Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
HOUP — HUMAN
HOUP. [See Hoopoo.]
HOUR, n. our. [L. hora; also L. tempestivus, from tempus. See Time. But hour, hora, afterward came to signify a certain portion or division of the day. This has been different in different nations.]
1. A space of time equal to one twenty fourth part of the natural day, or duration of the diurnal revolution of the earth. An hour answers to fifteen degrees of the equator. It consists of 60 minutes, each minute of 60 seconds, etc.
2. Time; a particular time; as the hour of death.
Jesus saith, woman, my hour is not yet come. John 2:4.
3. The time marked or indicated by a chronometer, clock or watch; the particular time of the day. What is the hour? At what hour shall we meet? I will be with you at an early hour.
Good hour, signifies early or seasonably.
You have arrived at a good hour.
To keep good hours, to be at home in good season; not to be abroad late, or at the usual hours of retiring to rest.
Hours, in the plural, certain prayers in the Romish church, to be repeated at stated times of the day, as matins and vespers.
HOURGLASS, n. our’glass. A chronometer that measures the flux of time by the running of sand from one glass vessel to another, through a small aperture. Instead of sand, dry egg shells pulverized are sometimes used. The quantity of sand may be so proportioned as to measure an hour, a half hour, or a quarter.
1. Space of time.
HOURHAND, n. The hand or pointed pin which shows the hour on a chronometer.
HOURI, n. Among Mohammedans, a nymph of paradise.
HOURLY, a. our’ly. Happening or done every hour; occurring hour by hour; frequent; often repeated.
Observe the waning moon with hourly view.
1. Continual.
We must live in hourly expectation of having the troops recalled.
HOURLY, adv. our’ly. Every hour; frequently; continually.
Great was their strife which hourly was renewed.
HOURPLATE, n. our’plate. The plate of a clock or other time-piece on which the hours are marked; the dial.
HOUSAGE, n. [from house.] A fee for keeping goods in a house.
HOUSE, n. hous. [L. casa; Heb. to put on, to cover.]
1. In a general sense, a building or shed intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but appropriately, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, mansion or abode for any of the human species. It may be of any size and composed of any materials whatever, wood, stone, brick, etc.
2. An edifice or building appropriated to the worship of God; a temple; a church; as the house of God.
3. A monastery; a college; as a religious house.
4. The manner of living; the table.
He keeps a good house, or a miserable house.
5. In astrology, the station of a planet in the heavens, or the twelfth part of the heavens.
6. A family of ancestors; descendants and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe. It particularly denotes a noble family or an illustrious race; as the house of Austria; the house of Hanover. So in Scripture, the house of Israel, or of Judah.
Two of a house few ages can afford.
7. One of the estates of a kingdom assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in their legislative capacity, and holding their place by right or by election. Thus we say, the house of lords or peers of Great Britain; the house of commons; the house of representatives. In most of the United States, the legislatures consist of two houses, the senate, and the house of representatives or delegates.
8. The quorum of a legislative body; the number of representatives assembled who are constitutionally empowered to enact laws. Hence we say, there is a sufficient number of representatives present to form a house.
9. In Scripture, those who dwell in a house and compose a family; a household.
Cornelius was a devout man, and feared God with all his house. Acts 10:2.
10. Wealth; estate.
Ye devour widows’ houses. Matthew 23:14.
11. The grave; as the house appointed for all living. Job 30:23.
12. Household affairs; domestic concerns.
Set thy house in order. 2 Kings 20:1.
13. The body; the residence of the soul in this world; as our earthly house. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
14. The church among the Jews.
Moses was faithful in all his house. Hebrews 3:2.
15. A place of residence. Egypt is called the house of bondage. Exodus 13:3, 14.
16. A square, or division on a chess board.
HOUSE, v.t. houz. To cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to shelter; to protect by covering; as, to house wood; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.
1. To admit to residence; to harbor.
Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.
2. To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
3. To drive to a shelter.
HOUSE, v.i. houz. To take shelter or lodgings; to keep abode; to reside.
To house with darkness and with death.
1. To have an astrological station in the heavens.
Where Saturn houses.
HOUSEBOAT, n. hous’boat. A covered boat.
HOUSEBOTE, n. hous’bote.
1. In law, a sufficient allowance of wood to repair the house and supply fuel.
HOUSE-BREAKER, n. house’-breaker. One who breaks, opens and enters a house by day with a felonious intent, or one who breaks or opens a house, and steals therefrom, by daylight.
HOUSE-BREAKING, n. hous’-breaking. The breaking, or opening and entering of a house by daylight, with the intent to commit a felony, or to steal or rob. The same crime committed at night is burglary.
HOUSEDOG, n. hous’dog. A dog kept to guard the house.
HOUSEHOLD, n. hous’hold. Those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family; those who belong to a family.
I baptized also the household of Stephanus. 1 Corinthians 1:16.
1. Family life; domestic management.
HOUSEHOLD, a. hous’hold. Belonging to the house and family; domestic; as household furniture; household affairs.
HOUSEHOLDER, n. hous’holder. The master or chief of a family; one who keeps house with his family. Matthew 13:27, 52.
HOUSEHOLD-STUFF, n. hous’hold-stuff. The furniture of a house; the vessels, utensils and goods of a family.
HOUSEKEEPER, n. hous’keeper. One who occupies a house with his family; a man or woman who maintains a family; a man or woman who maintains a family state in a house; a householder; the master or mistress of a family.
1. A female servant who has the chief care of the family and superintends the other servants.
2. One who lives in plenty. [Not in use.]
3. One who keeps much at home. [Not used.]
4. A housedog. [Not used.]
HOUSEKEEPING, a. hous’keeping. Domestic; used in a family; as housekeeping commodities. [Little used.]
HOUSEKEEPING, n. [As above.] The family state in a dwelling.
1. Hospitality; a plentiful and hospitable table. [Not used in U. States.]
HOUSEL, n. houz’l. The eucharist; the sacred bread.
HOUSEL, v.t. To give or receive the eucharist.
HOUSELAMB, n. hous’lamb. A lamb kept in a house for fatting.
HOUSELEEK, n. hous’leek. [See Leek.] A plant of the genus Sempervivum, which is found on the tops of houses. The lesser houseleek is of the genus Sedum.
HOUSELESS, n. hous’less. Destitute of a house or habitation; as the houseless child of want.
1. Destitute of shelter.
HOUSELINE, HOUSING, n. Among seamen, a small line formed of three strands, smaller than rope-yard, used for seizings, etc.
HOUSEMAID, n. hous’maid. A female servant employed to keep a house clean, etc.
HOUSEPIGEON, n. A tame pigeon.
HOUSEROOM, n. hous’room. Room or place in a house.
HOUSERAISER, n. One who erects a house.
HOUSESNAIL, n. A particular kind of snail.
HOUSEWARMING, n. hous’warming. A feast or merry making at the time a family enters a new house.
HOUSEWIFE, n. hous’wife. [house and wife; contracted into huswife, hussy.] The mistress of a family.
1. A female economist; a good manager.
2. One skilled in female business.
3. A little case or bag for articles of female work.
HOUSEWIFELY, a. hous’wifely. Pertaining to the mistress of a family.
1. Taken from housewifery, or domestic affairs; as a housewifely metaphor.
HOUSEWIFERY, n. hous’wifery. The business of the mistress of a family; female business in the economy of a family; female management of domestic concerns.
HOUSE-WRIGHT, n. hous’wright. An architect who builds houses.
HOUSED, pp. s as z. Put under cover; sheltered.
HOUSING, ppr. s as z. Covering; sheltering.
1. Warped; crooked, as a brick.
HOUSING, n. Houses in general.
1. A cloth laid over a saddle.
2. A piece of cloth fastened to the hinder part of a saddle, and covering the horse’s croup; called also boot-housing.
3. [See Houseline.]
HOUSLING, a. [See Housel.] Sacramental; as housling fire, used in the sacrament of marriage.
HOUSS, a covering. [See Housing.]
HOVE, pret. of heave.
HOVEL, n. A shed; a cottage; a mean house.
HOVEL, v.t. To put in a hovel; to shelter.
HOVEN, pp. of heave.
HOVER, v.i.
1. To flap the wings, as a fowl; to hang over or about, fluttering or flapping the wings, with short irregular flights.
Great flights of birds are hovering about the bridge, and settling on it.
2. To hang over or around, with irregular motions.
A hovering mist came swimming o’er his sight.
3. To stand in suspense or expectation.
4. To wander about from place to place in the neighborhood; to move back and forth; as an army hovering on our borders; a ship hovering on our coast.
HOVER, n. A protection or shelter by hanging over.
HOVER-GROUND, n. Light ground.
HOVERING, ppr. Flapping the wings; hanging over or around; moving with short irregular flights.
HOW, adv. In what manner. I know not how to answer.
How can a man be born when he is old?
How can these things be? John 3:9.
1. To what degree or extent. How long shall we suffer these indignities? How much better is wisdom than gold!
O how love I thy law! How sweet are thy words to my taste. Psalm 119:97, 103.
2. For what reason; from what cause.
How now, my love, why is your cheek so pale?
3. By what means. How can this effect by produced?
4. In what state.
How, and with what reproach shall I return!
5. It is used in a sense marking proportion; as how much less; how much more.
Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants--how much less in them that dwell in houses of clay-- Job 4:19.
By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility and fountains and rivers of the earth.
6. It is much used in exclamation.
How are the mighty fallen! 2 Samuel 1:19.
7. In some popular phrases, how is superfluous or inelegant.
Thick clouds put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Sea was utterly unknown.
HOWBEIT, adv. [how, be, and it.] Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet; but; however.
HOWDY, n. A midwife. [Local.]
HOW DYE, how do you? how is your health?
HOWEVER, adv. [how and ever.] In whatever manner or degree; as, however good or bad style may be.
1. At all events; at least.
Our chief end is to be freed from all, if it may be, however, from the greatest evils.
2. Nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet. I shall not oppose your design; I cannot however approve of it.
You might howe’er have took a fairer way.
HOWITZ, HOWITZER, n. A kind of mortar or short gun, mounted on a field carriage, and used for throwing shells. The difference between a mortar and a howitz is that the trunnions of a mortar are at the end, but those of a howitz are at the middle.
HOWKER, n. A Dutch vessel with two masts, a main and a mizen-mast; also, a fishing boat with one mast, used on the coast of Ireland.
HOWL, v.i. [L. ululo.]
1. To cry as a dog or wolf; to utter a particular kind of loud, protracted and mournful sound. We say, the dog howls; the wolf howls. Hence,
2. To utter a loud, mournful sound, expressive of distress; to wail.
Howl lye, for the day of the Lord is at hand. Isaiah 13:6.
Ye rich men, weep and howl. James 5:1.
3. To roar; as a tempest.
HOWL, v.t. To utter or speak with outcry.
Go--howl it out in deserts.
HOWL, n. The cry of a dog or wolf, or other like sound.
1. The cry of a human being in horror or anguish.
HOWLET, n. A fowl of the owl kind, which utters a mournful cry. It is as large as a pullet.
HOWLING, ppr. Uttering the cry of a dog or wolf; uttering a loud cry of distress.
HOWLING, a. Filled with howls, or howling beasts; dreary.
Innumerable artifices and stratagems are acted in the howling wilderness and in the great deep, that can never come to our knowledge.
HOWLING, n. The act of howling; a loud outcry or mournful sound.
HOWSOEVER, adv. [how, so, and ever.]
1. In what manner soever.
2. Although.
[For this word, however is generally used.]
HOX, v.t. To hough; to hamstring. [Not used. See Hough.]
HOY, n. A small vessel, usually rigged as a sloop, and employed in conveying passengers and goods from place to place on the sea coast, or in transporting goods to and from a ship in a road or bay.
HOY, an exclamation, of no definite meaning.
HUB. [See Hob.]
HUBBUB, n. A great noise of many confused voices; a tumult; uproar; riot.
HUCK, v.i. To haggle in trading. [Not in use.]
HUCK, n. The name of a German river-trout.
HUCKABACK, n. A kind of linen with raised figures on it.
HUCKLE, n. [infra.] The hip, that is, a bunch.
HUCKLEBACKED, a. Having round shoulders.
HUCKLEBONE, n. The hip bone.
HUCKSTER, n.
1. A retailer of small articles, of provisions, nuts, etc.
2. A mean trickish fellow.
HUCKSTER, v.i. To deal in small articles, or in petty bargains.
HUCKSTERESS, n. A female peddlar.
HUD, n. The shell or hull of a hut.
HUDDLE, v.i.
1. To crowd; to press together promiscuously, without order or regularity. We say of a throng of people, they huddle together.
2. To move in a promiscuous throng without order; to press or hurry in disorder. The people huddle along, or huddle into the house.
HUDDLE, v.t. To put on in haste and disorder; as, she huddled on her clothes.
1. To cover in haste or carelessly.
2. To perform in haste and disorder.
3. To throw together in confusion; to crowd together without regard to order; as, to huddle propositions together.
HUDDLE, n. A crowd; a number of persons or things crowded together without order or regularity; tumult; confusion.
HUDDLED, pp. Crowded together without order.
HUDDLING, ppr. Crowding or throwing together in disorder; putting on carelessly.
HUE, n. Color; dye.
Flow’rs of all hue.
HUE, in the phrase hue and cry, signifies a shouting or vociferation. In law, a hue and cry is the pursuit of a felon or offender, with loud outcries or clamor to give an alarm.
HUER, n. One whose business is to cry out or give an alarm. [Not in use.]
HUFF, n.
1. A swell of sudden anger or arrogance.
A Spaniard was wonderfully upon the huff about his extraction.
2. A boaster; one swelled with a false opinion of his own value or importance.
Lewd shallow-brained huffs make atheism and contempt of religion the badge of wit.
HUFF, v.t. To swell; to enlarge; to puff up.
1. To hector; to bully; to treat with insolence and arrogance; to chide or rebuke with insolence.
HUFF, v.i. To swell; to dilate or enlarge; as, the bread huffs.
1. To bluster; to swell with anger, pride or arrogance; to storm.
This arrogant conceit made them huff at the doctrine of repentance.
A huffing, shining, flattering, cringing coward.
HUFFED, pp. Swelled; puffed up.
HUFFER, n. A bully; a swaggerer; a blusterer.
HUFFINESS, n. Petulance; the state of being puffed up.
HUFFING, ppr. Swelling; puffing up; blustering.
HUFFISH, a. Arrogant; insolent; hectoring.
HUFFISHLY, adv. With arrogance or blustering.
HUFFISHNESS, n. Arrogance; petulance; noisy bluster.
HUFFY, a. Swelled or swelling; petulant.
HUG, v.t.
1. To press close in an embrace.
--And hugged me in his arms.
2. To embrace closely; to hold fast; to treat with fondness.
We hug deformities, if they bear our names.
3. To gripe in wrestling or scuffling.
To hug the land, in sailing, to sail as near the land as possible.
To hug the wind, to keep the ship close-hauled.
HUG, n. A close embrace.
1. A particular gripe in wrestling or scuffling.
HUGE, a.
1. Very large or great; enormous; applied to bulk or size; as a huge mountain; a huge ox.
2. It is improperly applied to space and distance, in the sense of great, vast, immense; as a hugh space; a hugh difference. This is inelegant, or rather vulgar.
3. In colloquial language, very great; enormous; as a huge feeder.
HUGELY, adv. Very greatly; enormously; immensely.
Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea?
HUGENESS, n. Enormous bulk or largeness; as the hugeness of a mountain or of an elephant.
HUGGER-MUGGER, n. [Hugger contains the elements of hug and hedge, and mugger, those of smoke.]
In hugger-mugger, denotes in privacy or secrecy, and the word adverbially used, denotes secretly. [It is a low cant word.]
HUGUENOT, n. A name formerly given to a protestant in France.
HUGUENOTISM, n. The religion of the Huguenots in France.
HUGY, a. [from huge.] Vast in size. [Not used.]
HUISHER, n. An usher. [See Usher.]
HUKE, n. A cloke; a hyke.
HULCH, n. A bunch. [Not used.]
HULCHIS, a. Swelling; gibbous. [Not used.]
HULK, n.
1. The body of a ship, or decked vessel of any kind; but the word is applied only to the body of an old ship or vessel which is laid by as unfit for service. A sheer-hulk is an old ship fitted with an apparatus to fix or take out the masts of a ship.
2. Any thing bulky or unwieldy. [Not used.]
HULK, v.t. To take out the entrails; as, to hulk a hare. [Little used.]
HULKY, a. Bulky; unwieldy. [Not used.]
HULL, n.
1. The outer covering of any thing, particularly of a nut or of grain. Johnson says, the hull of a nut covers the shell.
2. The frame or body of a ship, exclusive of her masts, yards and rigging.
To lie a hull, in seamen’s language, is to lie as a ship without any sail upon her, and her helm lashed a-lee.
To strike a hull, in a storm, is to take in the sails, and lash the helm on the lee-side of a ship.
HULL, v.t. To strip off or separate the hull or hulls; as, to hull grain.
1. To pierce the hull of a ship with a cannon-ball.
HULL, v.i. To float or drive on the water without sails.
HULLY, a. Having husks or pods; siliquous.
HULOTHEISM, n. [Gr. matter, and God.] The doctrine or belief that matter is God, or that there is no God, except matter and the universe.
HULVER, n. Holly, a tree.
HUM, v.i. To utter the sound of bees; to buzz.
1. To make an inarticulate buzzing sound.
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums--
2. To pause in speaking, and make an audible noise like the humming bees.
He hummed and hawed.
3. To make a dull, heavy noise like a drone.
Still humming, on their drowsy course they took.
4. To applaud.
HUM, v.t. To sing in a low voice; as, to hum a tune.
1. To cause to hum; to impose on.
HUM, n. The noise of bees or insects.
1. A low confused noise, as of crowds; as the busy hum of men.
2. Any low dull noise.
3. A low inarticulate sound, uttered by a speaker in a pause; as hums and haws.
4. An expression of applause.
HUM, exclam. A sound with a pause, implying doubt and deliberation.
HUMAN, a. [L. humanus; Heb. form, species.]
1. Belonging to man or mankind; pertaining or relating to the race of man; as a human voice; human shape; human nature; human knowledge; human life.
2. Having the qualities of a man.
3. Profane; not sacred or divine; as a human author. [Not in use.]