Defn: See Wormil.
WORD Word, n. Etym: [AS. word; akin to OFries. & OS. word, D. woord, G. wort, Icel. oredh, Sw. & Dan. ord, Goth. waúrd, OPruss. wirds, Lith. vardas a name, L. verbum a word; or perhaps to Gr. "rh`twr an orator. Cf. Verb.]
1. The spoken sign of a conception or an idea; an articulate or vocal sound, or a combination of articulate and vocal sounds, uttered by the human voice, and by custom expressing an idea or ideas; a single component part of human speech or language; a constituent part of a sentence; a term; a vocable. "A glutton of words." Piers Plowman. You cram these words into mine ears, against The stomach of my sense. Shak. Amongst men who confound their ideas with words, there must be endless disputes. Locke.
2. Hence, the written or printed character, or combination of characters, expressing such a term; as, the words on a page.
3. pl.
Defn: Talk; discourse; speech; language.
Why should calamity be full of words Shak.
Be thy words severe; Sharp as he merits, but the sword forbear.
Dryden.
4. Account; tidings; message; communication; information; — used only in the singular. I pray you . . . bring me word thither How the world goes. Shak.
5. Signal; order; command; direction. Give the word through. Shak.
6. Language considered as implying the faith or authority of the person who utters it; statement; affirmation; declaration; promise. Obey thy parents; keep thy word justly. Shak. I know you brave, and take you at your word. Dryden. I desire not the reader should take my word. Dryden.
7. pl.