WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : (a) An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See Cognizance. (b) Improperly
Part of Speech : an
Definition : 4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak.

5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Syn. -- Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift. -- Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show; a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance.

heraldic bearing. Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addison. A banner with this strange device -Excelsior. Longfellow.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) A stout cloth stuff
Part of Speech : formerly
Definition : (b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window blinds and similar purposes.

made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting. Where didst thou buy this buff let me not live but I will give thee a good suit of durance. J. Webster.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) (Myth. & Poetic) A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating, and causing the reverberation of them. Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph
Part of Speech : that
Definition : Defn: A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice. Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo To give me answer from her mossy couch. Milton. Echo organ (Mus.), a set organ pipes inclosed in a box so as to produce a soft, distant effect; -- generally superseded by the swell. -- Echo stop (Mus.), a stop upon a harpsichord contrived for producing the soft effect of distant sound. -- To applaud to the echo, to give loud and continuous applause. M. Arnold. I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again. Shak.

liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell. Milton. (b) (Gr. Myth.)
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) The figure or shell of an escalop
Part of Speech : considered
Definition :

as a sign that the bearer had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Hence: (b) (Her.) A bearing or a charge consisting of an escalop shell.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures. (b) A social party at which the german is danced. High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German, used from the 8th t
Part of Speech : spoken
Definition :

in many dialects.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (d) (Biol.) Being of the same typical structure; having like relations to a fundamental type to structure; as, those bones in the hand of man and the fore foot of a horse are homologous that correspond in their structural relations, that is
Part of Speech : in
Definition :

thier relations to the type structure of the fore limb in vertebrates. Homologous stimulus. (Physiol.) See under Stimulus.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) A job, price, or profit. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. (b) A share of the proceeds or profits of an enterprise; as, when a man ships for a whaling voyage
Part of Speech : he
Definition : 4. (Textile Manuf.) (a) A measure of yarn; a les. See 1st Lea (a). (b) The lathe of a loom. See Lathe, 8.

5. A plan; a scheme. [Slang] Dickens. Lay figure. (a) A jointed model of the human body that may be put in any attitude; -- used for showing the disposition of drapery, etc. (b) A mere puppet; one who serves the will of others without independent volition. -- Lay race, that part of a lay on which the shuttle travels in weaving; -- called also shuttle race.

agrees for a certain lay. [U. S.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) The color of the olive, a peculiar dark brownish, yellowish, or tawny green. (b) One of the tertiary colors
Part of Speech : composed
Definition : 4. (Anat.)

Defn: An olivary body. See under Olivary.

5. (Cookery)

Defn: A small slice of meat seasoned, rolled up, and cooked; as, olives of beef or veal.

Note: Olive is sometimes used adjectively and in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, olive brown, olive green, olive- colored, olive-skinned, olive crown, olive garden, olive tree, olive yard, etc. Bohemian olive (Bot.), a species of El?agnus (E. angustifolia), the flowers of which are sometimes used in Southern Europe as a remedy for fevers. -- Olive branch. (a) A branch of the olive tree, considered an emblem of peace. (b) Fig.: A child. -- Olive brown, brown with a tinge of green. -- Olive green, a dark brownish green, like the color of the olive. -- Olive oil, an oil expressed from the ripe fruit of the olive, and much used as a salad oil, also in medicine and the arts. -- Olive ore (Min.), olivenite. -- Wild olive (Bot.), a name given to the oleaster or wild stock of the olive; also variously to several trees more or less resembling the olive.

of violet and green mixed in equal strength and proportion.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) (Arch.) A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like. (b) (Civil Engin.) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railwa
Part of Speech : adapted
Definition :

for drawing profiles.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) (Mech.) Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales. (b) (Chem. & Photog.) Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certa
Part of Speech : is
Definition : 4. Serving to affect the sense; sensible. [R.] A sensitive love of some sensitive objects. Hammond.

5. Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. E. Darwin. Sensitive fern (Bot.), an American fern (Onoclea sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a slight tendency to fold together. -- Sensitive flame (Physics), a gas flame so arranged that under a suitable adjustment of pressure it is exceedingly sensitive to sounds, being caused to roar, flare, or become suddenly shortened or extinguished, by slight sounds of the proper pitch. -- Sensitive joint vetch (Bot.), an annual leguminous herb (?schynomene hispida), with sensitive foliage. -- Sensitive paper, paper prepared for photographic purpose by being rendered sensitive to the effect of light. -- Sensitive plant. (Bot.) (a) A leguminous plant (Mimosa pudica, or M. sensitiva, and other allied species), the leaves of which close at the slightest touch. (b) Any plant showing motions after irritation, as the sensitive brier (Schrankia) of the Southern States, two common American species of Cassia (C. nictitans, and C. Cham?crista), a kind of sorrel (Oxalis sensitiva), etc.

-- Sen"si*tive*ly, adv. -- Sen"si*tive*ness, n.

extremely sensitive to actinic rays.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) An exorbitant discount on a note. [Cant, U.S.] (b) A premium paid for an extension of the time of delivery or payment, or for the right to vary a stock contract in any particular. [Cant
Part of Speech : U.S.]
Definition : 4. A hand tool consisting of a sharp blade with a handle at each end; a drawing knife; a spokeshave.

5. The act of passing very near to, so as almost to graze; as, the bullet missed by a close shave. [Colloq.] Shave grass (Bot.), the scouring rush. See the Note under Equisetum. -- Shave hook, a tool for scraping metals, consisting of a sharp- edged triangular steel plate attached to a shank and handle.

N. Biddle.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) (Law) One who sues or prosecutes a demand in court; a party to a suit, as a plaintiff, petitioner, etc. (b) (O. Eng. Law) One who attends a court as plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, appellant, witness, juror
Part of Speech : or
Definition :

the like.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket.
Definition : Half volley. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor. -- On the volley, at random. [Obs.] "What we spake on the volley begins work." Massinger. -- Volley gun, a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : 3. (Zo?l.)
Definition : Defn: Any one of numerous species of European moths of the family Leucanid?.

Note: They are reddish or yellowish, streaked or lined with black and white. Their larv? feed on grasses and sedges.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : (a) To drive hard, or force to violent exertion, as a horse, so as to render scant of wind; to put out of breath. (b) To rest, as a horse, in order to allow the breath to be recovered; to breathe. To wind a ship (Naut.), to turn it end for end
Part of Speech : so
Definition :

that the wind strikes it on the opposite side.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913