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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Contents
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    TENDRIL — TERRE-TENANT

    TENDRIL, n. A clasp or clasper of a vine or other climbing or creeping plant; a filiform spiral shoot, that winds round another body. Tendrils or claspers are given to plants that have weak stalks.

    They are also given to creeping vines, which require support on the earth.NWAD TENDRIL.2

    TENDRIL, a. Clasping; climbing; as a tendril.

    TENEBROUS, TENEBRIOUS, a. [L. tenebrosus, from tenebroe, darkness.]

    Dark; gloomy.NWAD TENEBROUS.2

    TENEBROUSNESS, TENEBROSITY, n. Darkness; gloom.

    TENEMENT, n. [Low L. tenementum, from teneo, to hold.]

    1. In common acceptation, a house; a building for a habitation; or an apartment in a building, used by one family.NWAD TENEMENT.2

    2. A house or lands depending on a manor; or a fee farm depending on a superior.NWAD TENEMENT.3

    3. In law, any species of permanent property that may be held, as land, houses, rents, commons, an office, an advowson, a franchise, a right of common, a peerage, etc. These are called free or frank tenements.NWAD TENEMENT.4

    The thing held is a tenement, and the possessor of it a tenant, and the manner of possession is called tenure.NWAD TENEMENT.5

    TENEMENTAL, a. Pertaining to tenanted lands; that is or may be held by tenants.

    Tenemental lands they distributed among their tenants.NWAD TENEMENTAL.2

    TENEMENTARY, a. That is or may be leased; held by tenants.

    TENERITY, n. Tenderness. [Not in use.]

    TENESMUS, n. [L. literally a straining or stretching.]

    A painful, ineffectual and repeated effort, or a continual and urgent desire to go to stool.NWAD TENESMUS.2

    TENET, n. [L. tenet, he holds.] Any opinion, principle, dogma or doctrine which a person believes or maintains as true; as the tenets of Plato or of Cicero. The tenets of christians are adopted from the Scriptures; but different interpretations give rise to a great diversity of tenets.

    TENFOLD, a. [ten and fold.] Ten times more.

    Fire kindled into tenfold rage.NWAD TENFOLD.2

    TENNANTITE, n. [from Tennant.] A subspecies of gray copper; a mineral of a lead color, or iron black, massive or crystallized, found in Cornwall, England.

    TENNIS, n. A play in which a ball is driven continually or kept in motion by rackets.

    TENNIS, v.t. To drive a ball.

    TENON, n. [L. teneo, to hold.] In building and cabinet work, the end of a piece of timber, which is fitted to a mortise for insertion, or inserted, for fastening two pieces of timber together. The form of a tenon is various, as square, dovetailed, etc.

    TENOR, n. [L. tenor, from teneo, to hold.]

    1. Continued run or currency; whole course or strain. We understand a speaker’s intention or views from the tenor of his conversation, that is, from the general course of his ideas, or general purport of his speech.NWAD TENOR.2

    Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?NWAD TENOR.3

    2. Stamp; character. The conversation was of the same tenor as that of the preceding day.NWAD TENOR.4

    This success would look like chance, if it were not perpetual and always of the same tenor.NWAD TENOR.5

    3. Sense contained; purport; substance; general course or drift; as close attention to the tenor of the discourse. Warrants are to be executed according to their form and tenor.NWAD TENOR.6

    Bid me tear the bond.NWAD TENOR.7

    --When it is paid according to the tenor.NWAD TENOR.8

    4. In music, the natural pitch of a man’s voice in singing; hence, the part of a tune adapted to a man’s voice, the second of the four parts, reckoning from the base; and originally the air, to which the other parts were auxiliary.NWAD TENOR.9

    5. The persons who sing the tenor, or the instrument that plays it.NWAD TENOR.10

    TENSE, a. tens. [L. tensus, from tendo, to stretch.] Stretched; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as a tense fiber.

    For the free passage of the sound into the ear, it is requisite that the tympanum be tense.NWAD TENSE.2

    TENSE, n. tens. [L. tempus.] In grammar, time, or a particular form of a verb, or a combination of words, used to express the time of action, or of that which is affirmed; or tense is an inflection of verbs by which they are made to signify or distinguish the time of actions or events.

    The primary simple tenses are three; those which express time past, present, and future; but these admit of modifications, which differ in different languages. The English language is rich in tenses, beyond any other language in Europe.NWAD TENSE.4

    TENSENESS, n. tens’ness. The state of being tense or stretched to stiffness; stiffness; opposed to laxness; as the tenseness of a string or fiber; tenseness of the skin.

    TENSIBLE, a. Capable of being extended.

    TENSILE, a. Capable of extension.

    TENSION, n. [L. tensio, tendo.]

    1. The act of stretching or straining; as the tension of the muscles.NWAD TENSION.2

    2. The state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; or the state of being bent or strained; as, different degrees of tension in chords give different sounds; the greater the tension, the more acute the sound.NWAD TENSION.3

    3. Distension.NWAD TENSION.4

    TENSIVE, a. Giving the sensation of tension, stiffness or contraction; as a tensive pain.

    TENSOR, n. In anatomy, a muscle that extends or stretches a part.

    TENSURE, the same as tension, and not used.

    TENT, n. [L. tentorium, from tendo, to stretch.]

    1. A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of canvas or other coarse cloth, stretched and sustained by poles; used for sheltering persons from the weather, particularly soldiers in camp. The wandering Arabs and Tartars lodge in tents. The Israelites lodged in tents forty years, while they were in the desert.NWAD TENT.2

    2. In surgery, a roll of lint or linen, used to dilate an opening in the flesh, or to prevent the healing of an opening from which matter or other fluid is discharged.NWAD TENT.3

    TENT, n. [L. tinctus.] A kind of wine of a deep red color, chiefly from Galicia or Malaga in Spain.

    TENT, v.i. To lodge as in a tent; to tabernacle.

    TENT, v.t. To probe; to search as with a tent; as, to tent a wound.

    I’ll tent him to the quick.NWAD TENT.7

    1. To keep open with a tent.NWAD TENT.8

    TENTACLE, n. [L. tentacula.] A filiform process or organ, simple or branched, on the bodies of various animals of the Linnean class Vermes, and of Cuvier’s Mollusca, Annelides, Echinodermata, Actinia, Medusae, Polypi, etc. either an organ of feeling, prehension or motion, sometimes round the mouth, sometimes on other parts of the body.

    TENTAGE, n. An encampment. [Unusual.]

    TENTATION, n. [L. tentatio; tento, to try.]

    Trial; temptation. [Little used.]NWAD TENTATION.2

    TENTATIVE, a. Trying; essaying.

    TENTATIVE, n. An essay; trial.

    TENTED, a. Covered or furnished with tents; as soldiers.

    1. Covered with tents; as a tented field.NWAD TENTED.2

    TENTER, n. [L. tendo, tentus, to stretch.]

    A hook for stretching cloth on a frame.NWAD TENTER.2

    To be on the tenters, to be on the stretch; to be in distress, uneasiness or suspense.NWAD TENTER.3

    TENTER, v.t. To hang or stretch on tenters.

    TENTER, v.i. To admit extension.

    Woolen cloths will tenter.NWAD TENTER.6

    TENTERED, pp. Stretched or hung on tenters.

    TENTER-GROUND, n. Ground on which tenters are erected.

    TENTERING, ppr. Stretching or hanging on tenters.

    TENTH, a. [from ten.] The ordinal of ten; the first after the ninth.

    TENTH, n. The tenth part.

    1. Tithe; the tenth part of annual produce or increase. The tenth of income is payable to the clergy in England, as it was to the priests among the Israelites.NWAD TENTH.3

    2. In music, the octave of the third; an interval comprehending nine conjoint degrees, or ten sounds, diatonically divided.NWAD TENTH.4

    TENTHLY, adv. In the tenth place.

    TENTIGINOUS, a. [L. tentigo, a stretching.]

    Stiff; stretched. [Not in use.]NWAD TENTIGINOUS.2

    TENTORY, n. [L. tentorium.] The awning of a tent.

    TENTWORT, n. [tent and wort.] A plant of the genus Asplenium.

    TENUIFOLIOUS, a. [L. tenuis and folium.]

    Having thin or narrow leaves.NWAD TENUIFOLIOUS.2

    TENUITY, n. [L. tenuitas, from tenuis, thin. See Thin.]

    1. Thinness, smallness in diameter; exility; thinness, applied to a broad substance, and slenderness, applied to one that is long; as the tenuity of paper or of a leaf; the tenuity of a hair or filament.NWAD TENUITY.2

    2. Rarity; rareness; thinness; as of a fluid; as the tenuity of the air in the higher regions of the atmosphere; the tenuity of the blood.NWAD TENUITY.3

    3. Poverty. [Not in use.]NWAD TENUITY.4

    TENUOUS, a. [L. tenuis.] Thin; small; minute.

    1. Rare.NWAD TENUOUS.2

    TENURE, n. [L. teneo, to hold.]

    1. A holding. In English law, the manner of holding lands and tenements of a superior. All the species of ancient tenures may be reduced to four, three of which subsist to this day. 1. Tenure by knight service, which was the most honorable. This is now abolished. 2. Tenure in free socage, or by a certain and determinate service, which is either free and honorable, or villain and base. 3. Tenure by copy of court roll, or copyhold tenure. 4. Tenure in ancient demain. There was also tenure in frankalmoign, or free alms. The tenure in free and common socage has absorbed most of the others.NWAD TENURE.2

    In the United States, almost all lands are held in fee simple; not of a superior, but the whole right and title to the property being vested in the owner.NWAD TENURE.3

    Tenure in general, then, is the particular manner of holding real estate, as by exclusive title or ownership, by fee simple, by fee tail, by curtesy, in dower, by copyhold, by lease, at will, etc.NWAD TENURE.4

    2. The consideration, condition or service which the occupier of land gives to his lord or superior for the use of his land.NWAD TENURE.5

    3. Manner of holding in general. In absolute governments, men hold their rights by a precarious tenure.NWAD TENURE.6

    TEPEFACTION, n. [L. tepefacio; tepidus, warm, and facio, to make.]

    The act or operation of warming, making tepid or moderately warm.NWAD TEPEFACTION.2

    TEPEFY, v.t. [L. tepefacio.] To make moderately warm.

    TEPEFY, v.i. To become moderately warm.

    TEPID, a. [L. tepidus, form tepeo, to be warm.]

    Moderately warm; lukewarm; as a tepid bath; tepid rays; tepid vapors.NWAD TEPID.2

    Tepid mineral waters, are such as have less sensible cold than common water.NWAD TEPID.3

    TEPIDNESS, n. Moderate warmth; lukewarmness.

    TEPOR, n. [L.] Gentle heat; moderate warmth.

    TERAPHIM, n. [Heb.] Household deities or images.

    TERATOLOGY, n. [Gr. a prodigy, and discourse.]

    Bombast in language; affectation of sublimity. [Not used.]NWAD TERATOLOGY.2

    TERCE, n. ters. A cask whose contents are 42 gallons, the third of a pipe or butt.

    TERCEL, n. The male of the common falcon. [Falco Peregrinus.]

    TERCE-MAJOR, n. A sequence of the three best cards.

    TEREBINTH, n. The turpentine tree.

    TEREBINTHINATE, a. Terebinthine; impregnated with the qualities of turpentine.

    TEREBINTHINE, a. [L. terebinthinus, from terebinthina, turpentine.] Pertaining to turpentine; consisting of turpentine, or partaking of its qualities.

    TEREBRATE, v.t. [L. terebro, tero.] To bore; to perforate with a gimlet. [Little used.]

    TEREBRATION, n. The act of boring. [Little used.]

    TEREBRATULITE, n. Fossil terebratula, a kind of shell.

    TEREDO, n. [L. from tero, to wear.] A worm that bores and penetrates the bottom of ships; or rather a genus of worms, so called.

    TEREK, n. A water fowl with long legs.

    TERET, TERETE, a. [L. teres.] Round and tapering; columnar; as the stem of a plant.

    TERGEMINAL, TERGEMINATE, a. [L. tergeminus.] Thrice double; as a tergeminate leaf.

    TERGEMINOUS, a. [supra.] Threefold.

    TERGIFETOUS, a. Tergifetous plants, are such as bear their seeds on the back of their leaves, as ferns.

    TERGIVERSATE, v.i. [L. tergum, the back, and verto, to turn.]

    To shift; to practice evasion. [Little used.]NWAD TERGIVERSATE.2

    TERGIVERSATION, n. A shifting; shift; subterfuge; evasion.

    Writing is to be preferred before verbal conferences, as being more free from passion and tergiversation.NWAD TERGIVERSATION.2

    1. Change; fickleness of conduct.NWAD TERGIVERSATION.3

    The colonel, after all his tergiversation, lost his life in the king’s service.NWAD TERGIVERSATION.4

    TERM, n. [L. terminus, a limit or boundary.]

    1. A limit; a bound or boundary; the extremity of any thing; that which limits its extent.NWAD TERM.2

    Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature’s two terms or boundaries.NWAD TERM.3

    2. The time for which any thing lasts; any limited time; as the term of five years; the term of life.NWAD TERM.4

    3. In geometry, a point or line that limits. A line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid.NWAD TERM.5

    4. In law, the limitation of an estate; or rather the whole time or duration of an estate; as a lease for the term of life, for the term of three lives, for the term of twenty one years.NWAD TERM.6

    5. In law, the time in which a court is held or open for the trial of causes. In England, there are four terms in the year; Hilary term, from January 23d to February 12th; Easter term, from Wednesday, fortnight after Easter, to the Monday next after Ascension day; Trinity term, from Friday next after Trinity Sunday to the Wednesday, fortnight after; and Michaelmas term, from November 6th to the 28th. These terms are observed by the courts of king’s bench, the common pleas and exchequer, but not by the parliament, the chancery or by inferior courts. The rest of the year is called vacation. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice, are prescribed by the statutes of congress and of the several states.NWAD TERM.7

    6. In universities and colleges, the time during which instruction is regularly given to students, who are obliged by the statutes and laws of the institution to attend to the recitations, lectures and other exercises.NWAD TERM.8

    7. In grammar, a word or expression; that which fixes or determines ideas.NWAD TERM.9

    In painting, the greatest beauties cannot be always expressed for want of terms.NWAD TERM.10

    8. In the arts, a word or expression that denotes something peculiar to an art; as a technical term.NWAD TERM.11

    9. In logic, a syllogism consists of three terms, the major, the minor, and the middle. The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extremes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism.NWAD TERM.12

    Every vegetable is combustible;NWAD TERM.13

    Every tree is vegetable;NWAD TERM.14

    Therefore every tree is combustible.NWAD TERM.15

    Combustible is the predicate of the conclusion, or the major term; every tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term.NWAD TERM.16

    10. In architecture, a kind of statues or columns adorned on the top with the figure of a head, either of a man, woman or satyr. Terms are sometimes used as consoles, and sustain entablatures; and sometimes as statues to adorn gardens.NWAD TERM.17

    11. Among the ancients, terms, termini miliares, were the heads of certain divinities placed on square land-marks of stone, to mark the several stadia on roads. These were dedicated to Mercury, who was supposed to preside over highways.NWAD TERM.18

    12. In algebra, a member of a compound quantity; as a, in a+b; or ab, in ab+cd.NWAD TERM.19

    13. Among physicians, the monthly courses of females are called terms.NWAD TERM.20

    14. In contracts, terms, in the plural, are conditions; propositions stated or promises made, which when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties. A engages to build a house for B for a specific sum of money, in a given time; these are his terms. When B promises to give to A that sum for building the house, he has agreed to the terms; the contract is completed and binding upon both parties.NWAD TERM.21

    Terms of proportion, in mathematics, are such numbers, letters or quantities as are compared one with another.NWAD TERM.22

    To make terms, to come to an agreement.NWAD TERM.23

    To come to terms, to agree; to come to an agreement.NWAD TERM.24

    To bring to terms, to reduce to submission or to conditions.NWAD TERM.25

    TERM, v.t. To name; to call; to denominate.

    Men term what is beyond the limits of the universe, imaginary space.NWAD TERM.27

    TERMAGANCY, n. [from termagant.] Turbulence; tumultuousness; as a violent termagancy of temper.

    TERMAGANT, a. Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous or furious; quarrelsome; scolding.

    The eldest was a termagant, imperious, prodigal, profligate wench.NWAD TERMAGANT.2

    TERMAGANT, n. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent woman. It seems in Shakespeare to have been used of men. In ancient farces and puppet-shows, termagant was a vociferous, tumultuous deity.

    She threw his periwig into the fire. Well, said he, thou are a brave termagant.NWAD TERMAGANT.4

    The sprites of fiery termagants in flame--NWAD TERMAGANT.5

    TERMED, pp. Called; denominated.

    TERMER, n. One who travels to attend a court term.

    TERMER, TERMOR, n. One who has an estate for a term of years of life.

    TERM-FEE, n. Among lawyers, a fee or certain sum charged to a suitor for each term his cause is in court.

    TERMINABLE, a. [from term.] That may be bounded; limitable.

    TERMINAL, a. [from L. terminus.] In botany, growing at the end of a branch or stem; terminating; as a terminal scape, flower or spike.

    1. Forming the extremity; as a terminal edge.NWAD TERMINAL.2

    TERMINATE, v.t. [termino; terminus.]

    1. To bound; to limit; to set the extreme point or side of a thing; as, to terminate a surface by a line.NWAD TERMINATE.2

    2. To end; to put an end to; as, to terminate a controversy.NWAD TERMINATE.3

    TERMINATE, v.i. To be limited; to end; to come to the furthest point in space; as, a line terminates at the equator; the torrid zone terminates at the tropics.

    1. To end; to close; to come to a limit in time. The session of congress, every second year, must terminate on the third of March.NWAD TERMINATE.5

    The wisdom of this world, its designs and efficacy, terminate on this side heaven.NWAD TERMINATE.6

    TERMINATED, pp. Limited; bounded; ended.

    TERMINATING, ppr. Limiting; ending; concluding.

    TERMINATION, n. The act of limiting or setting bounds; the act of ending or concluding.

    1. Bound; limit in space or extent; as the termination of a line.NWAD TERMINATION.2

    2. End in time or existence; as the termination of the year or of life; the termination of happiness.NWAD TERMINATION.3

    3. In grammar, the end or ending of a word; the syllable or letter that ends a word. Words have different terminations to express number, time and sex.NWAD TERMINATION.4

    4. End; conclusion; result.NWAD TERMINATION.5

    5. Last purpose.NWAD TERMINATION.6

    6. Word; term. [Not in use.]NWAD TERMINATION.7

    TERMINATIONAL, a. Forming the end or concluding syllable.

    TERMINATIVE, a. Directing termination.

    TERMINATIVELY, adv. Absolutely; so as not to respect any thing else.

    TERMINATOR, n. In astronomy, a name sometimes given to the circle of illumination, form its property of terminating the boundaries of light and darkness.

    TERMINER, n. A determining; as in oyer and terminer.

    TERMING, ppr. Calling; denominating.

    TERMINIST, n. In ecclesiastical history, a sect of christians who maintain that God has fixed a certain term for the probation of particular persons, during which time they have the offer of grace, but after which God no longer wills their salvation.

    TERMINOLOGY, n. [L. terminus.] The doctrine of terms; a treatise on terms.

    1. In natural history, that branch of the science which explains all the terms used in the description of natural objects.NWAD TERMINOLOGY.2

    TERMINTHUS, n. [Gr. a pine nut.] In surgery, a large painful tumor on the skin, thought to resemble a pine nut.

    TERMLESS, a. Unlimited; boundless; as termless joys.

    TERMLY, a. Occurring every term; as a termly fee.

    TERMLY, adv. Term by term; every term; as a fee termly given.

    TERN, n. [L. sterna.] A common name of certain aquatic fowls of the genus Sterna; as the great tern or sea swallow, (S. hirundo,) the black tern, the lesser tern, or hooded tern, and the foolish tern, or noddy, (S. stolida.) The brown tern, or brown gull, (S. obscura,) is considered as the young of the pewit gull or sea-crow, before molting.

    TERN, a. [L. ternus.] Threefold; consisting of three.

    Tern leaves, in threes, or three by three; expressing the number of leaves in each whorl or set.NWAD TERN.3

    Tern peduncles, three growing together from the same axil.NWAD TERN.4

    Tern flowers, growing three and three together.NWAD TERN.5

    TERNARY, a. [L. ternarius, of three.] Proceeding by threes; consisting of three.

    The ternary number, in antiquity, was esteemed a symbol of perfection and held in great veneration.NWAD TERNARY.2

    TERNARY, TERNION, n. [L. ternarius, ternio.] The number three.

    TERNATE, a. [L. ternus, terni.] In botany, a ternate leaf, is one that has three leaflets on a petiole, as in trefoil, strawberry, bramble, etc. There are leaves also biternate and triternate, having three ternate or three biternate leaflets.

    These leaves must not be confounded with folia terna, which are leaves that grow three together in a whorl, on a stem or branch.NWAD TERNATE.2

    Ternate bat, a species of bat of a large kind, found in the isle Ternate, and other East India isles. [See Vampire.]NWAD TERNATE.3

    Terra Japonica, catechu, so called.NWAD TERNATE.4

    Terra Lemnia, a species of red bolar earth.NWAD TERNATE.5

    Terra ponderosa, baryte; heavy spar.NWAD TERNATE.6

    Sienna, a brown bole or ocher from Sienna in Italy.NWAD TERNATE.7

    TERRACE, n. [L. terra, the earth.]

    1. In gardening, a raised bank of earth with sloping sides, laid with turf, and graveled on the top for a walk.NWAD TERRACE.2

    2. A balcony or open gallery.NWAD TERRACE.3

    3. The flat roof of a house. All the buildings of the oriental nations are covered with terraces, where people walk or sleep.NWAD TERRACE.4

    TERRACE, v.t. To form in to a terrace.

    1. To open to the air and light.NWAD TERRACE.6

    TERRACED, pp. Formed into a terrace; having a terrace.

    TERRACING, ppr. Forming into a terrace; opening to the air.

    TERRAPIN, n. A name given to a species of tide-water tortoise.

    TERRAQUEOUS, a. [L. terra, earth, and aqua, water.] Consisting of land and water, as the globe or earth. This epithet is given to the earth in regard to the surface, of which more than three fifths consist of water, and the remainder of earth or solid materials.

    TERRAR, n. A register of lands. [Not in use.]

    TERRE-BLUE, n. A kind of earth.

    TERRE-MOTE, n. [L. terra, earth, and motus, motion.]

    An earthquake. [Not in use.]NWAD TERRE-MOTE.2

    TERRE-PLEIN, TERRE-PLAIN, n. In fortification, the top, platform or horizontal surface of a rampart, on which the cannon are placed.

    TERRE-TENANT, TER-TENANT, n. One who has the actual possession of land; the occupant.

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