Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

EXPOSITOR — EXTENDIBLE

EXPOSITOR, n. [L.] One who expounds or explains; an interpreter.

1. A dictionary or vocabulary which explains words.

EXPOSITORY, a. Serving to explain; tending to illustrate.

Ex post facto. [L.] In law, done after another thing. An estate granted may be made good by matter ex post facto, which was not good at first.

An ex post facto law, in criminal cases, consists in declaring an act penal or criminal, which was innocent when done; or in raising the grade of an offense, making it greater than it was when committed, or increasing the punishment after the commission of the offense; or in altering the rules of evidence, so as to allow different or less evidence to convict the offender, than was required when the offense was committed.

An ex post facto law is one that renders an act punishable in a manner in which it was not punishable at the time it was committed.

This definition is distinguished for its comprehensive brevity and precision.

In a free government, no person can be subjected to punishment by an ex post facto law.

EXPOSTULATE, v.i. [L. expostulo; ex and postulo, to require, probably from the root of posco.]

To reason earnestly with a person, on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to desist, or to make redress; followed by with.

The emperor’s embassador expostulated with the king, that he had broken the league with the emperor.

EXPOSTULATE, v.t. To discuss; to examine. [Not used.]

EXPOSTULATING, ppr. Reasoning or urging arguments against any improper conduct.

EXPOSTULATION, n. Reasoning with a person in opposition to his conduct; the act of pressing on a person reasons or arguments against the impropriety of his conduct, and in some cases, demanding redress or urging reformation.

1. In rhetoric, an address containing expostulation.

EXPOSTULATOR, n. One who expostulates.

EXPOSTULATORY, a. Containing expostulation; as an expostulatory address or debate.

EXPOSURE, n. s as z. [from expose.] The act of exposing or laying open.

1. The state of being laid open to view, to danger or to any inconvenience; as exposure to observation; exposure to cold, or to the air; exposure to censure.

2. The situation of a place in regard to points of compass, or to a free access of air or light. We say, a building or a garden or a wall has a northern or a southern exposure. We speak of its exposure or exposition to a free current of air, or to the access of light.

EXPOUND, v.t. [L. expono; ex and pono, to set.]

1. To explain; to lay open the meaning; to clear of obscurity; to interpret; as, to expound a text of scripture; to expound a law.

2. To lay open; to examine; as, to expound the pocket. [Not used.]

EXPOUNDED, pp. Explained; laid open; interpreted.

EXPOUNDER, n. An explainer; one who interprets or explains the meaning.

EXPOUNDING, ppr. Explaining; laying open; making clear to the understanding; interpreting.

EX-PREFECT, n. A prefect out of office; one who has been a prefect and is displaced.

EX-PRESIDENT, n. One who has been president, but is no longer in the office.

EXPRESS, v.t. [L. expressum, exprimo; ex and premo, to press. See Press.]

1. To press or squeeze out; to force out by pressure; as, to express the juice of grapes or of apples.

2. To utter; to declare in words; to speak. He expressed his ideas or his meaning with precision. His views were expressed in very intelligible terms.

3. To write or engrave; to represent in written words or language. The covenants in the deed are well expressed.

4. To represent; to exhibit by copy or resemblance.

So kids and whelps their sires and dams express.

5. To represent or show by imitation or the imitative arts; to form a likeness; as in painting or sculpture.

Each skilful artist shall express thy form.

6. To show or make known; to indicate.

A downcast eye or look may express humility, shame or guilt.

7. To denote; to designate.

Moses and Aaron took these men, who are expressed by their names. Numbers 1:17.

8. To extort; to elicit. [Little used.]

EXPRESS, a. Plain; clear; expressed; direct not ambiguous. We are informed in express terms or words. The terms of the contract are express.

1. Given in direct terms; not implied or left to inference. This is the express covenant or agreement. We have his express consent. We have an express law on the subject. Express warranty; express malice.

2. Copied; resembling; bearing an exact representation.

His face express.

3. Intended or sent for a particular purpose, or on a particular errand; as, to send a messenger express.

EXPRESS, n. A messenger sent on a particular errand or occasion; usually, a courier sent to communicate information of an important event, or to deliver; important dispatches. It is applied also to boats or vessels sent to convey important information.

1. A message sent.

2. A declaration in plain terms. [Not in use.]

EXPRESSED, pp. Squeezed or forced out, as juice or liquor; uttered in words; set down in writing or letters; declared; represented; shown.

EXPRESSIBLE, a. That may be expressed; that may be uttered, declared, shown or represented.

1. That may be squeezed out.

EXPRESSING, ppr. Forcing out by pressure; uttering; declaring; showing; representing.

EXPRESSION, n. The act of expressing; the act of forcing out by pressure, as juices and oils from plants.

1. The act of uttering, declaring or representing; utterance; declaration; representation; as an expression of the public will.

2. A phrase, or mode of speech; as an old expression; an odd expression.

3. In rhetoric, elocution; diction; the peculiar manner of utterance, suited to the subject and sentiment.

No adequate description can be given of the nameless and ever varying shades of expression which real pathos gives to the voice.

4. In painting, a natural and lively representation of the subject; as the expression of the eye, of the countenance, or of a particular action or passion.

5. In music, the tone, grace or modulation of voice or sound suited to any particular subject; that manner which gives life and reality to ideas and sentiments.

6. Theatrical expression, is a distinct, sonorous and pleasing pronunciation, accompanied with action suited to the subject.

EXPRESSIVE, a. Serving to express; serving to utter or represent; followed by of. He sent a letter couched in terms expressive of his gratitude.

Each verse so swells expressive of her woes.

1. Representing with force; emphatical.

These words are very expressive.

2. Showing; representing; as an expressive sign.

EXPRESSIVELY, adv. In an expressive manner; clearly; fully; with a clear representation.

EXPRESSIVENESS, n. The quality of being expressive; the power of expression or representation by words.

1. The power or force of representation; the quality of presenting a subject strongly to the senses or to the mind; as the expressiveness of the eye, or of the features, or of sounds.

EXPRESSLY, adv. In direct terms; plainly.

EXPRESSURE, n. Expression; utterance; representation; mark; impression. [Little used.]

EXPROBRATE, v.t. [L. exprobro; ex and probrum, deformity, a shameful act.]

To upbraid; to censure as reproachful; to blame; to condemn.

EXPROBRATION, n. The act of charging or censuring reproachfully; reproachful accusation; the act of upbraiding.

No need such boasts, or exprobrations false

Of cowardice.

EXPROBRATIVE, a. Upbraiding; expressing reproach.

EXPROPRIATE, v.t. [L. ex and proprius, own.]

To disengage from appropriation; to hold no longer as one’s own; to give up a claim to exclusive property.

EXPROPRIATION, n. The act of discarding appropriation, or declining to hold as one’s own; the surrender of a claim to exclusive property.

EXPUGN, v.t. expu’ne. [L. expugno; ex and pugno, to fight.]

To conquer; to take by assault.

EXPUGNABLE, a. That may be forced.

EXPUGNATION, n. Conquest; the act of taking by assault.

EXPUGNER, n. One who subdues.

EXPULSE, v.t. expuls’. [L. expulsus, expello; ex and pello, to drive.] To drive out; to expel. [Little used.]

EXPULSION, n. The act of driving out or expelling; a driving away by violence; as the expulsion of the thirty tyrants from Athens, or of Adam from paradise.

1. The state of being driven out or away.

EXPULSIVE, a. Having the power of driving out or away; serving to expel.

EXPUNCTION, n. [See Expunge.] The act of expunging; the act of blotting out or erasing.

EXPUNGE, v.t. expunj’. [L. expungo; ex and pungo, to thrust, to prick.]

1. To blot out, as with a pen; to rub out; to efface, as words; to obliterate. We expunge single words or whole lines or sentences.

2. To efface; to strike out; to wipe out or destroy; to annihilate; as, to expunge an offense.

Expunge the whole, or lop the excrescent parts.

EXPUNGED, pp. Blotted out; obliterated; destroyed.

EXPUNGING, ppr. Blotting out; erasing; effacing; destroying.

EXPURGATE, v.t. [L. expurgo; ex and purgo, to cleanse.]

To purge; to cleanse; to purify from any thing noxious, offensive or erroneous.

EXPURGATED, pp. Purged; cleansed; purified.

EXPURGATING, ppr. Purging; cleansing; purifying.

EXPURGATION, n. The act of purging or cleansing; evacuation.

1. A cleansing; purification from any thing noxious, offensive, sinful or erroneous.

EXPURGATOR, n. One who expurgates or purifies.

EXPURGATORY, a. Cleansing; purifying; serving to purify from any thing noxious or erroneous; as the expurgatory index of the Romanists, which directs the expunction of passages of authors contrary to their creed or principles.

Expurgatory animadversions.

EXPURGE, v.t. expurj’. [L. expurgo.] To purge away. [Not in use.]

EXQUIRE, v.t. [L. exquiro.] To search into or out. [Not in use.]

EXQUISITE, a. s as z. [L. e xquisitus, from exquiro; ex and quaero, to seek.] Literally, sought out or searched for with care; whence, choice; select. Hence,

1. Nice; exact; very excellent; complete; as a vase of exquisite workmanship.

2. Nice; accurate; capable of nice perception; as exquisite sensibility.

3. Nice; accurate; capable of nice discrimination; as exquisite judgment, taste or discernment.

4. Being in the highest degree; extreme; as, to relish pleasure in an exquisite degree. So we say, exquisite pleasure or pain.

The most exquisite of human satisfactions flows from an approving conscience.

5. Very sensibly felt; as a painful and exquisite impression on the nerves.

EXQUISITELY, adv. Nicely; accurately; with great perfection; as a work exquisitely finished; exquisitely written.

1. With keen sensation or with nice perception. We feel pain more exquisitely when nothing diverts our attention from it.

We see more exquisitely with one eye shut.

EXQUISITENESS, n. Nicety; exactness; accuracy; completeness; perfecton; as the exquisiteness of workmanship.

1. Keenness; sharpness; extremity; as the exquisiteness of pain or grief.

EXQUISITIVE, a. Curious; eager to discover. [Not in use.]

EXQUISITIVELY, adv. Curiously; minutely. [Not in use.]

EX-REPRESENTATIVE, n. One who has been formerly a representative, but is no longer one.

EXSANGUIOUS, a. [L. exsanguis; ex and sanguis, blood.]

Destitute of blood, or rather of red blood, as an animal.

EXSCIND, v.t. [L. exscindo.] To cut off. [Little used.]

EXSCRIBE, v.t. [L. exscribo.] To copy; to transcribe. [Not in use.]

EXSCRIPT, n. A copy; a transcript. [Not used.]

EX-SECRETARY, n. One who has been secretary, but is no longer in office.

EXSECTION, n. [L. exsectio.] A cutting off, or a cutting out.

EX-SENATOR, n. One who has been a senator, but is no longer one.

EXSERT, EXSERTED, a. [L. exsero; ex and sero. See Exert.]

Standing out; protruded from the corol; as stamens exsert.

A small portion of the basal edge of the shell exserted.

EXSERTILE, a. That may be thrust out or protruded.

EXSICCANT, a. [See Exsiccate.] Drying; evaporating moisture; having the quality of drying.

EXSICCATE, v.t. [L. exsicco; ex and sicco, to dry.]

To dry; to exhaust or evaporate moisture.

EXSICCATED, pp. Dried.

EXSICCATING, ppr. Drying; evaporating moisture.

EXSICCATION, n. The act or operation of drying; evaporation of moisture; dryness.

EXSPUITION, EXPUITION, n. [L. expuo for exspuo.] A discharge of saliva by spitting.

EXSTIPULATE, a. [L. ex and stipula, straw.] In botany, having no stipules.

EXSUCCOUS, a. [L. exsuccus; ex and succus, juice.] Destitute of juice; dry.

EXSUCTION, n. [L. exugo, exsugo, to suck out; sugo, to suck.]

The act of sucking out.

EXSUDATION, n. [L. exudo, for exsudo.] A sweating; a discharge of humors or moisture from animal bodies by sweat or extillation through the pores.

1. The discharge of the juices of a plant, moisture from the earth. etc.

EXSUDE, v.t. [supra.] To discharge the moisture or juices of a living body through the pores; also, to discharge the liquid matter of a plant by incisions.

Our forests exude turpentine in the greatest abundance.

EXSUDE, v.i. To flow from a living body through the pores or by a natural discharge, as juice.

EXSUDED, pp. Emitted, as juice.

EXSUDING, ppr. Discharging, as juice.

EXSUFFLATION, n. [L. ex and sufflo, to blow.]

1. A blowing or blast from beneath. [Little used.]

2. A kind of exorcism.

EXSUFFOLATE, a. Contemptible. [Not in use.]

EXSUSCITATE, v.t. [L. exsuscito.] To rouse; to excite. [Not used.]

EXSUSCITATION, n. A stirring up; a rousing. [Not used.]

EXTANCE, n. [L. estans.] Outward existence. [Not used.]

EXTANCY, n. [L. exstans, extans, standing out, from exsto; ex and sto, to stand.]

1. The state of rising above others.

2. Parts rising above the rest; opposed to depression. [Little used.]

EXTANT, a. [L. exstans, extans, supra.] Standing out or above any surface; protruded.

That part of the teeth which is extant above the gums.

A body partly immersed in a fluid and partly extant.

1. In being; not subsisting; not suppressed, destroyed, or lost. A part only of the history of Livy, and of the writings of Cicero, is now extant. Socrates wrote much, but none of his writings are extant. The extant works of orators and philosophers.

EXTASY, EXTATIC. [See Ecstasy, Ecstatic.]

EXTEMPORAL, a. [L. extemporalis; ex and tempus, time.] Made or uttered at the moment, without premeditation; as an extemporal discourse.

1. Speaking without premeditation.

Instead of this word, extemporaneous and extemporary are now used.

EXTEMPORALLY, adv. Without premeditation.

EXTEMPORANEAN, a. [Not used. See Extemporaneous.]

EXTEMPORANEOUS, a. [L. extemporaneus; ex and tempus, time.]

Composed, performed or uttered at the time the subject occurs, without previous study; unpremeditated; as an extemporaneous address; an extemporaneous production; an extemporaneous prescription.

EXTEMPORANEOUSLY, adv. Without previous study.

EXTEMPORARILY, adv. Without previous study.

EXTEMPORARY, a. [L. ex and temporius, from tempus, time.]

Composed, performed or uttered without previous study or preparation. [See Extemporaneous.]

EXTEMPORE, adv. extem’pory. [L. abl.]

1. Without previous study or meditation; without preparation; suddenly; as, to write or speak extempore.

2. It is used as an adjective, improperly, at least without necessity; as an extempore dissertation.

EXTEMPORINESS, n. The state of being unpremeditated; the state of being composed, performed or uttered without previous study.

EXTEMPORIZE, v.i. To speak extempore; to speak without previous study or preparation. To extemporize well requires a ready mind well furnished with knowledge.

1. To discourse without notes or written composition.

EXTEMPORIZER, n. One who speaks without previous study, or without written composition.

EXTEMPORIIZING, ppr. Speaking without previous study, or preparation by writing.

The extemporizing faculty is never more out of its element than in the pulpit.

EXTEND, v.t. [L. extendo; ex and tendo, teneo.]

1. To stretch in any direction; to carry forward, or continue in length, as a line; to spread in breadth; to expand or dilate in size. The word is particularly applied to length and breadth. We extend lines in surveying; we extend roads, limits, bounds; we extend metal plates by hammering.

2. To stretch; to reach forth; as, to extend the arm of hand.

3. To spread; to expand; to enlarge; to widen; as, to extend the capacities, or intellectual powers; to extend the sphere of usefulness; to extend commerce.

4. To continue; to prolong; as, to extend the time of payment; to extend the season of trial.

5. To communicate; to bestow on; to use or exercise towards.

He hath extended mercy to me before the king. Ezra 7:28.

6. To impart; to yield or give.

I will extend peace to her like a river. Isaiah 66:12.

7. In law, to value lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of a debt; or to levy on lands, as an execution.

The execution was delivered to the sheriff, who extended the same on certain real estate.

EXTEND, v.i. To stretch; to reach; to be continued in length or breadth. The state of Massachusetts extends west to the border of the state of New York. Connecticut river extends from Canada to the sound. How far will your argument or proposition extend? Let our charities extend to the heathen.

EXTENDED, pp. Stretched; spread; expanded; enlarged; bestowed on; communicated; valued under a writ of extendi facias; levied.

EXTENDER, n. He or that which extends or stretches.

EXTENDIBLE, a. Capable of being extended; that may be stretched, extended, enlarged, widened or expanded.

1. That may be taken by a writ of extent and valued.