Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages)

by Noah Webster

<— p. 133 —>

BeÏgore¶ (?), v. t. To besmear with gore.
BeÏgot¶ (?), imp. & p. p. of Beget.
BeÏgot¶ten (?), p. p. of Beget.
BeÏgrave¶ (?), v. t. [Pref. beÏ + grave; akin to G. begraben, Goth. bigraban to dig a ditch around.] To bury; also, to engrave. [Obs.]
Gower.
BeÏgrease¶ (?), v. t. To soil or daub with grease or other oily matter.
BeÏgrime¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Begrimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Begriming.] To soil with grime or dirt deeply impressed or rubbed in.
Books falling to pieces and begrimed with dust.
Macaulay.
BeÏgrim¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, begrimes.
BeÏgrudge¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Begrudged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Begrudging.] To grudge; to envy the possession of.
BeÏguile¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beguiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Beguiling.] 1. To delude by guile, artifice, or craft; to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure.
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Gen. iii. 13.
2. To elude, or evade by craft; to foil. [Obs.]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage.
Shak.
3. To cause the time of to pass without notice; to relieve the tedium or weariness of; to while away; to divert.
Ballads … to beguile his incessant wayfaring.
W. Irving.
Syn. Ð To delude; deceive; cheat; insnare; mislead; amuse; divert; entertain.
BeÏguile¶ment (?), n. The act of beguiling, or the state of being beguiled.
BeÏguil¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, beguiles.
BeÏguil¶ing, a. Alluring by guile; deluding; misleading; diverting. Ð BeÏguil¶ingÏly, adv.
ØBe·guin¶ (?), n. [F.] See Beghard.
ØBe·gui·nage¶ (?), n. [F.] A collection of small houses surrounded by a wall and occupied by a community of Beguines.
ØBe·guine¶ (?), n. [F. b‚guine; LL. beguina, beghina; fr. Lambert le BŠgue (the Stammerer) the founder of the order. (Du Cange.)] A woman belonging to one of the religious and charitable associations or communities in the Netherlands, and elsewhere, whose members live in beguinages and are not bound by perpetual vows.
ØBe¶gum (?), n. [Per., fr. Turk., perh. properly queen mother, fr. Turk. beg (see Beg, n.) + Ar. umm mother.] In the East Indies, a princess or lady of high rank.
Malcom.
BeÏgun¶ (?), p. p. of Begin.
BeÏhalf¶ (?), n. [OE. onÏbehalve in the name of, bihalven by the side of, fr. AS. healf half, also side, part: akin to G. halb half, halber on account of. See BeÏ, and Half, n.] Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support; defense; vindication.
In behalf of his mistress's beauty.
Sir P. Sidney.
Against whom he had contracted some prejudice in behalf of his nation.
Clarendon.
In behalf of, in the interest of. Ð On behalf of, on account of; on the part of.
BeÏhap¶pen (?), v. t. To happen to. [Obs.]
BeÏhave¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Behaved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving.] [AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben (obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref. beÏ + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ] 1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain. [Obs.]
He did behave his anger ere 't was spent.
Shak.
2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; Ð used reflexively.
Those that behaved themselves manfully.
2 Macc. ii. 21.
BeÏhave¶, v. i. To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill.
µ This verb is often used colloquially without an adverb of manner; as, if he does not behave, he will be punished. It is also often applied to inanimate objects; as, the ship behaved splendidly.
BeÏhav¶ior (?), n. Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; Ð used also of inanimate objects; as, the behavior of a ship in a storm; the behavior of the magnetic needle.
A gentleman that is very singular in his behavior.
Steele.
To be upon one's good behavior, To be put upon one's good behavior, to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on propriety of conduct. Ð During good behavior, while (or so long as) one conducts one's self with integrity and fidelity or with propriety.
Syn. Ð Bearing; demeanor; manner. Ð Behavior, Conduct. Behavior is the mode in which we have or bear ourselves in the presence of others or toward them; conduct is the mode of our carrying ourselves forward in the concerns of life. Behavior respects our manner of acting in particular cases; conduct refers to the general tenor of our actions. We may say of soldiers, that their conduct had been praiseworthy during the whole campaign, and their behavior admirable in every instance when they met the enemy.
BeÏhead¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beheaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beheading.] [OE. bihefden, AS. behe fdian; pref. beÏ + he fod head. See Head.] To sever the head from; to take off the head of.
BeÏhead¶al (?), n. Beheading. [Modern]
BeÏheld¶ (?), imp. & p. p. of Behold.
Be¶heÏmoth (?), n. [Heb. behem?th, fr. Egyptian PÏeheÏmaut hippopotamus.] An animal, probably the hippopotamus, described in Job xl. 15Ð24.
Be¶hen (?), Behn (?), n. [Per. & Ar. bahman, behmen, an herb, whose leaves resemble ears of corn, saffron.] (Bot.) (a) The Centaurea behen, or sawÐleaved centaury. (b) The Cucubalus behen, or bladder campion, now called Silene inflata. (c) The Statice limonium, or sea lavender.
BeÏhest¶ (?), n. [OE. biheste promise, command, AS. beh?s promise; pref. beÏ + h?s command. See Hest, Hight.] 1. That which is willed or ordered; a command; a mandate; an injunction.
To do his master's high behest.
Sir W. Scott.
2. A vow; a promise. [Obs.]
The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made.
Paston.
BeÏhest¶, v. t. To vow. [Obs.]
Paston.
BeÏhete¶ (?), v. t. See Behight. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BeÏhight¶ (?), v. t. [imp. Behight; p. p. Behight, Behoten.] [ OE. bihaten, AS. beh¾tan to vow, promise; pref. beÏ + h¾tan to call, command. See Hight, v.] [Obs. in all its senses.] 1. To promise; to vow.
Behight by vow unto the chaste Minerve.
Surrey.
2. To give in trust; to commit; to intrust.
The keys are to thy hand behight.
Spenser.
3. To adjudge; to assign by authority.
The second was to Triamond behight.
Spenser.
4. To mean, or intend.
More than heart behighteth.
Mir. for Mag.
5. To consider or esteem to be; to declare to be.
All the lookersÏon him dead behight.
Spenser.
6. To call; to name; to address.
Whom … he knew and thus behight.
Spenser.
7. To command; to order.
He behight those gates to be unbarred.
Spenser.
BeÏhight¶, n. A vow; a promise. [Obs.]
Surrey.
BeÏhind¶ (?), prep. [AS. behindan; pref. beÏ + hindan. See Hind, a.] 1. On the side opposite the front or nearest part; on the back side of; at the back of; on the other side of; as, behind a door; behind a hill.
A tall Brabanter, behind whom I stood.
Bp. Hall.
2. Left after the departure of, whether this be by removing to a distance or by death.
A small part of what he left behind him.
Pope.
3. Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement.
I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
2 Cor. xi. 5.
BeÏhind¶, adv. 1. At the back part; in the rear. ½I shall not lag behind.¸
Milton.
2. Toward the back part or rear; backward; as, to look behind.
3. Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.
We can not be sure that there is no evidence behind.
Locke.
4. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
Forgetting those things which are behind.
Phil. ii. 13.
5. After the departure of another; as, to stay behind.
Leave not a rack behind.
Shak.
BeÏhind¶, n. The backside; the rump. [Low]
BeÏhind¶hand· (?), adv. & a. [Behind + hand.]
1. In arrears financially; in a state where expenditures have exceeded the receipt of funds.
2. In a state of backwardness, in respect to what is seasonable or appropriate, or as to what should have been accomplished; not equally forward with some other person or thing; dilatory; backward; late; tardy; as, behindhand in studies or in work.
In this also [dress] the country are very much behindhand.
Addison.
BeÏhith¶er (?), prep. On this side of. [Obs.]
Two miles behither Clifden.
Evelyn.
BeÏhold¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beheld (?) (p. p. formerly Beholden (?), now used only as a p. a.); p. pr. & vb. n. Beholding.] [OE. bihalden, biholden, AS. behealdan to hold, have in sight; pref. beÏ + healdan to hold, keep; akin to G. behalten to hold, keep. See Hold.] To have in sight; to see clearly; to look at; to regard with the eyes.
When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Num. xxi. 9.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John. i. 29.
Syn. Ð To scan; gaze; regard; descry; view; discern.
BeÏhold¶, v. i. To direct the eyes to, or fix them upon, an object; to look; to see.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, … a lamb as it had been slain.
Rev. v. 6.
BeÏhold¶en (?), p. a. [Old p. p. of behold, used in the primitive sense of the simple verb hold.] Obliged; bound in gratitude; indebted.
But being so beholden to the Prince.
Tennyson.
BeÏhold¶er (?), n. One who beholds; a spectator.
BeÏhold¶ing, a. Obliged; beholden. [Obs.]
I was much bound and beholding to the right reverend father.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
So much hath Oxford been beholding to her nephews, or sister's children.
Fuller.
BeÏhold¶ing, n. The act of seeing; sight; also, that which is beheld.
Shak.
BeÏhold¶ingÏness, n., The state of being obliged or beholden. [Obs.]
Sir P. Sidney.
BeÏhoof¶ (?), n. [OE. to bihove for the use of, AS. beh?f advantage, a word implied in beh?flÆc necessary; akin to Sw. behof, Dan. behov, G. behuf, and E. heave, the root meaning to seize, hence the meanings ½to hold, make use of.¸ See Heave, v. t.] Advantage; profit; benefit; interest; use.
No mean recompense it brings
To your behoof.
Milton.
BeÏhoov¶aÏble (?), a. Supplying need; profitable; advantageous. [Obs.]
Udall.
BeÏhoove¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Behooved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Behooving.] [OE. bihoven, behoven, AS. beh?fian to have need of, fr. beh?f. See Behoof.] To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; Ð mostly used impersonally.
And thus it behooved Christ to suffer.
Luke xxiv. 46.
[Also written behove.]
BeÏhoove¶ (?), v. i. To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due.
Chaucer.
BeÏhoove¶, n. Advantage; behoof. [Obs.]
It shall not be to his behoove.
Gower.
BeÏhoove¶ful (?), a. Advantageous; useful; profitable. [Archaic] Ð BeÏhoove¶fulÏly, adv. Ð BeÏhoove¶fulÏness, n. [Archaic]
BeÏhove¶ (?), v., and derivatives. See Behoove, & c.
BeÏhove¶ly, a. & adv. Useful, or usefully. [Obs.]
BeÏhowl¶ (?), v. t. To howl at. [Obs.]
The wolf behowls the moon.
Shak.
ØBeige (?), n. [F.] Debeige.
Beild (?), n. [Prob. from the same root as build, v. t.] A place of shelter; protection; refuge. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] [Also written bield and beeld.]
The random beild o' clod or stane.
Burns.
Be¶ing (?), p. pr. from Be. Existing.
µ Being was formerly used where we now use having. ½Being to go to a ball in a few days.¸ Miss Edgeworth.
µ In modern usage, is, are, was or were being, with a past participle following (as built, made, etc.) indicates the process toward the completed result expressed by the participle. The form is or was building, in this passive signification, is idiomatic, and, if free from ambiguity, is commonly preferable to the modern is or was being built. The last form of speech is, however, sufficiently authorized by approved writers. The older expression was is, or was, aÐbuilding or in building.
A man who is being strangled.
Lamb.
While the article on Burns was being written.
Froude.
Fresh experience is always being gained.
Jowett (Thucyd.)
Be¶ing, n. 1. Existence, as opposed to nonexistence; state or sphere of existence.
In Him we live, and move, and have our being.
Acts xvii. 28.
2. That which exists in any form, whether it be material or spiritual, actual or ideal; living existence, as distinguished from a thing without life; as, a human being; spiritual beings.
What a sweet being is an honest mind !
Beau. & Fl.
A Being of infinite benevolence and power.
Wordsworth.
3. Lifetime; mortal existence. [Obs.]
Claudius, thou
Wast follower of his fortunes in his being.
Webster (1654).
4. An abode; a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]
Wright.
It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.
Steele.
Be¶ing, adv. Since; inasmuch as. [Obs. or Colloq.]
And being you have
Declined his means, you have increased his malice.
Beau. & Fl.
BeÏjade¶ (?), v. t. To jade or tire. [Obs.]
Milton.
BeÏjape¶ (?), v. t. To jape; to laugh at; to deceive. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BeÏjaun¶dice (?), v. t. To infect with jaundice.
BeÏjew¶el (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bejeweled or Bejewelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bejeweling or Bejewelling.] To ornament with a jewel or with jewels; to spangle. ½Bejeweled hands.¸
Thackeray.
BeÏjum¶ble (?), v. t. To jumble together.
ØBe¶kah (?), n. [Heb.] Half a shekel.
BeÏknave¶ (?), v. t. To call knave. [Obs.]
Pope.
BeÏknow¶ (?), v. t. To confess; to acknowledge. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Bel (?), n. The Babylonian name of the god known among the Hebrews as Baal. See Baal.
Baruch vi. 41.
BeÏla¶bor (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belabored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belaboring.] 1. To ply diligently; to work carefully upon. ½If the earth is belabored with culture, it yieldeth corn.¸
Barrow.
2. To beat soundly; to cudgel.
Ajax belabors there a harmless ox.
Dryden.
Bel·ÐacÏcoyle¶ (?), n. [F. bel beautiful + accueil reception.] A kind or favorable reception or salutation. [Obs.]
BeÏlace¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belaced (?).]
1. To fasten, as with a lace or cord. [Obs.]
2. To cover or adorn with lace. [Obs.]
Beaumont.
3. To beat with a strap. See Lace. [Obs.]
Wright.
BeÏlam¶ (?), v. t. [See Lam.] To beat or bang. [Prov. & Low, Eng.]
Todd.
Bel¶aÏmour (?), n. [F. bel amour fair love.] 1. A lover. [Obs.]
Spenser.
2. A flower, but of what kind is unknown. [Obs.]
Her snowy brows, like budded belamours.
Spenser.
Bel¶aÏmy (?), n. [F. bel ami fair friend.] Good friend; dear friend. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BeÏlate¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belated; p. pr. & vb. n. Belating.] To retard or make too late.
Davenant.
BeÏlat¶ed, a. Delayed beyond the usual time; too late; overtaken by night; benighted. ½Some belated peasant.¸ Milton. Ð BeÏlat¶edÏness, n. Milton.
BeÏlaud¶ (?), v. t. To laud or praise greatly.
BeÏlay¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belaid, Belayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belaying.] [For senses 1 & 2, D. beleggen to cover, belay; akin to E. pref. beÏ, and lay to place: for sense 3, OE. beleggen, AS. belecgan. See pref. BeÏ, and Lay to place.] 1. To lay on or cover; to adorn. [Obs.]
Jacket … belayed with silver lace.
Spenser.
2. (Naut.) To make fast, as a rope, by taking several turns with it round a pin, cleat, or kevel.
Totten.
3. To lie in wait for with a view to assault. Hence: to block up or obstruct. [Obs.]
Dryden.
Belay thee! Stop.

<— p. 134 —>

BeÏlay¶ing pin· (?). (Naut.) A strong pin in the side of a vessel, or by the mast, round which ropes are wound when they are fastened or belayed.
Belch (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belching.] [OE. belken, AS. bealcan, akin to E. bellow. See Bellow, v. i.] 1. To eject or throw up from the stomach with violence; to eruct.
I belched a hurricane of wind.
Swift.
2. To eject violently from within; to cast forth; to ?mit; to give vent to; to vent.
Within the gates that now
Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame.
Milton.
Belch, v. i. 1. To eject wind from the stomach through the mouth; to eructate.
2. To issue with spasmodic force or noise.
Dryden.
Belch, n. 1. The act of belching; also, that which is belched; an eructation.
2. Malt liquor; Ð vulgarly so called as causing eructation. [Obs.]
Dennis.
Belch¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, belches.
Bel¶dam Bel¶dame } (?), n. [Pref. belÏ, denoting relationship + dame mother: cf. F. belledame fair lady, It. belladonna. See Belle, and Dame.]
1. Grandmother; Ð corresponding to belsire.
To show the beldam daughters of her daughter.
Shak.
2. An old woman in general; especially, an ugly old woman; a hag.
Around the beldam all erect they hang.
Akenside.
BeÏlea¶guer (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beleaguered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Beleaguering.] [D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. bel„gra, Dan. beleire); pref. beÏ = E. beÏ + leger bed, camp, army, akin to E. lair. See Lair.] To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege; to blockade.
The wail of famine in beleaguered towns.
Longfellow.
Syn. Ð To block up; environ; invest; encompass.
BeÏlea¶guerÏer (?), n. One who beleaguers.
BeÏleave¶ (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p.p. Beleft (?).] To leave or to be left. [Obs.]
May.
BeÏlec¶ture (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belectured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belecturing.] To vex with lectures; to lecture frequently.
BeÏlee¶ (?), v. t. To place under the lee, or unfavorably to the wind.
Shak.
BeÏlem¶nite (?), n. [Gr. ? dart, fr. ? dart, fr. ? to throw: cf. F. b‚lemnite.] (Paleon.) A conical calcareous fossil, tapering to a point at the lower extremity, with a conical cavity at the other end, where it is ordinarily broken; but when perfect it contains a small chambered cone, called the phragmocone, prolonged, on one side, into a delicate concave blade; the thunderstone. It is the internal shell of a cephalopod related to the sepia, and belonging to an extinct family. The belemnites are found in rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous ages. Ð BelÏemÏnit¶ic, a.
BeÏlep¶er (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belepered (?).] To infect with leprosy. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
ØBel¶ÐesÏprit¶ (?), n.; pl. BeauxÏesprits (?). [F., fine wit.] A fine genius, or man of wit. ½A man of letters and a bel esprit.¸
W. Irving.
Bel¶fry (?), n. [OE. berfray movable tower used in sieges, OF. berfreit, berfroit, F. beffroi, fr. MHG. bervrit, bercvrit, G. bergfriede, fr. MHG. bergen to protect (G. bergen to conceal) + vride peace, protection, G. friede peace; in compounds often taken in the sense of security, or place of security; orig. therefore a place affording security. G. friede is akin to E. free. See Burg, and Free.] 1. (Mil. Antiq.) A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense.
2. A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile.
3. A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose.
4. (Naut.) The framing on which a bell is suspended.
BelÏgard¶ (?), n. [It. bel guardo.] A sweet or loving look. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Bel¶giÏan (?), a. Of or pertaining to Belgium. Ð n. A native or inhabitant of Belgium.
Bel¶gic (?), a. [L. Belgicus, fr. Belgae the Belgians.] 1. Of or pertaining to the Belg‘, a German tribe who anciently possessed the country between the Rhine, the Seine, and the ocean.
How unlike their Belgic sires of old.
Goldsmith.
2. Of or pertaining to the Netherlands or to Belgium.
BelÏgra¶viÏan (?), a. Belonging to Belgravia (a fashionable quarter of London, around Pimlico), or to fashionable life; aristocratic.
Be¶liÏal (?), n. [Heb. beli ya'al; beli without + ya'al profit.] An evil spirit; a wicked and unprincipled person; the personification of evil.
What concord hath Christ with Belia ?
2 Cor. vi. 15.
A son (or man) of Belial, a worthless, wicked, or thoroughly depraved person.
1 Sam. ii. 12.
BeÏli¶bel (?), v. t. [See Libel, v. t. ] To libel or traduce; to calumniate.
Fuller.
BeÏlie¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belying (?).] [OE. bilien, bili?en, AS. bele¢gan; pref. beÏ + le¢gan to lie. See Lie, n.] 1. To show to be false; to convict of, or charge with, falsehood.
Their trembling hearts belie their boastful tongues.
Dryden.
2. To give a false representation or account of.
Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts.
Shak.
3. To tell lie about; to calumniate; to slander.
Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him.
Shak.
4. To mimic; to counterfeit. [Obs.]
Dryden.
5. To fill with lies. [Obs.] ½The breath of slander] doth belie all corners of the world.¸
Shak.
BeÏlief¶ (?), n. [OE. bileafe, bileve; cf. AS. gele fa. See Believe.] 1. Assent to a proposition or affirmation, or the acceptance of a fact, opinion, or assertion as real or true, without immediate personal knowledge; reliance upon word or testimony; partial or full assurance without positive knowledge or absolute certainty; persuasion; conviction; confidence; as, belief of a witness; the belief of our senses.
Belief admits of all degrees, from the slightest suspicion to the fullest assurance.
Reid.
2. (Theol.) A persuasion of the truths of religion; faith.
No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and earth.
Hooker.
3. The thing believed; the object of belief.
Superstitious prophecies are not only the belief of fools, but the talk sometimes of wise men.
Bacon.
4. A tenet, or the body of tenets, held by the advocates of any class of views; doctrine; creed.
In the heat of persecution to which Christian belief was subject upon its first promulgation.
Hooker.
Ultimate belief, a first principle incapable of proof; an intuitive truth; an intuition.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Syn. Ð Credence; trust; reliance; assurance; opinion.
BeÏlief¶ful (?), a. Having belief or faith.
BeÏliev¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being believed; credible. Ð BeÏliev¶aÏbleÏness, n. Ð BeÏliev·aÏbil¶iÏty (?), n.
BeÏlieve¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Believed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.] [OE. bileven (with pref. beÏ for AS. geÏ), fr. AS. gel?fan, gel?fan; akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil?bian, Goth. galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.] To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I now
Of force believe almighty).
Milton.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?
Acts xxvi. ?7.
Often followed by a dependent clause.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts viii. 37.
Syn. Ð See Expect.
BeÏlieve¶, v. i. 1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark ix. 24.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
Rom. x. 10.
2. To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you.
Fielding.
To believe in. (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; Ð as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. ½She does not believe in Jupiter.¸ J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; Ð especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy. ½Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.¸ John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in abstinence from alcoholic beverages. Ð To believe on, to accept implicitly as an object of religious trust or obedience; to have faith in.
BeÏliev¶er (?), n. 1. One who believes; one who is persuaded of the truth or reality of some doctrine, person, or thing.
2. (Theol.) One who gives credit to the truth of the Scriptures, as a revelation from God; a Christian; Ð in a more restricted sense, one who receives Christ as his Savior, and accepts the way of salvation unfolded in the gospel.
Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Book of Com. Prayer.
3. (Eccl. Hist.) One who was admitted to all the rights of divine worship and instructed in all the mysteries of the Christian religion, in distinction from a catechumen, or one yet under instruction.
BeÏliev¶ing, a. That believes; having belief. Ð BeÏliev¶ingÏly, adv.
BeÏlight¶ (?), v. t. To illuminate. [Obs.]
Cowley.
BeÏlike¶ (?), adv. [Pref. beÏ (for by) + like.] It is likely or probably; perhaps. [Obs. or Archaic] Ð BeÏlike¶ly, adv.
Belike, boy, then you are in love.
Shak.
BeÏlime¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belimed (?).] To besmear or insnare with birdlime.
BeÏlit¶tle (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belittled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belittling.] To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way.
T. Jefferson.
BeÏlive¶ (?), adv. [Cf. Live, a.] Forthwith; speedily; quickly. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Belk (?), v. t. [See Belch.] To vomit. [Obs.]
Bell (?), n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See Bellow.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck.
µ Bells have been made of various metals, but the best have always been, as now, of an alloy of copper and tin.
The Liberty Bell, the famous bell of the Philadelphia State House, which rang when the Continental Congress declared the Independence of the United States, in 1776. It had been cast in 1753, and upon it were the words ½Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof.¸
2. A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved.
3. Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower. ½In a cowslip's bell I lie.¸
Shak.
4. (Arch.) That part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.
5. pl. (Naut.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated.
µ On shipboard, time is marked by a bell, which is struck eight times at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock. Half an hour after it has struck ½eight bells¸ it is struck once, and at every succeeding half hour the number of strokes is increased by one, till at the end of the four hours, which constitute a watch, it is struck eight times.
To bear away the bell, to win the prize at a race where the prize was a bell; hence, to be superior in something. Fuller. Ð To bear the bell, to be the first or leader; Ð in allusion to the bellwether or a flock, or the leading animal of a team or drove, when wearing a bell. Ð To curse by bell, book, and candle, a solemn form of excommunication used in the Roman Catholic church, the bell being tolled, the book of offices for the purpose being used, and three candles being extinguished with certain ceremonies. Nares. Ð To lose the bell, to be worsted in a contest. ½In single fight he lost the bell.¸ Fairfax. Ð To shake the bells, to move, five notice, or alarm.
Shak.
µ Bell is much used adjectively or in combinations; as, bell clapper; bell foundry; bell hanger; bellÏmouthed; bell tower, etc., which, for the most part, are selfÏexplaining.
Bell arch (Arch.), an arch of unusual form, following the curve of an ogee. Ð Bell cage, or Bell carriage (Arch.), a timber frame constructed to carry one or more large bells. Ð Bell cot (Arch.), a small or subsidiary construction, frequently corbeled out from the walls of a structure, and used to contain and support one or more bells. Ð Bell deck (Arch.), the floor of a belfry made to serve as a roof to the rooms below. Ð Bell founder, one whose occupation it is to found or cast bells. Ð Bell foundry, or Bell foundery, a place where bells are founded or cast. Ð Bell gable (Arch.), a small gableÏshaped construction, pierced with one or more openings, and used to contain bells. Ð Bell glass. See Bell jar. Ð Bell hanger, a man who hangs or puts up bells. Ð Bell pull, a cord, handle, or knob, connecting with a bell or bell wire, and which will ring the bell when pulled. Aytoun. Ð Bell punch, a kind of conductor's punch which rings a bell when used. Ð Bell ringer, one who rings a bell or bells, esp. one whose business it is to ring a church bell or chime, or a set of musical bells for public entertainment. Ð Bell roof (Arch.), a roof shaped according to the general lines of a bell. Ð Bell rope, a rope by which a church or other bell is rung. Ð Bell tent, a circular conicalÏtopped tent. Ð Bell trap, a kind of bell shaped stench trap.
Bell (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belling.] 1. To put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat.
2. To make bellÏmouthed; as, to bell a tube.
Bell, v. i. To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom; as, hops bell.
Bell, v. t. [AS. bellan. See Bellow.] To utter by bellowing. [Obs.]
Bell, v.i. To call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a bellowing sound; to roar.
As loud as belleth wind in hell.
Chaucer.
The wild buck bells from ferny brake.
Sir W. Scott.
Bel·laÏdon¶na (?), n. [It., literally fine lady; bella beautiful + donna lady.] (Bot.) (a) An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bellÏshaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade. (b) A species of Amaryllis. (A. belladonna); the belladonna lily.
Bell¶ an·iÏmal¶cule (?). (Zo”l.) An infusorian of the family Vorticellid‘, common in freshÏwater ponds.
Bell¶ bear·er (?). (Zo”l.) A Brazilian leaf hopper (Bocydium tintinnabuliferum), remarkable for the four bellÏshaped appendages of its thorax.
Bell¶bird· (?), n. [So called from their notes.] (Zo”l.) (a) A South American bird of the genus Casmarhincos, and family Cotingid‘, of several species; the campanero. (b) The Myzantha melanophrys of Australia.
Bell¶ crank· (?). A lever whose two arms form a right angle, or nearly a right angle, having its fulcrum at the apex of the angle. It is used in bell pulls and in changing the direction of bell wires at angles of rooms, etc., and also in machinery.

<— p. 135 —>

Belle (?), n. [F. belle, fem. of bel, beau, beautiful, fine. See Beau.] A young lady of superior beauty and attractions; a handsome lady, or one who attracts notice in society; a fair lady.
Belled (?), a. Hung with a bell or bells.
BelleÐlet¶trist (?), n. One versed in belleslettres.
ØBelÏler¶oÏphon (?), n. (Paleon.) A genus of fossil univalve shells, believed to belong to the Heteropoda, peculiar to the Paleozoic age.
ØBellesÐlet¶tres (?), n. pl. [F.] Polite or elegant literature; the humanities; Ð used somewhat vaguely for literary works in which imagination and taste are predominant.
Bel·leÏtris¶tic (?), Bel·leÏtris¶ticÏal (?), } a. Occupied with, or pertaining to, bellesÏlettres. ½An unlearned, belletristic trifler.¸
M. Arnold.
Bell¶Ðfaced· (?), a. Having the striking surface convex; Ð said of hammers.
Bell¶flow·er (?), n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Campanula; Ð so named from its bellÏshaped flowers.
Bell¶flow·er, n. [ F. bellefleur, lit., beautiful flower.] A kind of apple. The yellow bellflower is a large, yellow winter apple. [Written also bellefleur.]
Bel¶liÏbone (?), n. [F. belle et bonne, beautiful and good.] A woman excelling both in beauty and goodness; a fair maid. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Bel¶lic (?), Bel¶liÏcal (?), } a. [L. bellicus. See Bellicose.] Of or pertaining to war; warlike; martial. [Obs.] ½Bellic C‘sar.¸
Feltham.
Bel¶liÏcose· (?), a. [L. bellicosus, fr. bellicus of war, fr. bellum war. See Duel.] Inclined to war or contention; warlike; pugnacious.
Arnold was, in fact, in a bellicose vein.
W. Irving.
Bel¶liÏcose·ly, adv. In a bellicose manner.
Bel¶liÏcous (?), a. Bellicose. [Obs.]
Bel¶lied (?), a. Having (such) a belly; puffed out; Ð used in composition; as, potÏbellied; shadÏbellied.
BelÏlig¶erÏence (?), BelÏlig¶erÏenÏcy (?), } n. The quality of being belligerent; act or state of making war; warfare.
BelÏlig¶erÏent (?), a. [L. bellum war + gerens, Ïentis, waging, p. pr. of gerere to wage: cf. F. bellig‚rant. See Bellicose, Jest.] 1. Waging war; carrying on war. ½Belligerent powers.¸
E. Everett.
2. Pertaining, or tending, to war; of or relating to belligerents; as, a belligerent tone; belligerent rights.
BelÏlig¶erÏent, n. A nation or state recognized as carrying on war; a person engaged in warfare.
BelÏlig¶erÏentÏly, adv. In a belligerent manner; hostilely.
Bell¶ing (?), n. [From Bell to bellow.] A bellowing, as of a deer in rutting time.
Johnson.
BelÏlip¶oÏtent (?), a. [ L. bellipotens; bellum war + potens powerful, p. pr. of posse to be able.] Mighty in war; armipotent. [R.]
Blount.
Bell¶ jar· (?). (Phys.) A glass vessel, varying in size, open at the bottom and closed at the top like a bell, and having a knob or handle at the top for lifting it. It is used for a great variety of purposes; as, with the air pump, and for holding gases, also for keeping the dust from articles exposed to view.
Bell¶man (?), n. A man who rings a bell, especially to give notice of anything in the streets. Formerly, also, a night watchman who called the hours.
Milton.
Bell¶ met·al (?). A hard alloy or bronze, consisting usually of about three parts of copper to one of tin; Ð used for making bells.
Bell metal ore, a sulphide of tin, copper, and iron; the mineral stannite.
Bell¶Ðmouthed· (?), a. Expanding at the mouth; as, a bellÐmouthed gun.
Byron.
Bel¶lon (?), n. Lead colic.
ØBelÏlo¶na (?), n. [L., from bellum war.] (Rom. Myth.) The goddess of war.
Bel¶low (?), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Bellowed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bellowing.] [OE. belwen, belowen, AS. bylgean, fr. bellan; akin to G. bellen, and perh. to L. flere to weep, OSlav. bleja to bleat, Lith. balsas voice. Cf. Bell, n. & v., Bawl, Bull.] 1. To make a hollow, loud noise, as an enraged bull.
2. To bowl; to vociferate; to clamor.
Dryden.
3. To roar; as the sea in a tempest, or as the wind when violent; to make a loud, hollow, continued sound.
The bellowing voice of boiling seas.
Dryden.
Bel¶low, v. t. To emit with a loud voice; to shout; Ð used with out. ½Would bellow out a laugh.¸
Dryden.
Bel¶low, n. A loud resounding outcry or noise, as of an enraged bull; a roar.
Bel¶lowÏer (?), n. One who, or that which, bellows.
Bel¶lows (?), n. sing. & pl. [OE. bely, below, belly, bellows, AS. b‘lg, b‘lig, bag, bellows, belly. Bellows is prop. a pl. and the orig. sense is bag. See Belly.] An instrument, utensil, or machine, which, by alternate expansion and contraction, or by rise and fall of the top, draws in air through a valve and expels it through a tube for various purposes, as blowing fires, ventilating mines, or filling the pipes of an organ with wind.
Bellows camera, in photography, a form of camera, which can be drawn out like an accordion or bellows. Ð Hydrostatic bellows. See Hydrostatic. Ð A pair of bellows, the ordinary household instrument for blowing fires, consisting of two nearly heartÐshaped boards with handles, connected by leather, and having a valve and tube.
Bel¶lows fish· (?). (Zo”l.) A European fish (Centriscus scolopax), distinguished by a long tubular snout, like the pipe of a bellows; Ð called also trumpet fish, and snipe fish.
Bell¶ pep·per (?). (Bot.) A species of Capsicum, or Guinea pepper (C. annuum). It is the red pepper of the gardens.
Bell¶Ðshaped· (?), a. Having the shape of a widemouthed bell; campanulate.
Bel¶luÏine (?), a. [L. belluinus, fr. bellua beast.] Pertaining to, or like, a beast; brutal. [R.]
Animal and belluine life.
Atterbury.
Bell¶weth·er (?), n. 1. A wether, or sheep, which leads the flock, with a bell on his neck.
2. Hence: A leader. [Contemptuous]
Swift.
Bell¶wort¶ (?), n. (Bot.) A genus of plants (Uvularia) with yellowish bellÏshaped flowers.
Bel¶ly (?), n.; pl. Bellies (?). [OE. bali, bely, AS. belg, b‘lg, b‘lig, bag, bellows, belly; akin to Icel. belgr bag, bellows, Sw. b„lg, Dan. b‘lg, D. & G. balg, cf. W. bol the paunch or belly, dim. boly, Ir. bolg. Cf. Bellows, Follicle, Fool, Bilge.] 1. That part of the human body which extends downward from the breast to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines; the abdomen.
µ Formerly all the splanchnic or visceral cavities were called bellies; Ð the lower belly being the abdomen; the middle belly, the thorax; and the upper belly, the head.
Dunglison.
2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human belly.
Underneath the belly of their steeds.
Shak.
3. The womb. [Obs.]
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.
Jer. i. 5.
4. The part of anything which resembles the human belly in protuberance or in cavity; the innermost part; as, the belly of a flask, muscle, sail, ship.
Out of the belly of hell cried I.
Jonah ii. 2.
5. (Arch.) The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the convex part of which is the back.
Belly doublet, a doublet of the 16th century, hanging down so as to cover the belly. Shak. Ð Belly fretting, the chafing of a horse's belly with a girth. Johnson. Ð Belly timber, food. [Ludicrous] Prior. Ð Belly worm, a worm that breeds or lives in the belly (stomach or intestines). Johnson.
Bel¶ly, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bellied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bellying.] To cause to swell out; to fill. [R.]
Your breath of full consent bellied his sails.
Shak.
Bel¶ly, v. i. To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge.
The bellying canvas strutted with the gale.
Dryden.
Bel¶lyÏache· (?), n. Pain in the bowels; colic.
Bel¶lyÏband· (?), n. 1. A band that passes under the belly of a horse and holds the saddle or harness in place; a girth.
2. A band of flannel or other cloth about the belly.
3. (Naut.) A band of canvas, to strengthen a sail.
Bel¶lyÏbound· (?), a. Costive; constipated.
Bel¶lyÏcheat· (?), n. An apron or covering for the front of the person. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
Bel¶lyÏcheer· (?), n. [Perh. from F. belle chŠre.] Good cheer; viands. [Obs.] ½Bellycheer and banquets.¸ Rowlands. ½Loaves and bellycheer.¸ Milton.
Bel¶lyÏcheer·, v. i. To revel; to feast. [Obs.]
A pack of clergymen [assembled] by themselves to bellycheer in their presumptuous Sion.
Milton.
Bel¶lyÏful (?), n. As much as satisfies the appetite. Hence: A great abundance; more than enough.
Lloyd.
King James told his son that he would have his bellyful of parliamentary impeachments.
Johnson.
Bel¶lyÐgod· (?), n. One whose great pleasure it is to gratify his appetite; a glutton; an epicure.
Bel¶lyÐpinched· (?), a. Pinched with hunger; starved. ½The bellyÐpinched wolf.¸
Shak.
BeÏlock¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belocked (?).] [Pref. beÏ + lock: cf. AS. bel?can.] To lock, or fasten as with a lock. [Obs.]
Shak.
Bel¶oÏman·cy (?), n. [Gr. ?; ? arrow + ? a diviner: cf. F. b‚lomancie.] A kind of divination anciently practiced by means of marked arrows drawn at random from a bag or quiver, the marks on the arrows drawn being supposed to foreshow the future.
Encyc. Bri?.
BeÏlong¶ (?), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Belonged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Belonging.] [OE. belongen (akin to D. belangen to concern, G. belangen to attain to, to concern); pref. beÏ + longen to desire. See Long, v. i.] [Usually construed with to.] 1. To be the property of; as, Jamaica belongs to Great Britain.
2. To be a part of, or connected with; to be appendant or related; to owe allegiance or service.
A desert place belonging to … Bethsaids.
Luke ix. 10.
The mighty men which belonged to David.
1 Kings i. 8.
3. To be the concern or proper business or function of; to appertain to. ½Do not interpretations belong to God ?¸
Gen. xl. 8.
4. To be suitable for; to be due to.
Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age.
Heb. v. 14.
No blame belongs to thee.
Shak.
5. To be native to, or an inhabitant of; esp. to have a legal residence, settlement, or inhabitancy, whether by birth or operation of law, so as to be entitled to maintenance by the parish or town.
Bastards also are settled in the parishes to which the mothers belong.
Blackstone.
BeÏlong¶ (?), v. t. To be deserved by. [Obs.]
More evils belong us than happen to us.
B. Jonson.
BeÏlong¶ing, n. [Commonly in the pl.] 1. That which belongs to one; that which pertains to one; hence, goods or effects. ½Thyself and thy belongings.¸
Shak.
2. That which is connected with a principal or greater thing; an appendage; an appurtenance.
3. Family; relations; household. [Colloq.]
Few persons of her ladyship's belongings stopped, before they did her bidding, to ask her reasons.
Thackeray.
Bel¶oÏnite (?), n. [Gr. ? a needle.] (Min.) Minute acicular or dendritic crystalline forms sometimes observed in glassy volcanic rocks.
BelÏoo¶che BelÏoo¶chee } (?), a. Of or pertaining to Beloochistan, or to its inhabitants. Ð n. A native or an inhabitant of Beloochistan.
BeÏlord¶ (?), v. t. 1. To act the lord over.
2. To address by the title of ½lord¸.
BeÏlove¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beloved (?).] [OE. bilufien. See pref. BeÏ, and Love, v. t.] To love. [Obs.]
Wodroephe.
BeÏloved¶ (?), p. p. & a. Greatly loved; dear to the heart.
Antony, so well beloved of C‘sar.
Shak.
This is my beloved Son.
Matt. iii. 17.
BeÏlov¶ed (?), n. One greatly loved.
My beloved is mine, and I am his.
Cant. ii. 16.
BeÏlow¶ (?), prep. [ Pref. beÏ by + low.] 1. Under, or lower in place; beneath not so high; as, below the moon; below the knee.
Shak.
2. Inferior to in rank, excellence, dignity, value, amount, price, etc.; lower in quality. ½One degree below kings.¸
Addison.
3. Unworthy of; unbefitting; beneath.
They beheld, with a just loathing and disdain, … how below all history the persons and their actions were.
Milton.
Who thinks no fact below his regard.
Hallam.
Syn. Ð Underneath; under; beneath.
BeÏlow¶, adv. 1. In a lower place, with respect to any object; in a lower room; beneath.
Lord Marmion waits below.
Sir W. Scott.
2. On the earth, as opposed to the heavens.
The fairest child of Jove below.
Prior.
3. In hell, or the regions of the dead.
What businesss brought him to the realms below.
Dryden.
4. In court or tribunal of inferior jurisdiction; as, at the trial below.
Wheaton.
5. In some part or page following.
BeÏlowt¶ (?), v. t. To treat as a lout; to talk abusively to. [Obs.]
Camden.
Bel¶sire· (?), n. [Pref. belÏ + sire. Cf. Beldam.] A grandfather, or ancestor. ½His great belsire Brute.¸ [Obs.]
Drayton.
Bel¶swag·ger (?), n. [Contr. from bellyswagger.] A lewd man; also, a bully. [Obs.]
Dryden.
Belt (?), n. [AS. belt; akin to Icel. belti, Sw. b„lte, Dan. b‘lte, OHG. balz, L. balteus, Ir. & Gael. balt bo?der, belt.] 1. That which engirdles a person or thing; a band or girdle; as, a lady's belt; a sword belt.
The shining belt with gold inlaid.
Dryden.
2. That which restrains or confines as a girdle.
He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule.
Shak.
3. Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like a belt; a strip or stripe; as, a belt of trees; a belt of sand.
4. (Arch.) Same as Band, n., 2. A very broad band ? more properly termed a belt.
5. (Astron.) One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
6. (Geog.) A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.
7. (Her.) A token or badge of knightly rank.
8. (Mech.) A band of leather, or other flexible substance, passing around two wheels, and communicating motion from one to the other. [See Illust. of Pulley.]
9. (Nat. Hist.) A band or stripe, as of color, round any organ; or any circular ridge or series of ridges.
Belt lacing, thongs used for lacing together the ends of machine belting.
Belt, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Belted; p. pr. & vb. n. Belting.] 1. To encircle with, or as with, a belt; to encompass; to surround.
A coarse black robe belted round the waist.
C. Reade.
They belt him round with hearts undaunted.
Wordsworth.
2. To shear, as the buttocks and tails of sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Bel¶tane (?), n. [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.]
1. The first day of May (Old Style).
The quarterÐdays anciently in Scotland were Hallowmas, Candlemas, Beltane, and Lammas.
New English Dict.
2. A festival of the heathen Celts on the first day of May, in the observance of which great bonfires were kindled. It still exists in a modified form in some parts of Scotland and Ireland.
Belt¶ed (?), a. 1. Encircled by, or secured with, a belt; as, a belted plaid; girt with a belt, as an honorary distinction; as, a belted knight; a belted earl.
2. Marked with a band or circle; as, a belted stalk.
3. Worn in, or suspended from, the belt.
Three men with belted brands.
Sir W. Scott.
Belted cattle, cattle originally from Dutch stock, having a broad band of white round the middle, while the rest of the body is black; Ð called also blanketed cattle.
Bel¶tein (?), Bel¶tin (?), n. See Beltane.
Belt¶ing (?), n. The material of which belt? for machinery are made; also, belts, taken collectively.

<— p. 136 —>

BeÏlu¶ga (?), n. [Russ. bieluga a sort of large sturgeon, prop. white fish, fr. bieluii white.] (Zo”l.) A ??tacean allied to the dolphins.
µ The northern beluga (Delphinapterus catodon) is the white whale and white fish of the whalers. It grows to be from twelve to eighteen feet long.
BeÏlute¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Beluting.] [Pref. beÏ + L. lutum mud.] To bespatter, as with mud. [R.]
Sterne.
Bel·veÏdere¶ (?), n. [ It., fr. bello, bel, beautiful + vedere to see.] (Arch.) A small building, or a part of a building, more or less open, constructed in a place commanding a fine prospect.
ØBel¶zeÏbuth (?), n. [From Beelzebub.] (Zo”l.) A spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) of Brazil.
ØBe¶ma (?), n. [Gr. ? step, platform.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.) A platform from which speakers addressed an assembly.
Mitford.
2. (Arch.) (a) That part of an early Christian church which was reserved for the higher clergy; the inner or eastern part of the chancel. (b) Erroneously: A pulpit.
BeÏmad¶ (?), v. t. To make mad. [Obs.]
Fuller.
BeÏman¶gle (?), v. t. To mangle; to tear ?sunder. [R.]
Beaumont.
BeÏmask¶ (?), v. t. To mask; to conceal.
BeÏmas¶ter (?), v. t. To master thoroughly.
BeÏmaul¶ (?), v. t. To maul or beat severely; to bruise. ½In order to bemaul Yorick.¸
Sterne.
BeÏmaze (?), v. t. [OE. bimasen; pref. beÏ + masen to maze.] To bewilder.
Intellects bemazed in endless doubt.
Cowper.
BeÏmean¶ (?), v. t. To make mean; to lower.
C. Reade.
BeÏmeet¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bemet (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bemeeting.] To meet. [Obs.]
Our very loving sister, well bemet.
Shak.
BeÏmete¶ (?), v. t. To mete. [Obs.]
Shak.
BeÏmin¶gle (?), v. t. To mingle; to mix.
BeÏmire¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bemired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bemiring.] To drag through, encumber with, or fix in, the mire; to soil by passing through mud or dirt.
Bemired and benighted in the dog.
Burke.
BeÏmist¶ (?), v. t. To envelop in mist. [Obs.]
BeÏmoan¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bemoaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bemoaning.] [OE. bimenen, AS. bem?nan; pref. beÏ + m?nan to moan. See Moan.] To express deep grief for by moaning; to express sorrow for; to lament; to bewail; to pity or sympathize with.
Implores their pity, and his pain bemoans.
Dryden.
Syn. Ð See Deplore.
BeÏmoan¶er (?), n. One who bemoans.
BeÏmock¶ (?), v. t. To mock; to ridicule.
Bemock the modest moon.
Shak.
BeÏmoil¶ (?), v. t. [Pref. beÏ + moil, fr. F. mouiller to wet; but cf. also OE. bimolen to soil, fr. AS. m¾l spot: cf. E. mole.] To soil or encumber with mire and dirt. [Obs.]
Shak.
Be¶mol (?), n. [F. b‚mol, fr. b‚ ? + mol soft.] (Mus.) The sign ?; the same as B flat. [Obs.]
BeÏmon¶ster (?), v. t. To make monstrous or like a monster. [Obs.]
Shak.
BeÏmourn¶ (?), v. t. To mourn over.
Wyclif.
BeÏmud¶dle (?), v. t. To muddle; to stupefy or bewilder; to confuse.
BeÏmuf¶fle (?), v. t. To cover as with a muffler; to wrap up.
Bemuffled with the externals of religion.
Sterne.
BeÏmuse¶ (?), v. t. To muddle, daze, or partially stupefy, as with liquor.
A parson much bemused in beer.
Pope.
Ben (?), Ben¶ nut· (?). [Ar. b¾n, name of the tree.] (Bot.) The seed of one or more species of moringa; as, oil of ben. See Moringa.
Ben, adv. & prep. [AS. binnan; pref. beÏ by + innan within, in in.] Within; in; in or into the interior; toward the inner apartment. [Scot.]
Ben, n. [See Ben, adv.] The inner or principal room in a hut or house of two rooms; Ð opposed to but, the outer apartment. [Scot.]
Ben. An old form of the pl. indic. pr. of Be. [Obs.]
BeÏname¶ (?), v. t. [p. p. Benamed, Benempt.] To promise; to name. [Obs.]
Bench (?), n.; pl. Benches (?). [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. b„nk, Dan b‘nk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach.] 1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length.
Mossy benches supplie? ?ne place of chairs.
Sir W. Scott.
2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench.
3. The seat where judges sit in court.
To pluck down justice from your awful bench.
Shak.
4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench.
5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; Ð so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms.
6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river.
Bench mark (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. Ð Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council. Ð Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes. Ð Bench show, an exhibition of dogs. Ð Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat.
Bench (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Benched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Benching.] 1. To furnish with benches.
'T was benched with turf.
Dryden.
Stately theaters benched crescentwise.
Tennyson.
2. To place on a bench or seat of honor.
Whom I … have benched and reared to worship.
Shak.
Bench, v. i. To sit on a seat of justice. [R.]
Shak.
Bench¶er (??), n. 1. (Eng. Law) One of the senior and governing members of an Inn of Court.
2. An alderman of a corporation. [Eng.]
Ashmole.
3. A member of a court or council. [Obs.]
Shak.
4. One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler. [Obs.]
Bench¶ war·rant (?). (Law) A process issued by a presiding judge or by a court against a person guilty of some contempt, or indicted for some crime; Ð so called in distinction from a justice's warrant.
Bend (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bended or Bent (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bending.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind. See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th Bend.] 1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.
2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. ½Bend thine ear to supplication.¸
Milton.
Towards Coventry bend we our course.
Shak.
Bending her eyes … upon her parent.
Sir W. Scott.
3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.
To bend his mind to any public business.
Temple.
But when to mischief mortals bend their will.
Pope.
4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. ½Except she bend her humor.¸
Shak.
5. (Naut.) To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor.
Totten.
To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown.
Camden.
Syn. Ð To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.
Bend, v. i. 1. To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be curving; to bow.
The green earth's end
Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend.
Milton.
2. To jut over; to overhang.
There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully in the confined deep.
Shak.
3. To be inclined; to be directed.
To whom our vows and wished bend.
Milton.
4. To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.
While each to his great Father bends.
Coleridge.
Bend, n. [See Bend, v. t., and cf. Bent, n.] 1. A turn or deflection from a straight line or from the proper direction or normal position; a curve; a crook; as, a slight bend of the body; a bend in a road.
2. Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [Obs.]
Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend.
Fletcher.
3. (Naut.) A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post.
Totten.
4. (Leather Trade) The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt.
5. (Mining) Hard, indurated clay; bind.
Bends of a ship, the thickest and strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They have the beams, knees, and foothooks bolted to them. Also, the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides; as, the midship bend.
Bend, n. [AS. bend. See Band, and cf. the preceding noun.] 1. A band. [Obs.]
Spenser.
2. [OF. bende, bande, F. bande. See Band.] (Her.) One of the honorable ordinaries, containing a third or a fifth part of the field. It crosses the field diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.
Bend sinister (Her.), an honorable ordinary drawn from the sinister chief to the dexter base.
Bend¶aÏble (?), a. Capable of being bent.
Bend¶er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, bends.
2. An instrument used for bending.
3. A drunken spree. [Low, U. S.]
Bartlett.
4. A sixpence. [Slang, Eng.]
Bend¶ing, n. The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Bend¶let (?), n. [Bend + Ïlet: cf. E. bandlet.] (Her.) A narrow bend, esp. one half the width of the bend.
Bend¶wise (?), adv. (Her.) Diagonally.
Ben¶dy (?), a. [From Bend a band.] (Her.) Divided into an even number of bends; Ð said of a shield or its charge.
Cussans.
Ben¶e (?), n. (Bot.) See Benne.
Be¶ne (?), n. [AS. b?n.] A prayer; boon. [Archaic]
What is good for a bootless bene ?
Wordsworth.
ØBene, Ben (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo”l.) A hoglike mammal of New Guinea (Porcula papuensis).
BeÏneaped¶ (?), a. (Naut.) See Neaped.
BeÏneath¶ (?), prep. [OE. benethe, bineo?en, AS. beneo?an, beny?an; pref. beÏ + neo?an, ny?an, downward, beneath, akin to E. nether. See Nether.] 1. Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath; hence, at the foot of. ½Beneath the mount.¸
Ex. xxxii. 19.
Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies.
Pope.
2. Under, in relation to something that is superior, or that oppresses or burdens.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke.
Shak.
3. Lower in rank, dignity, or excellence than; as, brutes are beneath man; man is beneath angels in the scale of beings. Hence: Unworthy of; unbecoming.
He will do nothing that is beneath his high station.
Atterbury.
BeÏneath¶ (?), adv. 1. In a lower place; underneath.
The earth you take from beneath will be barren.
Mortimer.
2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or position; as, in earth beneath.
ØBen·eÏdic¶iÏte (?), n. [L., (imperative pl.,) bless ye, praise ye.] A canticle (the Latin version of which begins with this word) which may be used in the order for morning prayer in the Church of England. It is taken from an apocryphal addition to the third chapter of Daniel.
ØBen·eÏdic¶iÏte, interj. [See Benedicite, n.] An exclamation corresponding to Bless you !.
Ben¶eÏdict (?), Ben¶eÏdick (?), } n. [From Benedick, one of the characters in Shakespeare's play of ½Much Ado about Nothing.¸] A married man, or a man newly married.
Ben¶eÏdict, a. [L. benedictus, p. p. of benedicere to bless. See Benison, and cf. Bennet.] Having mild and salubrious qualities. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Ben·eÏdic¶tine (?), a. Pertaining to the monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.
Ben·eÏdic¶tine, n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a famous order of monks, established by St. Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century. This order was introduced into the United States in 1846.
µ The Benedictines wear black clothing, and are sometimes called Black Monks. The name Black Fr????rs which belongs to the Dominicans, is also sometimes applied to the Benedictines.
Ben·eÏdic¶tion (?), n. [L. benedictio: cf. F. b‚n‚diction. See Benison.] 1. The act of blessing.
2. A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness.
So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus
Followed with benediction.
Milton.
Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her.
Longfellow.
Specifically: The short prayer which closes public worship; as, to give the benediction.
3. (Eccl.) The form of instituting an abbot, answering to the consecration of a bishop.
Ayliffe.
4. (R. C. Ch.) A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God.
Ben·eÏdic¶tionÏal (?), n. A book of benedictions.
Ben·eÏdic¶tionÏaÏry (?), n. A collected series of benedictions.
The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold.
G. Gurton's Needle.
Ben·eÏdic¶tive (?), a. Tending to bless.
Gauden.
Ben·eÏdic¶toÏry (?), a. Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer.
Thackeray.
ØBen·eÏdic¶tus (?), n. [L., blessed. See Benedict, a.] The song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke i. 68); Ð so named from the first word of the Latin version.
Ben¶eÏdight (?), a. Blessed. [R.]
Longfellow.
Ben·eÏfac¶tion (?), n. [L. benefactio, fr. benefacere to do good to one; bene well + facere to do. See Benefit.] 1. The act of conferring a benefit.
Johnson.
2. A benefit conferred; esp. a charitable donation.
Syn. Ð Gift; present; gratuity; boon; alms.
Ben·eÏfac¶tor (?), n. [L.] One who confers a benefit or benefits.
Bacon.
Ben·eÏfac¶tress, n. A woman who confers a benefit.
His benefactress blushes at the deed.
Cowper.
BeÏnef¶ic (?), a. [L. beneficus. See Benefice.] Favorable; beneficent.
Milton.
Ben¶eÏfice (?), n. [F. b‚n‚fice, L. beneficium, a kindness , in LL. a grant of an estate, fr. L. beneficus beneficent; bene well + facere to do. See Benefit.]
1. A favor or benefit. [Obs.]
Baxter.
2. (Feudal Law) An estate in lands; a fief.
µ Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and held on the mere good pleasure of the donor; but afterward, becoming hereditary, it received the appellation of fief, and the term benefice became appropriated to church livings.
3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of divine service. See Advowson.
µ All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics, which are called dignities. But, ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics, deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships; benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
Ben¶eÏfice, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Beneficed.] To endow with a benefice. [Commonly in the past participle.]
Ben¶eÏficed (?), a. Possessed of a benefice o? church preferment. ½Beneficed clergymen.¸
Burke.
Ben¶eÏficeÏless (?), a. Having no benefice. ½Beneficeless precisians.¸
Sheldon.
BeÏnef¶iÏcence (?), n. [L. beneficentia, fr. beneficus: cf. F. b‚n‚ficence. See Benefice.] The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity; bounty springing from purity and goodness.
And whose beneficence no charge exhausts.
Cowper.
Syn. Ð See Benevolence.
BeÏnef·iÏcent (?), a. Doing or producing good; performing acts of kindness and charity; characterized by beneficence.
The beneficent fruits of Christianity.
Prescott.
Syn. Ð See Benevolent.
BeÏnef·iÏcen¶tial (?), a. Relating to beneficence.

<— p. 137 —>

BeÏnef¶iÏcentÏly (?), adv. In a beneficent manner; with beneficence. Ben·eÏfi¶cial (?), a. [Cf. F. b‚n‚ficial, LL. beneficialis.] 1. Conferring benefits; useful; profi?table; helpful; advantageous; serviceable; contributing to a valuable end; Ð followed by to. The war which would have been most beneficial to us. Swift. 2. (Law) Receiving, or entitled to have or receive, advantage, use, or benefit; as, the beneficial owner of an estate. Kent. 3. King. [Obs.] ½A beneficial foe.¸ B. Jonson. Syn. Ð See Advantage. Ben·eÏfi¶cialÏly, adv. In a beneficial or advantageous manner; profitably; helpfully. Ben·eÏfi¶cialÏness, n. The quality of being beneficial; profitableness. Ben·eÏfi¶ciÏaÏry (?), a. [Cf. F. b‚n‚ficiaire, LL. beneficiarius.] 1. Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession. A feudatory or beneficiary king of England. Bacon. 2. Bestowed as a gratuity; as, beneficiary gifts. Ben·eÏfi¶ciÏaÏry, n.; pl. Beneficiaries (?). 1. A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses its proceeds. Ayliffe. 2. One who receives anything as a gift; one who receives a benefit or advantage; esp. one who receives help or income from an educational fund or a trust estate. The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose beneficiaries they are. Jer. Taylor. Ben·eÏfi¶ciÏate (?), v. t. [Sp. beneficiar to benefit, to work mines.] (Mining) To reduce (ores). Ð Ben·eÏfi·ciÏa¶tion (?), n. Ben·eÏfi¶cient (?), a. Beneficent. [Obs.] Ben¶eÏfit (?), n. [OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact.] 1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2. 2. Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit. Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke. 3. A theatrical performance, a concert, or the like, the proceeds of which do not go to the lessee of the theater or to the company, but to some individual actor, or to some charitable use. 4. Beneficence; liberality. [Obs.] Webster (1623). 5. pl. Natural advantaged; endowments; accomplishments. [R.] ½The benefits of your own country.¸ Shak. Benefit of clergy. (Law) See under Clergy. Syn. Ð Profit; service; use; avail. See Advantage. Ben¶eÏfit, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Benefited; p. pr. & vb. n. Benefitting.] To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit. I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jer. xviii. 10. Ben¶eÏfit, v. i. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change. Ben¶eÏfit·er (?), n. One who confers a benefit; Ð also, one who receives a benefit. BeÏneme¶ (?), v. t. [AS. ben?man. Cf. Benim.] To deprive (of), or take away (from). [Obs.] BeÏnempt¶ (?), p. p. of Bename. 1. Promised; vowed. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Named; styled. [Archaic] Sir W. Scott. ØBe·ne plac¶iÏto (?). [It. beneplacito pleasure, fr. L. bene well + placitus pleasing.] 1. At or during pleasure. For our English judges there never was … any bene placito as their tenure. F. Harrison. 2. (Mus.) At pleasure; ad libitum. BeÏnet¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Benetted.] To catch in a net; to insnare. Shak. BeÏnev¶oÏlence (?), n. [OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See Benevolent.] 1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness. The wakeful benevolence of the gospel. Chalmers. 2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given. 3. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity. Syn. Ð Benevolence, Beneficence, Munificence. Benevolence marks a disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of others. Beneficence marks the working of this disposition in dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. Munificence shows the same disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of immediate utility. One may show his munificence in presents of pictures or jewelry, but this would not be beneficence. Benevolence of heart; beneficence of life; munificence in the encouragement of letters. BeÏnev¶oÏlent (?), a. [L. benevolens, Ïentis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and Voluntary.] Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. Ð BeÏnev¶oÏlentÏly, adv. Syn. Ð Benevolent, Beneficent. Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase ½benevolent labors¸ turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, ½beneficent intentions¸ point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while ½benevolent intentions¸ would only denote a general wish and design to do good. BeÏnev¶oÏlous (?), a. [L. benevolus.] Kind; benevolent. [Obs.] T. Puller. BenÏgal¶ (?), n. 1. A province in India, giving its name to various stuffs, animals, etc. 2. A thin stuff, made of silk and hair, originally brought from Bengal. 3. Striped gingham, originally brought from Bengal; Bengal stripes. Bengal light, a firework containing niter, sulphur, and antimony, and producing a sustained and vivid colored light, used in making signals and in pyrotechnics; Ð called also blue light. Ð Bengal stripes, a kind of cotton cloth woven with colored stripes. See Bengal, 3. Ð Bengal tiger. (Zo”l.). See Tiger. BenÏgal¶ee, BenÏgal¶i (?), n. The language spoken in Bengal. Ben·galÏese¶ (?), a. Of or pertaining to Bengal. Ð n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Bengal. BenÏgo¶la (?), n. A Bengal light. BeÏnight¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Benighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Benighting.] 1. To involve in darkness; to shroud with the shades of night; to obscure. [Archaic] The clouds benight the sky. Garth. 2. To overtake with night or darkness, especially before the end of a day's journey or task. Some virgin, sure, … benighted in these woods. Milton. 3. To involve in moral darkness, or ignorance; to debar from intellectual light. Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny ? Heber. BeÏnight¶ment (?), n. The condition of being benighted. BeÏnign¶ (?), a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. b‚nin, fem. b‚nigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.] 1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant. Creator bounteous and benign. Milton. 2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome. Kind influences and benign aspects. South. 3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease. Syn. Ð Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal. BeÏnig¶nanÏcy (?), n. Benignant quality; kindliness. BeÏnig¶nant (?), a. [LL. benignans, p. pr. of benignare, from L. benignus. See Benign.] Kind; gracious; favorable. Ð BeÏnig¶nantÏly, adv. BeÏnig¶niÏty (?), n. [OE. benignite, F. b‚nignit‚, OF. b‚nignet‚, fr. L. benignitas. See Benign.] 1. The quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness. ½Benignity of aspect.¸ Sir W. Scott. 2. Mildness; gentleness. The benignity or inclemency of the season. Spectator. 3. Salubrity; wholesome quality. Wiseman. BeÏnign¶ly (?), adv. In a benign manner. BeÏnim¶ (?), v. t. [AS. beniman. See Benumb, and cf. Nim.] To take away. [Obs.] Ire … benimeth the man fro God. Chaucer. Ben¶iÏson (?), n. [OE. beneysun, benesoun, OF. bene‹?un, bene‹son, fr. L. benedictio, fr. benedicere to bless; bene (adv. of bonus good) + dicere to say. See Bounty, and Diction, and cf. Benediction.] Blessing; beatitude; benediction. Shak. More precious than the benison of friends. Talfourd. ØB‚Ïni¶tier· (?), n. [F., fr. b‚nir to bless.] (R. C. Ch.) A holyÐwater stoup. Shipley. Ben¶jaÏmin (?), n. [Corrupted from benzoin.] See Benzoin. Ben¶jaÏmin, n. A kind of upper coat for men. [Colloq. Eng.] Ben¶jaÏmite (?), n. A descendant of Benjamin; one of the tribe of Benjamin. Judg. iii. 15. Ben¶ne (?), n. [Malay bijen.] (Bot.) The name of two plants (Sesamum orientale and S. indicum), originally Asiatic; Ð also called oil plant. From their seeds an oil is expressed, called benne oil, used mostly for making soap. In the southern United States the seeds are used in candy. Ben¶net (?), n. [F. benoŒte, fr. L. benedicta, fem. of benedictus, p. p., blessed. See Benedict, a.] (Bot.) The common yellowÏflowered avens of Europe (Geum urbanum); herb bennet. The name is sometimes given to other plants, as the hemlock, valerian, etc. Ben¶shee (?), n. See Banshee. Bent (?), imp. & p. p. of Bend. Bent, a. & p. p. 1. Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; as, a bent pin; a bent lever. 2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved, determined, set, etc.; Ð said of the mind, character, disposition, desires, etc., and used with on; as, to be bent on going to college; he is bent on mischief. Bent, n. [See Bend, n. & v.] 1. The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity; as, the bent of a bow. [Obs.] Wilkins. 2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [R.] Dryden. 3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. Shak. With a native bent did good pursue. Dryden. 4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course. Bents and turns of the matter. Locke. 5. (Carp.) A transverse frame of a framed structure. 6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [Archaic] The full bent and stress of the soul. Norris. Syn. Ð Predilection; turn. Bent, Bias, Inclination, Prepossession. These words agree in describing a permanent influence upon the mind which tends to decide its actions. Bent denotes a fixed tendency of the mind in a given direction. It is the widest of these terms, and applies to the will, the intellect, and the affections, taken conjointly; as, the whole bent of his character was toward evil practices. Bias is literally a weight fixed on one side of a ball used in bowling, and causing it to swerve from a straight course. Used figuratively, bias applies particularly to the judgment, and denotes something which acts with a permanent force on the character through that faculty; as, the bias of early education, early habits, etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a strong inclination to the study of the law. Prepossession is a mingled state of feeling and opinion in respect to some person or subject, which has laid hold of and occupied the mind previous to inquiry. The word is commonly used in a good sense, an unfavorable impression of this kind being denominated a prejudice. ½Strong minds will be strongly bent, and usually labor under a strong bias; but there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to have its inclinations, and none so guarded as to be without its prepossessions.¸ Crabb. Bent (?), n. [AS. beonet; akin to OHG. pinuz, G. binse, rush, bent grass; of unknown origin.] 1. A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass. His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. Drayton. 2. (Bot.) A grass of the genus Agrostis, esp. Agrostis vulgaris, or redtop. The name is also used of many other grasses, esp. in America. 3. Any neglected field or broken ground; a common; a moor. [Obs.] Wright. Bowmen bickered upon the bent. Chevy Chase. Bent¶ grass· (?). (Bot.) Same as Bent, a kind of grass. Ben¶thal (?), a. [Gr. ? the depth of the sea.] Relating to the deepest zone or region of the ocean. BenÏtham¶ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Bentham or Benthamism. Ben¶thamÏism (?), n. That phase of the doctrine of utilitarianism taught by Jeremy Bentham; the doctrine that the morality of actions is estimated and determined by their utility; also, the theory that the sensibility to pleasure and the recoil from pain are the only motives which influence human desires and actions, and that these are the sufficient explanation of ethical and jural conceptions. Ben¶thamÏite (?), n. One who believes in Benthamism. Bent¶ing time¶ (?). The season when pigeons are said to feed on bents, before peas are ripe. Bare benting times … may come. Dryden. Bent¶y (?), a. 1. A bounding in bents, or the stalks of coarse, stiff, withered grass; as, benty fields. 2. Resembling bent. Holland. BeÏnumb¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Benumbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Benumbing.] [OE. binomen, p. p. of binimen to take away, AS. beniman; pref. be + niman to take. See Numb, a., and cf. Benim.] To make torpid; to deprive of sensation or sensibility; to stupefy; as, a hand or foot benumbed by cold. The creeping death benumbed her senses first. Dryden. BeÏnumbed¶ (?), a. Made torpid; numbed; stupefied; deadened; as, a benumbed body and mind. Ð BeÏnumbed¶ness, n. BeÏnumb¶ment (?), n. Act of benumbing, or state of being benumbed; torpor. Kirby. Ben¶zal (?), n. [Benzoic + aldehyde.] (Chem.) A transparent crystalline substance,? C6H5.CO. NH2, obtained by the action of ammonia upon chloride of benzoyl, as also by several other reactions with benzoyl compounds. BenÏzam¶ide (?), n. [Benzoin + amide.] (Chem.) A transparent crystalline substance, C6H5.CO.NH2, obtained by the action of ammonia upon chloride of benzoyl, as also by several other reactions with benzoyl compounds. Ben¶zene (?), n. [From Benzoin.] (Chem.) A volatile, very inflammable liquid, C6H6, contained in the naphtha produced by the destructive distillation of coal, from which it is separated by fractional distillation. The name is sometimes applied also to the impure commercial product or benzole, and also, but rarely, to a similar mixed product of petroleum. Benzene nucleus, Benzene ring (Chem.), a closed chain or ring, consisting of six carbon atoms, each with one hydrogen atom attached, regarded as the type from which the aromatic compounds are derived. This ring formula is provisionally accepted as representing the probable constitution of the benzene molecule, C6H6, and as the type on which its derivatives are formed. Ben¶zile (?), n. [From Benzoin.] (Chem.) A yellowish crystalline substance, C6H5.CO.CO.C6H5, formed from benzoin by the action of oxidizing agents, and consisting of a doubled benzoyl radical. Ben¶zine (?), n. [From Benzoin.] (Chem.) 1. A liquid consisting mainly of the lighter and more volatile hydrocarbons of petroleum or kerosene oil, used as a solvent and for cleansing soiled fabrics; Ð called also petroleum spirit, petroleum benzine. Varieties or similar products are gasoline, naphtha, rhigolene, ligroin, etc. 2. Same as Benzene. [R.] µ The hydrocarbons of benzine proper are essentially of the marsh gas series, while benzene proper is the typical hydrocarbon of the aromatic series. Ben¶zoÏate (?), n. [Cf. F. benzoate.] (Chem.) A salt formed by the union of benzoic acid with any salifiable base.