAMERALBi*cam"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + camera.]
Defn: Consisting of, or including, two chambers, or legislative branches. Bentham.
BICAPSULARBi*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + capsular: cf. F. bicapsulaire.](Bot.)
Defn: Having two capsules; as, a bicapsular pericarp.
BICARBONATEBi*car"bon*ate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi-+ carbonate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A carbonate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the normal carbonates; an acid carbonate; — sometimes called supercarbonate.
BICARBURETED; BICARBURETTEDBi*car"bu*ret`ed or -ret`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carbureted.](Chem.)
Defn: Containing two atoms or equivalents of carbon in the molecule.[Obs. or R.]
BICARINATEBi*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carinate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having two keel-like projections, as the upper palea of grasses.
BICAUDALBi*cau"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudal.]
Defn: Having, or terminating in, two tails.
BICAUDATEBi*cau"date, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudate.]
Defn: Two-tailed; bicaudal.
BICCHEDBic"ched, a. Etym: [Of unknown origin.]
Defn: Pecked; pitted; notched. [Obs.] Chaucer. Bicched bones, pecked, or notched, bones; dice.
BICE; BISEBice, Bise, n. Etym: [F. bis, akin to It. bigio light gray, tawny.](Paint.)
Defn: A pale blue pigment, prepared from the native blue carbonate of copper, or from smalt; — called also blue bice. Green bice is prepared from the blue, by adding yellow orpiment, or by grinding down the green carbonate of copper. Cooley. Brande & C.
BICENTENARYBi*cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centenary.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to two hundred, esp. to two hundred years; as, a bicentenary celebration. — n.
Defn: The two hundredth anniversary, or its celebration.
BICENTENNIALBi`cen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centennial.]
1. Consisting of two hundred years.
2. Occurring every two hundred years.
BICENTENNIALBi`cen*ten"ni*al, n.
Defn: The two hundredth year or anniversary, or its celebration.
BICEPHALOUSBi*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cephalous: cf. F. bicéphale.]
Defn: Having two heads.
BICEPSBi"ceps, n. Etym: [L., two-headed; bis twice + caput head. SeeCapital.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle having two heads or origins; — applied particularly to a flexor in the arm, and to another in the thigh.
BICHIRBi*chir", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A remarkable ganoid fish (Polypterus bichir) found in the Nile and other African rivers. See Brachioganoidei.
BICHLORIDEBi*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound consisting of two atoms of chlorine with one or more atoms of another element; — called also dichloride. Bichloride of mercury, mercuric chloride; — sometimes called corrosive sublimate.
BICHOBi"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Jigger.
BICHROMATEBi*chro"mate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chromate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt containing two parts of chromic acid to one of the other ingredients; as, potassium bichromate; — called also dichromate.
BICHROMATIZEBi*chro"ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To combine or treat with a bichromate, esp. with bichromate of potassium; as, bichromatized gelatine.
BICIPITALBi*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. biceps, bicipitis: cf. F. bicipital. SeeBiceps.]
1. (Anat.) (a) Having two heads or origins, as a muscle. (b) Pertaining to a biceps muscle; as, bicipital furrows, the depressions on either side of the biceps of the arm.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Dividing into two parts at one extremity; having two heads or two supports; as, a bicipital tree.
BICIPITOUSBi*cip"i*tous, a.
Defn: Having two heads; bicipital. "Bicipitous serpents." Sir T.Browne.
BICKERBick"er, n. Etym: [See Beaker.]
Defn: A small wooden vessel made of staves and hoops, like a tub.[Prov. Eng.]
BICKERBick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bickering.]Etym: [OE. bikeren, perh. fr. Celtic; cf. W. bicra to fight, bicker,bicre conflict, skirmish; perh. akin to E. beak.]
1. To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight. [Obs.] Two eagles had a conflict, and bickered together. Holland.
2. To contend in petulant altercation; to wrangle. Petty things about which men cark and bicker. Barrow.
3. To move quickly and unsteadily, or with a pattering noise; to quiver; to be tremulous, like flame. They [streamlets] bickered through the sunny shade. Thomson.
BICKERBick"er, n.
1. A skirmish; an encounter. [Obs.]
2. A fight with stones between two parties of boys. [Scot.] Jamieson.
3. A wrangle; also, a noise,, as in angry contention.
BICKERERBick"er*er, n.
Defn: One who bickers.
BICKERINGBick"er*ing, n.
1. A skirmishing. "Frays and bickerings." Milton.
2. Altercation; wrangling.
BICKERMENTBick"er*ment, n.
Defn: Contention. [Obs.] Spenser.
BICKERNBick"ern, n. Etym: [F. bigorne. See Bicorn.]
Defn: An anvil ending in a beak or point (orig. in two beaks); also, the beak or horn itself.
BICKFORD FUSE; BICKFORD FUZE; BICKFORD MATCHBick"ford fuse, Bick"ford fuze, Bick"ford match.
Defn: A fuse used in blasting, consisting of a long cylinder of explosive material inclosed in a varnished wrapping of rope or hose. It burns from 2 to 4 feet a minute.
BICOLLIGATEBi*col"li*gate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + colligatus, p. p. SeeColligate, v. t. ] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the anterior toes connected by a basal web.
BICOLOR; BICOLORED Bi"col`or, Bi"col`ored, a. Etym: [L. bicolor; bis twice + color color.]
Defn: Of two colors.
BICONCAVEBi*con"cave, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + concave.]
Defn: Concave on both sides; as, biconcave vertebræ.
BICONJUGATEBi*con"ju*gate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + conjugate, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: Twice paired, as when a petiole forks twice. Gray.
BICONVEXBi*con"vex, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + convex.]
Defn: Convex on both sides; as, a biconvex lens.
BICORN; BICORNED; BICORNOUS Bi"corn, Bi"corned, Bi*cor"nous, a. Etym: [L. bicornis; bis twice + cornu horn: cf. F. bicorne. Cf. Bickern.]
Defn: Having two horns; two-horned; crescentlike.
BICORPORALBi*cor"po*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporal.]
Defn: Having two bodies.
BICORPORATEBi*cor"po*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporate.] (Her.)
Defn: Double-bodied, as a lion having one head and two bodies.
BICOSTATEBi*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + costate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two principal ribs running longitudinally, as a leaf.
BICRENATEBi*cre"nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crenate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Twice crenated, as in the case of leaves whose crenatures are themselves crenate.
BICRESCENTICBi`cres*cen"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crescent.]
Defn: Having the form of a double crescent.
BICRURALBi*cru"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crural.]
Defn: Having two legs. Hooker.
BICUSPID; BICUSPIDATEBi*cus"pid, Bi*cus"pid*ate, a. Etym: [See pref. Bi-, and Cuspidate.]
Defn: Having two points or prominences; ending in two points; — said of teeth, leaves, fruit, etc.
BICUSPIDBi*cus"pid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the two double-pointed teeth which intervene between the canines (cuspids) and the molars, on each side of each jaw. See Tooth, n.
BICYANIDEBi*cy"a*nide, n.
Defn: See Dicyanide.
BICYCLEBi"cy*cle, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cycle.]
Defn: A light vehicle having two wheels one behind the other. It has a saddle seat and is propelled by the rider's feet acting on cranks or levers.
BICYCLERBi"cy*cler, n.
Defn: One who rides a bicycle.
BICYCLICBi*cyc"lic, a.
Defn: Relating to bicycles.
BICYCLINGBi"cy*cling, n.
Defn: The use of a bicycle; the act or practice of riding a bicycle.
BICYCLISMBi"cy*clism, n.
Defn: The art of riding a bicycle.
BICYCLISTBi"cy*clist, n.
Defn: A bicycler.
BICYCULARBi*cyc"u*lar, a.
Defn: Relating to bicycling.
BID Bid, v. t. [imp. Bade, Bid, (Obs.) Bad; p. p. Bidden, Bid; p. pr. & vb. n. Bidding.] Etym: [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS. biddian, Icel. bi, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray, ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. to persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS. beódan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj, Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G. bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. to learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present OSlav. bud to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden to command, except in "to bid beads." sq. root30.]
1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be done under a contract).
2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning, farewell, etc. Neither bid him God speed. 2. John 10. He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. Granrille.
3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly obs.] "Our banns thrice bid !" Gay.
4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. PopeLord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. Matt. xiv. 28I was bid to pick up shells. D. Jerrold.
5. To invite; to call in; to request to come. As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9 To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.] — To bid defiance to , to defy openly; to brave. — To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise; to seem likely.
Syn. — To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command; direct; charge; enjoin.
BIDBid,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bid.
BIDBid, n.
Defn: An offer of a price, especially at auctions; a statement of a sum which one will give for something to be received, or will take for something to be done or furnished; that which is offered.
BIDBid, v. i. Etym: [See Bid, v. t.]
1. To pray. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To make a bid; to state what one will pay or take.
BIDALEBid"ale`, n. Etym: [Bid + ale.]
Defn: An invitation of friends to drink ale at some poor man's house, and there to contribute in charity for his relief. [Prov. Eng.]
BIDARKEE; BIDARKABi*dar"kee, Bi*dar"ka, n. [Russ. baidarka, dim. Cf. Baidar.]
Defn: A portable boat made of skins stretched on a frame. [Alaska]The Century.
BIDDABLEBid"da*ble, a.
Defn: Obedient; docile. [Scot.]
BIDDENBid"den, p. p.
Defn: of Bid.
BIDDERBid"der, n. Etym: [AS. biddere. ]
Defn: One who bids or offers a price. Burke.
BIDDERY WAREBid"der*y ware`. Etym: [From Beder or Bidar a town in India.]
Defn: A kind of metallic ware made in India. The material is a composition of zinc, tin, and lead, in which ornaments of gold and silver are inlaid or damascened. [Spelt also bidry, bidree, bedery, beder.]
BIDDINGBid"ding, n.
1. Command; order; a proclamation or notifying. "Do thou thy master's bidding." Shak.
2. The act or process of making bids; an offer; a proposal of a price, as at an auction.
BIDDING PRAYERBid"ding prayer`.
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The prayer for the souls of benefactors, said before the sermon.
2. (Angl. Ch.)
Defn: The prayer before the sermon, with petitions for various specified classes of persons.
BIDDYBid"dy, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]
Defn: A name used in calling a hen or chicken. Shak.
BIDDYBid"dy, n. Etym: [A familiar form of Bridget.]
Defn: An Irish serving woman or girl. [Colloq.]
BIDE Bide, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bided; p. pr. & vb. n. Biding.] Etym: [OE. biden, AS. bidan; akin to OHG. bitan, Goth. beidan, Icel. bi; perh. orig., to wait with trust, and akin to bid. See Bid, v. t., and cf. Abide.]
1. To dwell; to inhabit; to abide; to stay. All knees to thee shall bow of them that bide In heaven or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.
2. To remain; to continue or be permanent in a place or state; to continue to be. Shak.
BIDEBide, v. t.
1. To encounter; to remain firm under (a hardship); to endure; to suffer; to undergo. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm. Shak.
2. To wait for; as, I bide my time. See Abide.
BIDENT Bi"dent, n. Etym: [L. bidens, -entis, having two prongs; bis twice + dens a tooth.]
Defn: An instrument or weapon with two prongs.
BIDENTALBi*den"tal, a.
Defn: Having two teeth. Swift.
BIDENTATEBi*den"tate, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two teeth or two toothlike processes; two-toothed.
BIDET Bi*det", n. Etym: [F. bidet, perh. fr. Celtic; cr. Gael. bideach very little, diminutive, bidein a diminutive animal, W. bidan a weakly or sorry wretch.]
1. A small horse formerly allowed to each trooper or dragoon for carrying his baggage. B. Jonson.
2. A kind of bath tub for sitting baths; a sitz bath.
BIDIGITATEBi*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + digitate.]
Defn: Having two fingers or fingerlike projections.
BIDINGBid"ing, n.
Defn: Residence; habitation. Rowe.
BIELA'S COMETBie"la's com"et. (Astron.)
Defn: A periodic coment, discovered by Biela in 1826, which revolves around the sun in 6.6 years. The November meteors (Andromedes or Bielids) move in its orbit, and may be fragments of the comet.
BIELDBield, n.
Defn: A shelter. Same as Beild. [Scot.]
BIELDBield, v. t.
Defn: To shelter. [Scot.]
BIELIDBie"lid, n. (Astron.)
Defn: See Andromede.
BIENNIAL Bi*en"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. biennalis and biennis, fr. biennium a space of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf. Annual.]
1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second.
BIENNIALBi*en"ni*al, n.
1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years; esp. a biennial examination.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which exists or lasts for two years.
BIENNIALLYBi*en"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Once in two years.
BIERBier, n. Etym: [OE. bæe, beere, AS. b, b; akin to D. baar, OHG. bara,G. bahre, Icel barar, Dbaare, L. feretrum, Gr. , from the same bearto produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barrow.]
1. A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or borne to the grave.
2. (Weaving)
Defn: A count of forty threads in the warp or chain of woolen cloth.Knight.
BIERBALKBier"balk`, n. Etym: [See Bier, and Balk, n.]
Defn: A church road (e. g., a path across fields) for funerals.[Obs.] Homilies.
BIESTINGS; BEESTINGS Biest"ings, Beest"ings, n. pl. Etym: [OE. bestynge, AS. b, fr. b, beost; akin to D. biest, OHG. biost, G. biest; of unknown origin.]
Defn: The first milk given by a cow after calving. B. Jonson. The thick and curdy milk . . . commonly called biestings. Newton. (1574).
BIFACIALBi*fa"cial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + facial.]
Defn: Having the opposite surfaces alike.
BIFARIOUSBi*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifarius; bis twice + fari to speak. Cf.Gr.
1. Twofold; arranged in two rows.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Pointing two ways, as leaves that grow only on opposite sides of a branch; in two vertical rows.
BIFARIOUSLYBi*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bifarious manner.
BIFEROUSBif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifer; bis twice + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing fruit twice a year.
BIFFINBif"fin, n. Etym: [Cf. Beaufin.]
1. A sort of apple peculiar to Norfolk, Eng.
Note: [Sometimes called beaufin; but properly beefin (it is said), from its resemblance to raw beef.] Wright.
2. A baked apple pressed down into a flat, round cake; a dried apple. Dickens.
BIFID Bi"fid, a. Etym: [L. bifidus; bis twice + root of findere to cleave or split: cf. F. bifide.]
Defn: Cleft to the middle or slightly beyond the middle; opening with a cleft; divided by a linear sinus, with straight margins.
BIFIDATEBif"i*date, a. Etym: [L. bifidatus.]
Defn: See Bifid.
BIFILARBi*fi"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + filar.]
Defn: Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar suspension; a bifilar balance. Bifilar micrometer (often called a bifilar), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of which, at least, is movable; — more commonly called a filar micrometer.
BIFLABELLATEBi`fla*bel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flabellate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Flabellate on both sides.
BIFLAGELLATEBi`fla*gel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flagellate.]
Defn: Having two long, narrow, whiplike appendages.
BIFLORATE; BIFLOROUS Bi*flo"rate, Bi*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing two flowers; two-flowered.
BIFOCALBi*fo"cal, a. [Pref. bi-+ focal.]
Defn: Having two foci, as some spectacle lenses.
BIFOLDBi"fold, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + fold.]
Defn: Twofold; double; of two kinds, degrees, etc. Shak.
BIFOLIATEBi*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaves; two-leaved.
BIFOLIOLATEBi*fo"li*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliolate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaflets, as some compound leaves.
BIFORATE Bif"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + foratus, p. p. of forare to bore or pierce.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two perforations.
BIFORINE Bif"o*rine, n. Etym: [L. biforis, biforus, having two doors; bis twice + foris door.] (Bot.)
Defn: An oval sac or cell, found in the leaves of certain plants of the order Araceæ. It has an opening at each end through which raphides, generated inside, are discharged.
BIFORKEDBi"forked, a.
Defn: Bifurcate.
BIFORM Bi"form, a. Etym: [L. biformis; bis twice + forma shape: cf. F. biforme.]
Defn: Having two forms, bodies, or shapes. Croxall.
BIFORMEDBi"formed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + form.]
Defn: Having two forms. Johnson.
BIFORMITYBi*form"i*ty, n.
Defn: A double form.
BIFORNBi*forn", prep. & adv.
Defn: Before. [Obs.]
BIFOROUS Bif"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. biforis having two doors; bis twice, two + foris door.]
Defn: See Biforate.
BIFRONTEDBi*front"ed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + front.]
Defn: Having two fronts. "Bifronted Janus." Massinger.
BIFURCATE; BIFURCATEDBi*fur"cate, Bi*fur"ca*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + furcate.]
Defn: Two-pronged; forked.
BIFURCATEBi*fur"cate, v. i.
Defn: To divide into two branches.
BIFURCATIONBi`fur*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bifurcation.]
Defn: A forking, or division into two branches.
BIFURCOUSBi*fur"cous, a. Etym: [L. bifurcus; bis twice + furca fork.]
Defn: See Bifurcate, a. [R.] Coles.
BIG Big, a. [compar. Bigger; superl. Biggest.] Etym: [Perh. from Celtic; cf. W. beichiog, beichiawg, pregnant, with child, fr. baich burden, Arm. beac'h; or cf. OE. bygly, Icel. biggiligr, (properly) habitable; (then) magnigicent, excellent, fr. OE. biggen, Icel. byggja, to dwell, build, akin to E. be.]
1. Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large. "He's too big to go in there." Shak.
2. Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; — often figuratively. [Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome. Addison.
3. Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride. God hath not in heaven a bigger argument. Jer. Taylor.
Note: Big is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, big-boned; big-sounding; big-named; big-voiced. To talk big, to talk loudly, arrogantly, or pretentiously. I talked big to them at first. De Foe.
Syn.— Bulky; large; great; massive; gross.
BIG; BIGGBig, Bigg, n. Etym: [OE. bif, bigge; akin to Icel. bygg, Dan. byg,Sw. bjugg.] (Bot.)
Defn: Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind."Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg." NewEnglish Dict.
BIG; BIGGBig, Bigg, v. t. Etym: [OE. biggen, fr. Icel. byggja to inhabit, tobuild, b (neut.) to dwell (active) to make ready. See Boor, andBound.]
Defn: To build. [Scot. & North of Eng. Dial.] Sir W. Scott.
BIGABi"ga, n. Etym: [L.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A two-horse chariot.
BIGAMBig"am, n. Etym: [L. bigamus twice married: cf. F. bigame. SeeBigamy.]
Defn: A bigamist. [Obs.]
BIGAMISTBig"a*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. Digamist.]
Defn: One who is guilty of bigamy. Ayliffe.
BIGAMOUSBig"a*mous, a.
Defn: Guilty of bigamy; involving bigamy; as, a bigamous marriage.
BIGAMY Big"a*my, n. Etym: [OE. bigamie, fr. L. bigamus twice married; bis twice + Gr. marriage; prob. akin to Skt. jamis related, and L. gemini twins, the root meaning to bind, join: cf. F. bigamie. Cf. Digamy.] (Law)
Defn: The offense of marrying one person when already legally married to another. Wharton.
Note: It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy: it more properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of wives or husbands at once, and in several statutes in the United States the offense is classed under the head of polygamy. In the canon law bigamy was the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after the death of the other, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man for orders, and for holding ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses the word in the latter sense. Blackstone. Bouvier. Base declension and loathed bigamy. Shak.
BIGARREAU; BIGAROON Big`ar*reau", Big`a*roon", n. Etym: [F. bigarreau, fr. bigarré variegated.] (Bot.)
Defn: The large white-heart cherry.
BIG-BELLIEDBig"-bel`lied, a.
Defn: Having a great belly; as, a big-bellied man or flagon; advanced in pregnancy.
BIG BEND STATEBig Bend State.
Defn: Tennessee; — a nickname.
BIGEMINATEBi*gem"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + geminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a forked petiole, and a pair of leaflets at the end of each division; biconjugate; twice paired; — said of a decompound leaf.
BIGENTIALBi*gen"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + L. gens, gentis, tribe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Including two tribes or races of men.
BIGEYEBig"eye`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Priacanthus, remarkable for the large size of the eye.
BIGGBigg, n. & v.
Defn: See Big, n. & v.
BIGGENBig"gen, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or become big; to enlarge. [Obs. or Dial.] Steele.
BIGGERBig"ger, a.
Defn: , compar. of Big.
BIGGESTBig"gest, a.
Defn: , superl. of Big.
BIGGINBig"gin, n. Etym: [F. béguin, prob. from the cap worn by theBéguines. Cf. Beguine, Biggon.]
Defn: A child's cap; a hood, or something worn on the head.An old woman's biggin for a nightcap. Massinger.
BIGGINBig"gin, n.
Defn: A coffeepot with a strainer or perforated metallic vessel for holding the ground coffee, through which boiling water is poured; — so called from Mr. Biggin, the inventor.
BIGGIN; BIGGINGBig"gin, Big"ging, n. Etym: [OE. bigging. See Big, Bigg, v. t.]
Defn: A building. [Obs.]
BIGGON; BIGGONNET Big"gon, Big"gon*net, n. Etym: [F. béguin and OF. beguinet, dim of béguin. See Biggin a cap.]
Defn: A cap or hood with pieces covering the ears.
BIGHABig"ha, n.
Defn: A measure of land in India, varying from a third of an acre to an acre.
BIGHORNBig"horn`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Rocky Mountain sheep (Ovis or Caprovis montana).
BIGHTBight, n. Etym: [OE. bi a bending; cf. Sw. & Dan. bugt bend, bay; fr.AS. byht, fr. b. sq. root88. Cf. Bout, Bought a bend, and see Bow,v.]
1. A corner, bend, or angle; a hollow; as, the bight of a horse's knee; the bight of an elbow.
2. (Geog.)
Defn: A bend in a coast forming an open bay; as, the Bight of Benin.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the ends; that is, a round, bend, or coil not including the ends; a loop.
BIGLANDULARBi*glan"du*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + glandular.]
Defn: Having two glands, as a plant.
BIGLYBig"ly, adv. Etym: [From Big, a.]
Defn: In a tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily; violently.He brawleth bigly. Robynson (More's Utopia. )
BIGNESSBig"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being big; largeness; size; bulk.
BIGNONIABig*no"ni*a, n. Etym: [Named from the Abbé Bignon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of American, mostly tropical, climbing shrubs, having compound leaves and showy somewhat tubular flowers. B. capreolata is the cross vine of the Southern United States. The trumpet creeper was formerly considered to be of this genus.
BIGNONIACEOUSBig*no`ni*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the trumpet flower is an example.
BIGOT Big"ot, n. Etym: [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s- bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that bigot is from the same source as Beguine, Beghard.]
1. A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]
2. A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion. To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe. Macaulay.