Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

WIND-FALLEN — WISDOM

WIND-FALLEN, a. Blown down by the wind.

WIND-FLOWER, n. [wind and flower.] A plant, the anemone.

WIND-FURNACE, n. [wind and furnace.] A furnace in which the air is supplied by an artificial current, as from a bellows.

WIND-GAGE, n. [wind and gage.] A soft tumor on the fetlock joints of a horse.

WIND-GUN, n. An air gun; a gun discharged by the force of compressed air.

WIND-HATCH, n. [wind and hatch.] In mining, the opening or place where the ore is taken out of the earth.

WIND-HOVER, n. [wind and hover.] A species of hawk; called also the stannel, but more usually the kestrel.

WINDINESS, n. [from windey.]

1. The state of being windy or tempestuous; as the windiness of the weather or season.

2. Fullness of wind; flatulence.

3. Tendency to generate wind; as the windiness of vegetables.

4. Tumor; puffiness.

The swelling windiness of much knowledge.

WIND-INSTRUMENT, n. An instrument of music, played by wind, chiefly by the breath; as a flute, a clarinet, etc.

WINDLAS, WINDLASS, n. [wind and lace.]

1. A machine for raising great weights, consisting of a cylinder or roller of timber, moving on its axis and turned by levers, with a rope or chain attached to the weight.

2. A handle by which any thing is turned. [Not in use.]

WINDLE, n. A spindle; a kind of reel.

WIND-MILL, n. [wind and mill.] A mill turned by the wind.

WINDPIPE, n. [wind and pipe.] The passage for the breath to and from the lungs; the trachea.

WIND-PUMP, n. [wind and pump.] A pump moved by wind, useful in draining lands.

WIND-RODE, n. A term used by seamen to signify a ship when riding with wind and tide opposed to each other, driven to the leeward of her anchor.

WINDROW, n. [wind and row.]

1. A row or line of hay, raked together for the purpose of being rolled into cocks or heaps. [This is the only use of the word in New England.]

2. The green border of a field, dug up in order to carry the earth on other land to mend it.

3. A row of peats set up for drying; or a row of pieces of turf, sod or sward, cut in paring and burning.

WIND-SAIL, n. [wind and sail.] A wide tube or funnel of canvas, used to convey a stream of air into the lower apartments of a ship.

WINDSEED, n. A plant of the genus Arctolis.

WIND-SHOCK, n. [wind and shock.] A sort of bruise or shiver in a tree.

WIND-TIGHT, a. [wind and tight.] So tight as to prevent the passing of wind.

WINDWARD, n. [wind and ward.] The point from which the wind blows; as, to ply to the windward.

WINDWARD, a. [wind and ward.] Being on the side towards the point from which the wind blows; as the windward shrouds.

WINDWARD, adv. Towards the wind.

WINDY, a.

1. Consisting of wind; as a windy tempest.

2. Next the wind; as the windy side.

3. Tempestuous; boisterous; as windy weather.

4. Puffy; flatulent; abounding with wind.

5. Empty; airy; as windy joy.

WIND, v.t. pret. and pp. wound. [G.]

1. To blow; to sound by blowing or inflation.

Wind the shrill horn.

2. To turn; to move, or cause to turn.

To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus.

3. To turn round some fixed object; to bind, or to form into a ball or coil by turning; as, to wind thread on a spool; to wind thread into a ball; to wind a rope into a coil.

4. To introduce by insinuation. The child winds himself into my affections.

They have little arts and dexterities to wind in such things into discourse.

5. To change; to vary.

Were our legislature vested in the prince, he might wind and turn our constitution at his pleasure.

6. To entwist; to enfold; to encircle.

7. [With I short, as in win.] To nose; to perceive or to follow by the scent; as, hounds wind an animal.

8. To ventilate; to expose to the wind; to winnow.

To wind off, [with I long.] To unwind.

To wind out, to extricate.

To wind up,

1. To bring to a small compass, as a ball of thread.

2. To bring to a conclusion or settlement; as, to wind up ones affairs.

3. To put in a state of renovated or continued motion.

Fate seemd to wind him up for fourscore years.

To wind up a clock, is to wind the cord by which the weights are suspended, round an axis or pin.

To wind up a watch, is to wind the spring round its axis or pin.

4. To raise by degrees.

Thus they wound up his temper to a pitch--

5. To straiten, as a string; to put in tune.

6. To put in order for regular action.

WIND, v.i.

1. To turn; to change.

So swift your judgments turn and wind.

2. To turn around something; as, vines wind around a pole.

3. To have a circular direction; as winding stairs.

4. To crook; to bend. The road winds in various places.

5. To move round; as, a hare pursued turns and winds.

To wind out, to be extricated; to escape.

Long labring underneath, ere they could wind out of such prison.

WINDER, n. One who winds.

WINDING, ppr.

1. Turning; binding about; bending.

2. a. Bending; twisting from a direct line or an even surface.

WINDING, n.

1. A turn or turning; a bend; flexure; meander; as the windings of a road or stream.

2. A call by the boastswains whistle.

WINDING-ENGINE, n. An engine employed in mining, to draw up buckets from a deep pit.

WINDING-SHEET, n. [winding and sheet.] A sheet in which a corpse is wrapped.

WINDING-TACKLE, n. [winding and tackle.] A tackle consisting of one fixed triple block, and one double or triple movable block.

WINDOW, n. [G. The vulgar pronunciation is windor, as if from the Welsh gwyntdor, wind-door.]

1. An opening in the wall of a building for the admission of light, and of air when necessary. This opening has a frame on the sides, in which are set movable sashes, containing panes of glass. In the United Sates, the sashes are made to rise and fall, for the admission or exclusion of air. In France, windows are shut with frames or sashes that open and shut vertically, like the leaves of a folding door.

2. An aperture or opening.

A window shalt thou make to the ark. Genesis 6:16.

3. The frame or other thing that covers the aperture.

Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes.

4. An aperture; or rather the clouds or water-spouts.

The windows of heaven were opened. Genesis 7:11.

5. Lattice or casement; or the network of wire used before the invention of glass. Judges 5:28.

6. Lines crossing each other.

Till he has windows on his bread and butter.

WINDOW, v.t.

1. To furnish with windows.

2. To place at a window. [Unusual.]

3. To break into openings. [Unusual.]

WINDOW-BLIND, n. [window and blind.] A blind to intercept the light of a window. Venetian window-blinds are now much used in the United States.

WINDOW-FRAME, n. [window and frame.] The frame of a window which receives and holds the sashes.

WINDOW-GLASS, n. [window and glass.] Panes of glass for windows.

WINDOW-SASH, n. [window and sash.] The sash or light frame in which panes of glass are set for windows.

WINDOWY, a. Having little crossings like the sashes of a window.

WINE, n. [Gr.]

1. The fermented juice of grapes; as the wine of the Madeira grape; the wine of Burgundy or Oporto.

2. The juice of certain fruits, prepared with sugar, spirits, etc.; as currant wine; gooseberry wine.

3. Intoxication.

Noah awoke from his wine. Genesis 9:24.

4. Drinking.

They that tarry long at the wine. Proverbs 23:30.

Corn and wine, in Scripture, are put for all kinds of necessaries for subsistence. Psalm.

Bread and wine, in the Lords supper, are symbols of the body and blood of Christ.

WINE-BIBBER, n. One who drinks much wine; a great drinker. Proverbs 23:20.

WINE-CASK, n. [wine and cask.] A cask in which wine is or has been kept.

WINE-FLY, n. A small fly found in empty wine casks.

WINE-GLASS, n. [wine and glass.] A small glass in which wine is drank.

WINELESS, a. Destitute of wine; as wineless life.

WINE-MEASURE, n. [See Measure.] The measure by which wines and other spirits are sold, smaller than beer measure.

WINE-MERCHANT, n. A merchant who deals in wines.

WINE-PRESS, n. [wine and press.] A place where grapes are pressed.

WING, n.

1. The limb of a fowl by which it flies. In a few species of fowls, the wings do not enable them to fly; as is the case with the dodo, ostrich, great auk, and penguin; but in the two former, the wings assist the fowls in running.

2. The limb of an insect by which it flies.

3. In botany, the side petal of a papilionaceous corol; also, an appendage of seeds, by means of which they are wafted in the air and scattered; also, any membranous or leafy dilatation of a footstalk, or of the angles of a stem, branch or flower stalk, or of a calyx.

4. Flight; passage by the wind; as, to be on the wind; to take wing.

5. Means of flying; acceleration. Fear adds wings to flight.

6. Motive or incitement of flight.

Then fiery expedition be my wing.

7. The flank or extreme body or part of an army.

8. Any side-piece.

9. In gardening, a side-shoot.

10. In architecture, a side-building, less than the main edifice.

11. In fortification, the longer sides of hornworks, crown-works, etc.

12. In a fleet, the ships on the extremities, when ranged in a line, or when forming the two sides of a triangle.

13. In a ship, the wings are those parts of the hold and orlop deck, which are nearest the sides.

14. In Scripture, protection; generally in the plural. Psalm 63:7; Exodus 19:4.

On the wings of the wind, with the utmost velocity. Psalm 18:10.

WING, v.t.

1. To furnish with wings; to enable to fly or to move with celerity.

Who heaves old ocean, and who wings the storms.

2. To supply with side bodies; as on either side well winged.

3. To transport by flight.

I, an old turtle, will wing me to some witherd bough.

Edge the keen sword, and wing th unerring ball.

To wing a flight, to exert the power of flying.

WINGED, pp.

1. Furnished with wings; transported by flying.

2. a. Having wings; as a winged fowl. Genesis 1:21.

3. Swift; rapid; as with winged haste.

4. Wounded; hurt.

5. In botany, furnished with longitudinal membranous appendages, as a winged stalk or stem; or with downy or hairy appendages, as winged seeds.

Winged petiole, having a thing membrane or border on each side, or dilated on the sides.

Winged leaf, a pennate leaf; a species of compound leaf, wherein a simple leaf has several leaflets fastened to each side of it.

6. In heraldry, represented with wings, or having wings of a different color from the body.

7. Fanned with wings; swarming with birds.

WINDGED-PEA, n. A plant.

WING-FOOTED, a. [wing and foot.] Swift; moving with rapidity; fleet.

WINGLESS, a. Having no wings; not able to ascend or fly.

WING-SHELL, n. [wing and shell.] The shell that covers the wing of insects.

WINGY, a. Having wings; rapid; as wingy speed.

WINK, v.i. [G. Wink and wince are radically one word.]

1. To shut the eyes; to close the eyelids.

They are not blind, but they wink.

2. To close and open the eyelids.

3. To give a hint by a motion of the eyelids.

Wink at the footman to leave him without a plate.

4. To close the eyelids and exclude the light.

Or wink as cowards and afraid.

5. To be dim; as a winking light.

To wink at, to connive at; to seem not to see; to tolerate; to overlook, as something not perfectly agreeable; as, to wink at faults.

WINK, n.

1. The act of closing the eyelids. I lay awake, and could not sleep a wink.

I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink.

2. A hint given by shutting the eye with a significant cast.

WINKER, n. One who winks.

WINKING, ppr. Shutting the eyes; shutting and opening the eyelids; hinting by closing the eye; conniving at; overlooking.

WINKINGLY, adv. With the eye almost closed.

WINNER, n. [from win.] One who gains by success in competition or contest.

WINNING, ppr. [from win.]

1. Gaining success in competition or contest.

2. a. Attracting; adapted to gain favor; charming; as a winning address.

WINNING, n. The sum won or gained by success in competition or contest.

WINNOW, v.t. [L., a fan.]

1. To separate and drive off the chaff from grain by means of wind. Grain is winnowed by a fan, or by a machine, or by pouring it out of a vessel in a current of air.

2. To fan; to beat as with wings.

3. To examine; to sift for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth.

Winnow well this thought.

4. To separate, as the bad from the good.

WINNOW, v.i. To separate chaff from corn.

Winnow not with every wind.

WINNOWED, pp. Separated from the chaff by wind; sifted; examined.

WINNOWER, n. One who winnows.

WINNOWING, ppr. Separating from the chaff by wind; examining.

WINTER, n.

1. The cold season of the year. Astronomically considered, winter commences in northern latitudes when the sun enters Capricorn, or at the solstice about the 21st of December, and ends at the equinox in March; but in ordinary discourse, the three winter months are December, January, and February. Our Saxon ancestors reckoned the years by winters; as ten winters; thirty winters. In tropical climates, there are two winters annually; but they cannot be said to be cold. In the temperate and frigid climates, there is one winter only in the year.

2. The part of the printing press which sustains the carriage.

WINTER, v.i. To pass the winter. He wintered in Italy. Cattle winter well on good fodder.

WINTER, v.t. To feed or manage during the winter. To winter young cattle on straw, is not profitable. Delicate plants must be wintered under cover.

WINTER-APPLE, n. [winter and apple.] An apple that keeps well in winter.

WINTER-BARLEY, n. [winter and barley.] A kind of barley which is sowed in autumn.

WINTER-BEATEN, a. [winter and beat.] Harassed by the severe weather of winter.

WINTER-BERRY, n. [winter and berry.] A plant of the genus Prinos.

WINTER-BLOOM, n. [winter and bloom.] A plant of the genus Azalea.

WINTER-CHERRY, n. [winter and cherry.] A plant of the genus Physalis, and its fruit, which is of the size of a cherry.

WINTER-CITRON, n. [winter and citron.] A sort of pear.

WINTER-CRESS, n. [winter and cress.] A plant of the genus Erysimum.

WINTER-CROP, n. [winter and crop.] A crop which will bear the winter, or which may be converted into fodder during the winter.

WINTER-FALLOW, n. [winter and fallow.] Ground that is fallowed in winter.

WINTER-GARDEN, n. [winter and garden.] An ornamental garden for winter.

WINTER-GREEN, n. [winter and green.] A plant of the genus Pyrola, useful as a vulnerary.

WINTER-KILL, v.t. [winter and kill.] To kill by means of the weather in winter; as, to winter-kill wheat or clover.

WINTER-KILL, v.i. To be killed by the winter. Wheat is liable to winter-kill in moist land.

WINTER-KILLED, pp. Killed by the winter, as grain.

WINTER-KILLING, ppr. Killing by the weather in winter.

WINTER-LODGE, WINTER-LODGMENT, n. [winter and lodge.] In botany, the hybernacle of a plant, which protects the embryo or future shoot from injuries during the winter. It is either a bud or a bulb.

WINTER-PEAR, n. [winter and pear.] Any pear that keeps well in winter.

WINTER-QUARTERS, n. [winter and quarters.] The quarters of an army during the winter; a winter residence or station.

WINTER-RIG, v.t. [winter and rig.] To fallow or till in winter. [Local.]

WINTER-SOLSTICE, n. [winter and solstice.] The solstice of the winter, which takes place when the sun enters Capricorn, December 21st.

WINTERED, pp. Kept through the winter.

WINTERING, ppr. Passing the winter; keeping in winter.

WINTERLY, a. Such as is suitable to winter. [Little used.]

WINTERY, a. Suitable to winter; brumal; hyemal; cold; stormy.

WINY, a. [from wine.] Having the taste or qualities of wine.

WIPE, v.t.

1. To rub something soft for cleaning; to clean by rubbing; as, to wipe the hands or face with a towel. Luke 7:38.

2. To strike off gently.

Some natral tears they droppd, but wipd them soon.

3. To cleanse from evil practices or abuses; to overturn and destroy what is foul and hateful.

I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish. 2 Kings 21:3.

4. To cheat; to defraud.

To wipe away, to cleanse by rubbing or tersion; as, to wipe away a stain or reproach.

To wipe off, to clear away. Wipe off this foul stain; wipe off the dust.

To wipe out, to efface; to obliterate. Wipe out the blot.

WIPE, n.

1. The act of rubbing for the purpose of cleaning.

2. A blow; a stroke.

3. A gibe; a jeer; a severe sarcasm.

4. A bird.

WIPED, pp. Rubbed for cleaning; cleaned by rubbing; cleared away; effaced.

WIPER, n.

1. One who wipes.

2. The instrument used for wiping.

WIPING, ppr. Rubbing with a cloth or other soft thing for cleaning; clearing away; effacing.

WIRE, n. A thread of metal; any metallic substance drawn to an even thread.

WIRE, v.t. To bind with wire; to apply wire to, as in bottling liquors.

WIREDRAW, v.t. [wire and draw.]

1. To draw a metal into wire, which is done by drawing it through a hole in a plate of steel.

2. To draw into length.

3. To draw by art or violence.

My sense has been wiredrawn into blasphemy.

4. To draw or spin out to great length and tenuity; as, to wiredraw an argument.

WIREDRAWER, n. One who draw metal into wire.

WIREDRAWING, ppr.

1. Drawing a metal into wire.

2. Drawing to a great length or fineness.

WIREDRAWN, pp. Drawn into wire; drawn out to great length or fineness.

WIRE-GRATE, n. [wire and grate.] A grate or contrivance of fine wire work to keep insects out of vineries, hot houses, etc.

WIRE-HEEL, n. [wire and heel.] A defect and disease in the feet of a horse or other beast.

WIRE-WORM, n. [wire and worm.] A mischievous worm that sometimes injures grain.

WIRY, a. Made of wire; like wire.

WIS, v.t. pret. wist. To think; to suppose; to imagine.

WISDOM, n. s as z. [G. See Wise.]

1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. I differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.

Wisdom gained by experience, is of inestimable value.

It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom; that they will yield every thing to reason, and refuse every thing to force.

2. In Scripture, human learning; erudition; knowledge of arts and sciences.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Acts 7:22.

3. Quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension; dexterity in execution; as the wisdom of Bezaleel and Aholiab. Exodus 31:2-6.

4. Natural instinct and sagacity. Job 39:17.

5. In Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. This is the wisdom which is from above. Psalm 90:12; Job 28:28.

6. Profitable words or doctrine. Psalm 37:30.

The wisdom of this world, mere human erudition; or the carnal policy of men, their craft and artifices in promoting their temporal interests; called also fleshly wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12.

The wisdom of words, artificial or affected eloquence; or learning displayed in teaching. 1 Corinthians 1 and 1 Corinthians 2.