BASE (BASE) adj.[bas, Fr. basso, Ital. baxo, Span. bassus, low Latin]; 3. Of low station; of mean account; without dignity of rank; without honour.

If the lords and chief men degenerate, what shall be hoped of the peasants and baser people? Spenser on Ireland.

To BARK (BARK) v.n.[beorcan, Saxon.] 2. To clamour at; to pursue with reproaches.

Vile is the vengeance on the ashes cold, And envy base, to bark at sleeping fame. Fairy Queen,b. ii. cant. viii.

To BAIT (BAIT) v.a.[batan, Sax. baitzen, Germ.] 2. To give meat to one’s self, or horses, on the road.

What so strong, But wanting rest, will also want of might? The sun, that measures heaven all day long, At night doth bait his steeds the ocean waves among. F. Q.

To BAIT (BAIT) v.a.[from battre, Fr. to beat.] To attack with violence; to set dogs upon.

Who seeming sorely chaffed at his band, As chained bear, whom cruel dogs do bait, With idle force did fain them to withstand. Fairy Queen.

BAIT (BAIT) n.s.[from the verb.] 2. A temptation; an enticement.

And that same glorious beauty’s idle boast, Is but a bait such wretches to beguile. Spens.sonnetxli.

BADGE (BADGE) n.s. [A word of uncertain etymology; derived by Junius from bode or bade, a messenger; and supposed to be corrupted from badage, the credential of a messenger: but taken by Skinner and Minshew from bagghe, Dut. a jewel, or bague, a ring, Fr.] 1. A mark or cognizance worn to shew the relation of the wearer to any person or thing.

But on his breast a bloody cross he bore, The dear remembrance of his dying lord; For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore. Spenser.

AYE (AYE) adv.[awa, Saxon.] Always; to eternity; for ever.

And now in darksome dungeon, wretched thrall, Remedyless for aye he doth him hold. Fairy Queen,b. i.

To AVOUCH (AVO'UCH) v.a.[avouer, Fr. for this word we now generally say vouch.]

1. To produce in favour of another.

Such antiquities could have been avouched for the Irish.Spenser’sIreland.

To ATTEND (ATTE'ND) v.a.[attendre, Fr. attendo, Lat.] 7. To wait on, as on a charge.

The fifth had charge sick persons to attend, And comfort those in point of death which lay. Fairy Q

ASUNDER (ASU'NDER) adv.[asundran, Sax.] Apart; separately; not together.

Two indirect lines, the further that they are drawn out, the further they go asunder. Spenser on Ireland.

ASTRAY (ASTRA'Y) adv. [from a and stray.] Out of the right way.

May seem the wain was very evil led, When such an one had guiding of the way, That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray. F. Q.

You run astray, for whilst we talk of Ireland, you rip up the original of Scotland. Spenser on Ireland.

To ASSURE (ASSU'RE) v.a.[asseurer, Fr. from assecurare, low Latin.] 4. To make secure.

But what on earth can long abide in state?Or who can him assure of happy day?Spens.Muiopotmos.

ASSURANCE (ASSU'RANCE) n.s.[assurance, French.] 2. Secure confidence; trust.

What man is he, that boasts of fleshly might, And vain assurance of mortality, Which all so soon as it doth come to fight Against spiritual foes, yields by and by. Fairy Queen,b. i.

AS (AS) conjunct.[als, Teut.] 8. As if; in the same manner.

The squire began nigher to approach, And wind his horn under the castle-wall, That with the noise it shook as it would fall. Fairy Queen.

To ARM (ARM) v.n. 2. To provide against.

His servant, throughly arm’d against such coverture, Reported unto all, that he was sure A noble gentleman of high regard. Spenser’s Hubb. Tale.

ARIGHT (ARI'GHT) adv.[from a and right.]1. Rightly; without mental errour.

How him Lov’d, and love with all my might;So thought I eke of him, and think I thought aright.F. Q.

To APPLY (APPL'Y) v.a.[applico, Lat.]

Far away they spy’d A varlet running towards hastily, Whose flying feet so fast their way apply’d, That round about a cloud of dust did fly. Fairy Queen,b. ii.

To APPEAR (APPE'AR) v.n.[appareo, Lat.]

To be made clear by evidence. Egfrid did utterly waste and subdue it, as appears out of Beda’s complaint against him; and Edgar brought it under his obedience, as appears by an ancient record. Spenser’s Ireland

APACE (APA'CE) adv. [from a and pace; that is, with a great pace.] 1. Quick; speedily:used of things in motion.

Or when the flying libbard she did chace, She could them nimbly move, and after fly apace. F. Queen.

ANTICK (A'NTICK) n.s. 1. He that plays anticks; he that uses odd gesticulation: a buffoon.

A work of rich entail, and curious mold,Woven with anticks, and wild imagery. Fairy Queen,b. ii.

ANGUISH (A'NGUISH) n.s.[angoisse, Fr. angor, Lat.] Excessive pain either of mind or body; applied to the mind, it means the pain of sorrow, and is seldom used to signify other passions.

Not all so cheerful seemed she of sight, As was her sister; whether dread did dwell, Or anguish in her heart, is hard to tell. Fairy Queen,b. i.

AND (AND) conjunction. 1. The particle by which sentences or terms are joined, which it is not easy to explain by any synonimous word.

Sure his honesty Got him small gains, but shameless flattery And filthy beverage, and unseemly thift, And borrow base, and some good lady’s gift. Spens. Hubb.

AMAZEMENT (AMA'ZEMENT) n.s.[from amaze.] 1. Such a confused apprehension as does not leave reason its full force; extreme fear; horrour.

He answer’d nought at all; but adding new Fear to his first amazement, staring wide, With stony eyes, and heartless hollow hue, Astonish’d stood, as one that had espy’d Infernal furies, with their chains unty’d. Fairy Queen.

See Amazed

ALOOF (ALO'OF) adv.[all off, that is, quite off.] 1. At a distance; with the particle from.It generally implies a small distance, such as is within view or observation.

Then bad the knight this lady yede aloof, And to an hill herself withdrew aside, From whence she might behold the battle’s proof, And else be safe from danger far descried. Fairy Queen,b. i.

ALL (ALL) adv.[See ALL, adj.] 1. Quite; completely.

How is my love all ready forth to come. Spenser’sEpithal.

It is sometimes a word of emphasis; nearly the same with just. A shepherd’s swain, say, did thee bring, All as his straying flock he fed; And, when his honour hath thee read, Crave pardon for thy hardy head. Spenser’s Pastorals.

To AIM (AIM) v.a.

To point the view, or direct the steps towards any thing; to tend towards; to endeavour to reach or obtain; with to formerly, now only with at. Lo, here the world is bliss; so here the end To which all men do aim, rich to be made, Such grace now to be happy is before thee laid. Fairy Q.

AIM (AIM) n.s.[from the verb.]

Conjecture; guess. It is impossible, by aim, to tell it; and, for experience and knowledge thereof, I do not think that there was ever any of the particulars thereof. Spenser on Ireland.

AGAINST (AGA'INST) prep.[ængeon, ongeond, Sax.]

In provision for; in expectation of. This mode of speaking probably had its original from the idea of making provision against, or in opposition to a time of misfortune, but by degrees acquired a neutral sense. Thence she them brought into a stately hall, Wherein were many tables fair dispred, And ready dight with drapets festival, Against the viands should be ministred. Fairy Queen.

To AFFRIGHT (AFFRI'GHT) v.a.[See FRIGHT.] 1. To affect with fear; to terrify: it generally implies a sudden impression of fear.

Sometimes with the particle with before the thing feared. As one affright With hellish fiends, or furies mad uproar, He then uprose. Fairy Queen,b. ii. cant. 5.

AFFRIGHT (AFFRI'GHT) n.s.[from the verb.] 1. Terrour; fear.This word is chiefly poetical.

As the moon, cloathed with cloudy night, Does shew to him, that walks in fear and sad affright. F. Q.

AFFECTION (AFFE'CTION) n.s.[affection, Fr. affectio, Lat.] 1. The state of being affected by any cause, or agent. This general sense is little in use.

Then gan the Palmer thus: most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend; In their beginning they are weak and wan, But soon through sufferance grow to fearful end. Fairy Q.

AFEARD (AFE'ARD) participial adj.[from to fear, for to fright, with a redundant.] 1. Frighted; terrified; afraid.

He loudly bray’d, that like was never heard, And from his wide devouring oven sent A flake of fire, that flashing in his beard, Him all amaz’d, and almost made afeard. Fairy Queen.

ADVISEMENT (ADVI'SEMENT) n.s.[advisement, Fr.] 1. Counsel; information.

Mote I wrote, What strange adventure do ye now pursue? Perhaps my succour, or advisement meet, Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue. Fairy Queen.

I will, according to your advisement, declare the evils, which seem most hurtful. Spenser’s State of Ireland.

It is taken likewise, in old writers, for prudence and circumspection. It is now, in both senses, antiquated

1. Superiority gained by stratagem, or unlawful means.

The common law hath left them this benefit, whereof they make advantage, and wrest it to their bad purposes.Spenser’sState of Ireland.

With him the Palmer eke, in habit sad,Himself addrest to that adventure hard;So to the river’s side they both together far’d.Fairy Q.b. ii.

1. Here and there; every way.

Up rose the gentle virgin from her place,And looked all about, if she might spyHer lovely knight to move his manly pace.Fairy Queen,b. i. cant. ii. stanz. 33.

ADIEU (ADIEU') adv.[from à Dieu, used elliptically for à Dieu je vous commende, used at the departure of friends.]The form of parting, originally importing a commendation to the Divine care, but now used, in a popular sense, sometimes to things inanimate; farewell.

Ne gave him leave to bid that aged fireAdieu, but nimbly ran her wonted course.Fairy Queen,b. ii.

see address

1. The person with whom we are acquainted; him of whom we have some knowledge, without the intimacy of friendship. In this sense, the plural is, in some authors, acquaintance, in others acquaintances.

But she, all vow’d unto the red-cross knight,His wand’ring peril closely did lament,Ne in this new acquaintance could delight,But her dear heart with anguish did torment.F. Queen,b. i.

To ACCOMPANY (ACCO'MPANY) v.a.[accompagner, Fr.]1. To be with another as a companion.

Go visit her, in her chaste bower of rest,Accompany’d with angel-like delights.Spenser,Sonnetiii.

1. To wait for, expect, attend, wait upon, await;used of things prepared for persons, as well as of persons expecting things.

Home is he brought, and laid in sumptuous bed,Where many skilful leeches him abide,To salve his hurts.Fairy Queen,b. i. cant. 5. stanz. 17.

1. To deject, or depress the mind.

This iron world (the same he weeping says)Brings down the stoutest hearts to lowest state:For misery doth bravest minds abate.Spens.Hubberd’s Tale.

HUMBLE (HU'MBLE) adj.[humble, French; humilis, Latin.]1. Not proud; modest; not arrogant.

And mighty proud to humble weak does yield.Fairy Qu.

1. Worthless; barren; not productive of good.

Suffice it then, thou money god, quoth he,That all thine idle offers I refuse;All that I need I have: what needeth meTo covet more than I have cause to use?Fairy Queen.