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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Contents
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    HOAX — HOLY-CROSS_DAY

    HOAX, n. Something done for deception or mockery; a trick played off in sport.

    HOAX, v.t. To deceive; to play a trick upon for sport, or without malice. [A colloquial word, but not elegant.]

    HOB, HUB, n. The nave of a wheel; a solid piece of timber in which the spokes are inserted.

    HOB, n. A clown; a fairy.

    HOBBISM, n. The principles of the sceptical Thomas Hobbes.

    HOBBIST, n. A follower of Hobbes.

    HOBBLE, v.i.

    1. To walk lamely, bearing chiefly on one leg; to limp; to walk with a hitch or hop, or with crutches.NWAD HOBBLE.2

    The friar was hobbling the same way too.NWAD HOBBLE.3

    2. To walk awkwardly, as when the feet are encumbered with a clog, or with fetters.NWAD HOBBLE.4

    3. To move roughly or irregularly, as verse.NWAD HOBBLE.5

    While you Pindaric truths rehearse,NWAD HOBBLE.6

    She hobbles in alternate verse.NWAD HOBBLE.7

    HOBBLE, v.t. To perplex. [Not in use.]

    HOBBLE, n. An unequal halting gait; an encumbered awkward step.

    He has a hobble in his gait.NWAD HOBBLE.10

    1. Difficulty; perplexity.NWAD HOBBLE.11

    HOBBLEDEHOY, n. A cant phrase for a boy at the age of puberty.

    HOBBLER, n. One that hobbles.

    HOBBLER, n. [from hobby.] One who by his tenure was to maintain a hobby for military service; or one who served as a soldier on a hobby with light armor.

    HOBBLING, ppr. Walking with a halting or interrupted step.

    HOBBLINGLY, adv. With a limping or interrupted step.

    HOBBY, n. A kind of hawk; a hawk of the lure.

    HOBBY, n.

    1. A strong active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; a nag; a pacing horse; a garran.NWAD HOBBY.3

    2. A stick, or figure of a horse, on which boys ride.NWAD HOBBY.4

    3. Any favorite object; that which a person pursues with zeal or delight.NWAD HOBBY.5

    4. A stupid fellow.NWAD HOBBY.6

    HOBBYHORSE, n. [tautological.] A hobby; a wooden horse on which boys ride.

    1. A character in the old May games.NWAD HOBBYHORSE.2

    2. A stupid or foolish person.NWAD HOBBYHORSE.3

    3. The favorite object of pursuit.NWAD HOBBYHORSE.4

    HOBGOBLIN, n. A fairy; a frightful apparition.

    HOBIT, n. A small mortar, or short gun for throwing bombs. [See Howitzer, the common orthography.]

    HOBLIKE, a. Clownish; boorish.

    HOBNAIL, n. A nail with a thick strong head, for shoeing horses.

    1. A clownish person; in contempt.NWAD HOBNAIL.2

    HOBNAILED, a. Set with hobnails; rough.

    HOBNOB, adv. Take, or not take; a familiar invitation to reciprocal drinking.

    Hobson’s choice, a vulgar proverbial expression, denoting without an alternative. It is said to have had its origin in the name of a person who let horses and coaches, and obliged every customer to take in his turn that horse which stood next the stable door.NWAD HOBNOB.2

    HOBOY. [See Hautboy.]

    HOCK, n. The joint of an animal between the knee and the fetlock.

    1. A part of the thigh.NWAD HOCK.2

    HOCK, HOCKLE, v.t. To hamstring; to hough; to disable by cutting the tendons of the ham.

    HOCK, n. A sort of Rhenish wine; sometimes called hockamore.

    HOCKDAY, HOKEDAY, n. High day; a day of feasting and mirth, formerly held in England the second Tuesday after Easter, to commemorate the destruction of the Danes in the time of Ethelred.

    HOCKEY, n. Harvest-home. [Not used.]

    HOCKHERB, n. A plant, the mallows.

    HOCKLE, v.t. To hamstring.

    1. To mow.NWAD HOCKLE.2

    HOCUS POCUS, a. A juggler; a juggler’s trick; a cheat used by conjurers.

    HOCUSPOCUS, v.t. To cheat.

    HOD, n. A kind of tray for carrying mortar and brick, used in bricklaying. It is fitted with a handle and borne on the shoulder.

    HODDY-DODDY, n. An awkward or foolish person.

    HODGE-PODGE, HOTCH-POTCH, n. A mixed mass; a medley of ingredients. [Vulgar.] [See Hotchpot.]

    HODIERNAL, a. [L. hodiernus, from hodie, hoc die, this day.]

    Of this day; belonging to the present day.NWAD HODIERNAL.2

    HODMAN, n. A man who carries a hod; a mason’s tender.

    HODMANDOD, n. A shell-fish, otherwise called dodman.

    1. A shell-snail.NWAD HODMANDOD.2

    HOE, n. ho. A farmer’s instrument for cutting up weeds and loosening the earth in fields and gardens. It is in shape something like an adz, being a plate of iron, with an eye for a handle, which is set at an acute angle with the plate.

    HOE, v.t. To cut, dig, scrape or clean with a hoe; as, to hoe the earth in a garden; to hoe the beds.

    1. To clear from weeds; as, to hoe maiz; to hoe cabbages.NWAD HOE.3

    HOE, v.i. To use a hoe.

    HOED, pp. Cleared from weeds, or loosened by the hoe.

    HOEING, ppr. Cutting, scraping or digging with a hoe.

    1. Clearing of weeds with a hoe.NWAD HOEING.2

    HOFUL, a. Careful.

    HOG, n.

    1. A swine; a general name of that species of animal.NWAD HOG.2

    2. In England, a castrated sheep of a year old.NWAD HOG.3

    3. A bullock of a year old.NWAD HOG.4

    4. A brutal fellow; one who is mean and filthy.NWAD HOG.5

    5. Among seamen, a sort of scrubbing-broom for scraping a ship’s bottom under water.NWAD HOG.6

    HOG, v.t. To scrape a ship’s bottom under water.

    1. To carry on the back. [Local.]NWAD HOG.8

    2. To cut the hair short, like the bristles of a hog. [Local.]NWAD HOG.9

    HOG, v.i. To bend, so as to resemble in some degree a hog’s back; as, a ship hogs in lanching.

    HOGCOTE, n. [hog and cote.] A shed or house for swine; a sty.

    HOGGED, pp. Scraped under water.

    1. Curving; having the ends lower than the middle.NWAD HOGGED.2

    HOGGEREL, n. A sheep of the second year.

    A two year old ewe.NWAD HOGGEREL.2

    HOGGET, n. A sheep two years old.

    1. A colt of a year old, called also hog-colt. [Local.]NWAD HOGGET.2

    2. A young boar of the second year.NWAD HOGGET.3

    HOGGISH, a. Having the qualities of a hog; brutish; gluttonous; filthy; meanly selfish.

    HOGGISHLY, adv. In a brutish, gluttonous or filthy manner.

    HOGGISHNESS, n. Brutishness; voracious greediness in eating; beastly filthiness; mean selfishness.

    HOGH, n. [See High.] A hill; a cliff.

    HOGHERD, n. [hog and herd.] A keeper of swine.

    HOGPEN, n. [hog and pen.] A hogsty.

    HOG-PLUMBTREE, n. A tree of the genus Spondias.

    HOG-RINGER, n. One whose business is to put rings in the snouts of swine.

    HOG’S-BEANS, n. A plant.

    HOG’S-FENNEL, n. A plant of the genus Peucedanum.

    HOG’S-MUSHROOMS, n. A plant.

    HOGSHEAD, n. [the English orthography is grossly corrupt.]

    1. A measure of capacity, containing 63 gallons.NWAD HOGSHEAD.2

    2. In America, this name is often given to a butt, a cask containing from 110 to 120 gallons; as a hogshead of spirit or molasses.NWAD HOGSHEAD.3

    3. A large cask, of indefinite contents.NWAD HOGSHEAD.4

    HOGSTY, n. [hog and sty.] A pen or inclosure for hogs.

    HOGWASH, n. [hog and wash.] Swill; the refuse matters of a kitchen or brewery, or like matter for swine.

    HOHLSPATH, n. The mineral otherwise called macle, and chiastolite.

    HOIDEN, n. A rude, bold girl; a romp.

    1. A rude, bold man. [Not used in the United States.]NWAD HOIDEN.2

    HOIDEN, a. Rude; bold; inelegant; rustic.

    HOIDEN, v.i. To romp rudely or indecently.

    HOIST, v.t. [originally hoise; but corrupted, perhaps beyond remedy.]

    1. To raise; to lift.NWAD HOIST.2

    We’ll quickly hoist duke Humphrey from his seat.NWAD HOIST.3

    In popular language, it is a word of general application. But the word has two appropriate uses, one by seamen, and the other by milkmaids, viz.NWAD HOIST.4

    2. To raise, to lift or bear upwards by means of tackle; and to draw up or raise, as a sail along the masts or stays, or as a flag, though by a single block only. Hoist the main-sail. Hoist the flag.NWAD HOIST.5

    3. To lift and move the leg backwards; a word of command used by milkmaids to cows, when they wish them to lift and set back the right leg.NWAD HOIST.6

    HOIST, n. In marine language, the perpendicular highth of a flag or ensign, as opposed to the fly, or breadth from the staff to the outer edge.

    HOISTED, pp. Raised; lifted; drawn up.

    HOISTING, ppr. Raising; lifting.

    HOITY TOITY, an exclamation, denoting surprise or disapprobation, with some degree of contempt.

    Hoity toity, what have I to do with dreams?NWAD HOITY_TOITY.2

    HOLCAD, n. [Gr.] In ancient Greece, a large ship of burden.

    HOLD, v.t. pret. held; pp. held. Holden is obsolete in elegant writing. [Gr. to hold or restrain; Heb. to hold or contain.]

    1. To stop; to confine; to restrain from escape; to keep fast; to retain. It rarely or never signifies the first act of seizing or falling on, but the act of retaining a thing when seized or confined. To grasp, is to seize, or to keep fast in the hand; hold coincides with grasp in the latter sense, but not in the former. We hold a horse by means of a bridle. An anchor holds a ship in her station.NWAD HOLD.2

    2. To embrace and confine, with bearing or lifting. We hold an orange in the hand, or a child in the arms.NWAD HOLD.3

    3. To connect; to keep from separation.NWAD HOLD.4

    The loops held one curtain to another. Exodus 36:12.NWAD HOLD.5

    4. To maintain, as an opinion. He holds the doctrine of justification by free grace.NWAD HOLD.6

    5. To consider; to regard; to think; to judge, that is, to have in the mind.NWAD HOLD.7

    I hold him but a fool.NWAD HOLD.8

    The Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7.NWAD HOLD.9

    6. To contain, or to have capacity to receive and contain. Here is an empty basket that holds two bushels. This empty cask holds thirty gallons. The church holds two thousand people.NWAD HOLD.10

    7. To retain within itself; to keep from running or flowing out. A vessel with holes in its bottom will not hold fluids.NWAD HOLD.11

    They have hewed them out broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13.NWAD HOLD.12

    8. To defend; to keep possession; to maintain.NWAD HOLD.13

    We mean to hold what anciently we claimNWAD HOLD.14

    Of empire.NWAD HOLD.15

    9. To have; as, to hold a place, office or title.NWAD HOLD.16

    10. To have or possess by title; as, he held his lands of the king. The estate is held by copy of court-roll.NWAD HOLD.17

    11. To refrain; to stop; to restrain; to withhold. Hold your laughter. Hold your tongue.NWAD HOLD.18

    Death! what do’st? O, hold thy blow.NWAD HOLD.19

    12. To keep; as, hold your peace.NWAD HOLD.20

    13. To fix; to confine; to compel to observe or fulfill; as, to hold one to his promise.NWAD HOLD.21

    14. To confine; to restrain from motion.NWAD HOLD.22

    The Most High--held still the flood till they had passed. 2 Esdras 13:44.NWAD HOLD.23

    15. To confine; to bind; in a legal or moral sense. He is held to perform his covenants.NWAD HOLD.24

    16. To maintain; to retain; to continue.NWAD HOLD.25

    But still he held his purpose to depart.NWAD HOLD.26

    17. To keep in continuance or practice.NWAD HOLD.27

    And Night and Chaos, ancestors of nature, hold Eternal anarchy.NWAD HOLD.28

    18. To continue; to keep; to prosecute or carry on.NWAD HOLD.29

    Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary-frost,NWAD HOLD.30

    Shall hold their course.NWAD HOLD.31

    19. To have in session; as, to hold a court or parliament; to hold a council.NWAD HOLD.32

    20. To celebrate; to solemnize; as, to hold a feast.NWAD HOLD.33

    21. To maintain; to sustain; to have in use or exercise; as, to hold an argument or debate.NWAD HOLD.34

    22. To sustain; to support.NWAD HOLD.35

    Thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10.NWAD HOLD.36

    23. To carry; to wield.NWAD HOLD.37

    They all hold swords, being expert in war. Song of Solomon 3:8.NWAD HOLD.38

    24. To maintain; to observe in practice.NWAD HOLD.39

    Ye hold the traditions of men. Mark 7:8.NWAD HOLD.40

    25. To last; to endure. The provisions will hold us, till we arrive in port. So we say, the provisions will last us; but the phrase is elliptical for will hold or last for us, the verb being intransitive.NWAD HOLD.41

    To hold forth, to offer; to exhibit; to propose.NWAD HOLD.42

    Observe the connection of ideas in the propositions which books hold forth and pretend to teach.NWAD HOLD.43

    1. To reach forth; to put forward to view.NWAD HOLD.44

    To hold in, to restrain; to curb; to govern by the bridle.NWAD HOLD.45

    1. To restrain in general; to check; to repress.NWAD HOLD.46

    To hold off, to keep at a distance.NWAD HOLD.47

    To hold on, to continue or proceed in; as, to hold on a course.NWAD HOLD.48

    To hold out, to extend; to stretch forth.NWAD HOLD.49

    The king held out to Esther the golden scepter. Esther 5:2.NWAD HOLD.50

    1. To propose; to offer.NWAD HOLD.51

    Fortune holds out these to you as rewards.NWAD HOLD.52

    2. To continue to do or suffer.NWAD HOLD.53

    He cannot long hold out these pangs. [Not used.]NWAD HOLD.54

    To hold up, to raise; as, hold up your head.NWAD HOLD.55

    1. To sustain; to support.NWAD HOLD.56

    He holds himself up in virtue.NWAD HOLD.57

    2. To retain; to withhold.NWAD HOLD.58

    3. To offer; to exhibit. He held up to view the prospect of gain.NWAD HOLD.59

    4. To sustain; to keep from falling.NWAD HOLD.60

    To hold one’s own, to keep good one’s present condition; not to fall off, or to lose ground. In seamen’s language, a ship holds her own, when she sails as fast as another ship, or keeps her course.NWAD HOLD.61

    To hold, is used by the Irish, for to lay, as a bet, to wager. I hold a crown, or a dollar; but this is a vulgar use of the word.NWAD HOLD.62

    HOLD, v.i. To be true; not to fail; to stand, as a fact or truth. This is a sound argument in many cases, but does not hold in the case under consideration.

    The rule holds in lands as well as in other things.NWAD HOLD.64

    In this application, we often say, to hold true, to hold good. The argument holds good in both cases. This holds true in most cases.NWAD HOLD.65

    1. To continue unbroken or unsubdued.NWAD HOLD.66

    Our force by land hath nobly held. [Little used.]NWAD HOLD.67

    2. To last; to endure.NWAD HOLD.68

    We now say, to hold out.NWAD HOLD.69

    3. To continue.NWAD HOLD.70

    While our obedience holds.NWAD HOLD.71

    4. To be fast; to be firm; not to give way, or part. The rope is strong; I believe it will hold. The anchor holds well.NWAD HOLD.72

    5. To refrain.NWAD HOLD.73

    His dauntless heart would fain have heldNWAD HOLD.74

    From weeping.NWAD HOLD.75

    6. To stick or adhere. The plaster will not hold.NWAD HOLD.76

    To hold forth, to speak in public; to harangue; to preach; to proclaim.NWAD HOLD.77

    To hold in, to restrain one’s self. He was tempted to laugh; he could hardly hold in.NWAD HOLD.78

    1. To continue in good luck. [Unusual.]NWAD HOLD.79

    To hold off, to keep at a distance; to avoid connection.NWAD HOLD.80

    To hold of, to be dependent on; to derive title from.NWAD HOLD.81

    My crown is absolute and holds of none.NWAD HOLD.82

    To hold on, to continue; not to be interrupted.NWAD HOLD.83

    The trade held on many years.NWAD HOLD.84

    1. To keep fast hold; to cling to.NWAD HOLD.85

    2. To proceed in a course. Job 17:9.NWAD HOLD.86

    To hold out, to last; to endure; to continue.NWAD HOLD.87

    A consumptive constitution may hold out a few years. He will accomplish the work, if his strength holds out.NWAD HOLD.88

    1. Not to yield; not to surrender; not to be subdued.NWAD HOLD.89

    The garrison still held out.NWAD HOLD.90

    To hold to, to cling or cleave to; to adhere.NWAD HOLD.91

    Else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Matthew 6:24.NWAD HOLD.92

    To hold under, or from, to have title from; as petty barons holding under the greater barons.NWAD HOLD.93

    To hold with, to adhere to; to side with; to stand up for.NWAD HOLD.94

    To hold plow, to direct or steer a plow by the hands, in tillage.NWAD HOLD.95

    To hold together, to be joined; not to separate; to remain in union.NWAD HOLD.96

    To hold up, to support one’s self; as, to hold up under misfortunes.NWAD HOLD.97

    1. To cease raining; to cease, as falling weather; used impersonally. It holds up; it will hold up.NWAD HOLD.98

    2. To continue the same speed; to run or move fast.NWAD HOLD.99

    But we now say, to keep up.NWAD HOLD.100

    To hold a wager, to lay, to stake or to hazard a wager.NWAD HOLD.101

    Hold, used imperatively, signifies stop; cease; forbear; be still.NWAD HOLD.102

    HOLD, n. A grasp with the hand; an embrace with the arms; any act or exertion of the strength or limbs which keeps a thing fast and prevents escape. Keep your hold; never quit your hold.

    It is much used after the verbs to take, and to lay; to take hold, or to lay hold, is to seize. It is used in a literal sense; as to take hold with the hands, with the arms, or with the teeth; or in a figurative sense.NWAD HOLD.104

    Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestine. Exodus 15:14.NWAD HOLD.105

    Take fast hold of instruction. Proverbs 4:13.NWAD HOLD.106

    My soul took hold on thee.NWAD HOLD.107

    1. Something which may be seized for support; that which supports.NWAD HOLD.108

    If a man be upon a high place, without a good hold, he is ready to fall.NWAD HOLD.109

    2. Power of keeping.NWAD HOLD.110

    On your vigor now,NWAD HOLD.111

    My hold of this new kingdom all depends.NWAD HOLD.112

    3. Power of seizing.NWAD HOLD.113

    The law hath yet another hold on you.NWAD HOLD.114

    4. A prison; a place of confinement.NWAD HOLD.115

    They laid hands on them, and put them in hold till the next day. Acts 4:3.NWAD HOLD.116

    5. Custody; safe keeping.NWAD HOLD.117

    King Richard, he is in the mighty holdNWAD HOLD.118

    Of Bolingbroke.NWAD HOLD.119

    6. Power or influence operating on the mind; advantage that may be employed in directing or persuading another, or in governing his conduct.NWAD HOLD.120

    Fear--by which God and his laws take the surest hold of us.NWAD HOLD.121

    --Gives fortune no more hold of him than is necessary.NWAD HOLD.122

    7. Lurking place; a place of security; as the hold of a wild beast.NWAD HOLD.123

    8. A fortified place; a fort; a castle; often called a strong hold. Jeremiah 51:30.NWAD HOLD.124

    9. The whole interior cavity of a ship, between the floor and the lower deck. In a vessel of one deck, the whole interior space from the keel or floor to the deck. That part of the hold which lies abaft the main-mast is called the after-hold; that part immediately before the main-mast, the main-hold; that part about the fore-hatchway, the fore-hold.NWAD HOLD.125

    10. In music, a mark directing the performer to rest on the note over which it is placed. It is called also a pause.NWAD HOLD.126

    HOLDBACK, n. Hinderance; restraint.

    HOLDER, n. One who holds or grasps in his hand, or embraces with his arms.

    1. A tenant; one who holds land under another.NWAD HOLDER.2

    2. Something by which a thing is held.NWAD HOLDER.3

    3. One who owns or possesses; as a holder of stock, or shares in a joint concern.NWAD HOLDER.4

    4. In ships, one who is employed in the hold.NWAD HOLDER.5

    HOLDERFORTH, n. A haranguer; a preacher.

    HOLDFAST, n. A thing that takes hold; a catch; a hook.

    HOLDING, ppr. Stopping; confining; restraining; keeping; retaining; adhering; maintaining, etc.

    HOLDING, n. A tenure; a farm held of a superior.

    1. The burden or chorus of a song.NWAD HOLDING.3

    2. Hold; influence; power over.NWAD HOLDING.4

    HOLE, n.

    1. A hollow place or cavity in any solid body, of any shape or dimensions, natural or artificial. It may differ from a rent or fissure in being wider. A cell; a den; a cave or cavern in the earth; an excavation in a rock or tree; a pit, etc. Isaiah 11:8; Ezekiel 8:7; Nahum 2:12; Matthew 8:20.NWAD HOLE.2

    2. A perforation; an aperture; an opening in or through a solid body, left in the work or made by an instrument.NWAD HOLE.3

    Jehoida took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it. 2 Kings 12:9.NWAD HOLE.4

    3. A mean habitation; a narrow or dark lodging.NWAD HOLE.5

    4. An opening or means of escape; a subterfuge; in the vulgar phrase, he has a hole to creep out at.NWAD HOLE.6

    Arm-hole, the arm-pit; the cavity under the shoulder of a person.NWAD HOLE.7

    1. An opening in a garment for the arm.NWAD HOLE.8

    HOLE, v.i. To go into a hole.

    HOLE, v.t. To cut, dig or make a hole or holes in; as, to hole a post for the insertion of rails or bars.

    1. To drive into a bag, as in billiards.NWAD HOLE.11

    HOLIBUT. [See Halibut.]

    HOLIDAM, n. [holy and dame.] Blessed lady; an ancient oath.

    HOLIDAY. [See Holyday.]

    HOLILY, adv. [from holy.] Piously; with sanctity.

    1. Sacredly; inviolably; without breach. [Little used.]NWAD HOLILY.2

    HOLINESS, n. [from holy.] The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity of moral character, one of his essential attributes.

    Who is like thee, glorious in holiness? Exodus 15:11.NWAD HOLINESS.2

    1. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect.NWAD HOLINESS.3

    We see piety and holiness ridiculed as morose singularities.NWAD HOLINESS.4

    2. Sacredness; the state of any thing hallowed, or consecrated to God or to his worship; applied to churches or temples.NWAD HOLINESS.5

    3. That which is separated to the service of God.NWAD HOLINESS.6

    Israel was holiness unto the Lord. Jeremiah 2:3.NWAD HOLINESS.7

    4. A title of the pope, and formerly of the Greek emperors.NWAD HOLINESS.8

    HOLING-AX, n. A narrow ax for cutting holes in posts.

    HOLLA, HOLLOA, exclam. A word used in calling. Among seamen, it is the answer to one that hails, equivalent to, I hear, and am ready.

    HOLLA, HOLLO, v.i. To call out or exclaim. [See Halloo.]

    HOLLAND, n. Fine linen manufactured in Holland.

    HOLLANDER, n. A native of Holland.

    HOLLEN, n. [See Holly.]

    HOLLOW, a.

    1. Containing an empty space, natural or artificial, within a solid substance; not solid; as a hollow tree; a hollow rock; a hollow sphere.NWAD HOLLOW.2

    Hollow with boards shalt thou make it. Exodus 27:8.NWAD HOLLOW.3

    2. Sunk deep in the orbit; as a hollow eye.NWAD HOLLOW.4

    3. Deep; low; resembling sound reverberated from a cavity, or designating such a sound; as a hollow roar.NWAD HOLLOW.5

    4. Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as a hollow heart; a hollow friend.NWAD HOLLOW.6

    Hollow spar, the mineral called also chiastolite.NWAD HOLLOW.7

    HOLLOW, n. A cavity, natural or artificial; any depression of surface in a body; concavity; as the hollow of the hand.

    1. A place excavated; as the hollow of a tree.NWAD HOLLOW.9

    2. A cave or cavern; a den; a hole; a broad open space in any thing.NWAD HOLLOW.10

    3. A pit.NWAD HOLLOW.11

    4. Open space of any thing; a groove; a channel; a canal.NWAD HOLLOW.12

    HOLLOW, v.t. To make hollow, as by digging, cutting, or engraving; to excavate.

    Trees rudely hollowed did the waves sustain.NWAD HOLLOW.14

    HOLLOW, v.i. To shout. [See Holla and Hollo.]

    HOLLOWED, pp. Made hollow; excavated.

    HOLLOW-EYED, a. Having sunken eyes.

    HOLLOW-HEARTED, a. Insincere; deceitful; not sound and true; of practice or sentiment different from profession.

    HOLLOWING, ppr. Making hollow; excavating.

    HOLLOWLY, adv. Insincerely; deceitfully.

    HOLLOWNESS, n. The state of being hollow; cavity; depression of surface; excavation.

    1. Insincerity; deceitfulness; treachery.NWAD HOLLOWNESS.2

    HOLLOW-ROOT, n. A plant, tuberous moschatel, or inglorious, constituting the genus Adoxa; a low plant, whose leaves and flowers smell like musk; hence it is sometimes called musk-crowfoot.

    HOLLY, n. [perhaps L. ilex, for hilex; L. celo.]

    The holm tree, of the genus Ilex, of several species. The common holly grows from 20 to 30 feet high; the stem by age becomes large, and is covered with a grayish smooth bark, and set with branches which form a sort of cone. The leaves are oblong oval, of a lucid green on the upper surface, but pale on the under surface; the edges are indented and waved, with sharp thorns terminating each of the points. The flowers grow in clusters and are succeeded by roundish berries, which turn to a beautiful red about Michaelmas. This tree is a beautiful evergreen.NWAD HOLLY.2

    Knee-Holly, a plant, the butcher’s broom, of the genus Ruscus.NWAD HOLLY.3

    Sea-Holly, a plant, of the genus Eryngium.NWAD HOLLY.4

    HOLLYHOCK, n. A plant of the genus Alcea, bearing flowers of various colors. It is called also rose-mallow.

    HOLLYROSE, n. A plant.

    HOLM, n. The evergreen oak; the ilex.

    1. An islet, or river isle.NWAD HOLM.2

    2. A low flat tract of rich land on the banks of a river.NWAD HOLM.3

    HOLMITE, n. A variety of carbonate of lime; so called from Mr. Holme, who analyzed it.

    HOLOCAUST, n. [Gr. whole, and burnt, to burn.] A burnt-sacrifice or offering, the whole of which was consumed by fire; a species of sacrifice in use among the Jews and some pagan nations.

    HOLOGRAPH, n. [Gr. whole, and to write.] A deed or testament written wholly by the grantor’s or testator’s own hand.

    HOLOGRAPHIIC, a. Written wholly by the grantor or testator himself.

    HOLOMETER, n. [Gr. all, and to measure.] An instrument for taking all kinds of measures, both on the earth and in the heavens; a pentameter.

    HOLP, HOLPEN, the antiquated pret. and pp. of help.

    HOLSTER, n. [L. celo.] A leathern case for a pistol, carried by a horseman at the fore part of his saddle.

    HOLSTERED, a. Bearing holsters; as a holstered steed.

    HOLT, n. [L. celo.] A wood or woodland; obsolete, except in poetry.

    HOLY, a.

    1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.NWAD HOLY.2

    Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16.NWAD HOLY.3

    2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.NWAD HOLY.4

    3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.NWAD HOLY.5

    4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.NWAD HOLY.6

    5. Sacred; as a holy witness.NWAD HOLY.7

    Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.NWAD HOLY.8

    Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.NWAD HOLY.9

    Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.NWAD HOLY.10

    HOLY-CROSS DAY, n. The fourteenth of September.

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