Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English
Language 1756 – online edition
This online version of Johnson's Dictionary (1756) was put together by whichenglish.com and the author of The Joy of English.
It was produced by combining OCR and sophisticated GREP, in addition to pure, time-consuming search-and-replace grunt for formatting and clean-up. It is by no means a clean, perfect text reproduction (yet) but it is an ongoing project. The sheer volume of code behind these pages (137,000 lines of code) means that there is only so much one man can do. The overall integrity of the contents of the dictionary is here.
A few notes about this online version of the dictionary. First, it is not perfect. Most of the 47,000 headwords will be highlighted in bold and each definition in separate p-tags. Many did not succeed during conversion and the sheer volume of entries prohibits be from doing them all manually one by one. Second, not every word came out accurately in the OCR process and so many definitions will have garbled words and entries. Again, the volume here means that the time it would take to fix manually would be enormous. At present it is not just feasible for one person (me) to clean up. Third, not ALL of the entries ARE actually garbled. This is because the spelling of the 1700s was different from what we recognize today. The most notable difference here is the letter s, printed at the time as ſ because it is a long s. So, instead of appearing as sensual. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary rendered it as ſenſual. So these are not mistakes – it just takes a little getting your head round it.
Today's letter s was at the time of printing Johnson's Dictionary typically rendered ſ. So, sounds looks on these pages as ſounds, English looks like Engliſh. This is not mistake. Equally italic long s looks like Shakʃpeare in the word Shakespeare.
As you can see from these 18th-century chiselled gravestones, the f (left) and long s (right, between i and h) are distinctly different. So, please don't be offended if you see ſuck, it is merely 18th-century suck.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy browsing. Jesse.
This page last updated: 20 October 2014
K.
K. A letter borrowed by the Engliſh. It
has before all the voweJs ereinvarj ;
able found ; as, kcer,, ken, ki,7. K is
filcnt in the p.-cſent pronunciat-son before
r: as, knifn, knee, kretl.
KA'LENDAR. ʃ. [now written calendar.]
An account of time. Shakſpeare.
KA'LI. ʃ. fan Arabick word.] Seav.eed,
of the sſhes of which glaſs wai inaiie,
whence the word alkali. Bacon.
KAM. a. Crooked. Shakʃpeare.
To KAW. v. a. [from JT and found.] To crj'
as u raven, crow, or royk. Locke.
KAW. ʃ. [from the verb.] The cry of a
raven or crow. Dryden.
KAYLE. ʃ. [?tt///^French.]
1. Ninepin ; kettlepins. Sidney.
2. Nine holes.
To KECK. v. It. [kecker. Dutch.] To heave
the ſtomach ; to reach at vomiting.
Beacon.
To KE'CKLE a cabh. To defend a cable
round with rope. AinſTuonr,
KE'CKSY. ʃ. [comrrioaly k x ; dgue, Fr.
cicuta, Latin.] It is uſed in Staffordſhire
both for hemlock, and any other hollow
joinred plant. Shakʃpeare.
KE'CKY. a. [from hex.] Reſembling a
kex. Grew.
KE'DGER. ʃ. [from kedgs.] A ſma 11 anchor
uſed in a river.
KEE. the provincial plural of cow, properly
kine. Gny,
KE'DLACK. ʃ. A weed that grows among
corn I charnoik. Tnjfer.
KEEL,/. [.tele, Saxon.] ^;W, Dutch.] The
bottom of the rtii p. Swift.
To KEEL. v. a. [tcelan, Saxon.] To cool.Shakʃpeare.
KE'ELFAT. ʃ. [coslan, Saxon. to \ool.]
Cooler ; tub in which liquor is let to coot.
KE'ELSON. ʃ. The next piece of timber in
a ſhip to her keel. Hart::,
To KE'EL. Hale, v. a. [heUni Hale.] To
puniſh in the feamens way, by dragging
the criminal under water on one l;de of the
ſhip and up again on the other.
KEEN. o. [cene, Saxon.]
1. Sharp ; well edged ; not blunt. Dryden.
2. Severe ; piercing. Ei'/is.
3. Eager; vehement. Tti'lfr.
4. Acrimonious; bitter of mind. Swift.
To KEEN. v. a. [from the adjective.] To
ſharpen. 7hr,v:jo>i.
KE'ENLY. a» [frogti.«ff.] Sharply ; vehemently,
KE'EHNESS. ʃ. [from kteti.]
KEE
1. Sharpneſs ; edge. Shakʃpeare.
2. Rigour of weather ; piercing cold.
3. Aſpeiity; bitierneſs of mind. Clarendon.
4. Ejprerneſs ; vehemence.
To KEEP. v. a. [cepan, S<.xob ; kepen, old
Dutch.]
1. To retain ; not to loſe. Temple.
2. To have in cuſtody. Knolles.
3. To preſurve ; not to let go. i Chron.
4. To preſerve in a ſtate of fecufity. Addiʃon.
5. To protpd! ; to f uard. Cenejii.
6. To guard from flight. j4Sis.
7. To detain. Dryden.
8. To hold for another, Milton.
9. To refer ve ; to conceal. Bacon.
10. To tend. Carenv.
11 . To preſerve in the ſame tenour or ſtate. Bacon, Addiſon.
12. To regard ; to attend. Dryden.
13. To not fufier to fail. Pſal. Milton.
14. To hold in any ſlate. Locke.
15. To retain by ſome degree of force in
any place or ſtate. Sidney.
16. To continue any (iate or adiion. Knolles.
17. To pradljfe ; to uſe habitually. Pope. .
18. To copy carefully. Dryden.
19. To obſerve any time. Milton.
20. To obſerve ; not to viilate. Shakſp.
21. To maintain ; to ſupport with nrc^.lfaries
of life. Milton;
22. To have in the houſe. Shakʃpeare.
23. Kot to intermit. EcluJ.
24. To maintain ; to hold. Hayward.
25. To remain in ; not to leave a place.Shakʃpeare.
26. Not to reveal ; not to betray. Ti HotJon,
27. To reſtrain ; to \s\\\\-\MAA,mok. Boyle.
28. To debar from any place. Milton.
29. To Y^zzv back. To reſerve ; to withhold. Jeremiah.
30. To K.-S.ZV back. To with-hold; to itſtrain. Pſalms.
31. To Keep company. To frequent
any one ; to acconjpany. Donne.
32. To Keep compary with. To have fa=
miliar interciurſe. Brcomt,
33. To Keep in. To conceal; not to
tell. Shakʃpeare, Addiſon.
34. To Keep in. To rtltr.^in ; to curb, Lutke,
35. To Keep off. To bear to diſhni.f.
36. To Keep off. To hinder. Locke.
37. To Keep up. To maintain without
abatement. ^Addiʃon.
38. To Keep up. To continue; to hinder
from cealinji, Taylor.
39. To Keep under, Tooppreſs; to Cub
due, Atterbury.
To KEEP. -0,11.
1. Til rftnain by foms labour or efiort in
a certain ſtate. ffipc,
2. To continue in any place or ila'e-; to
flay. Sidney.
3. To remain unhurt ; to laſt. Sidney.
4. To dwell ; to live conllantly. Shakſp.
5. To adhere ſtrfflly. Addiʃon.
6. To Keep on. To go forward. Dryden.
7. To Keep up. To continue undifmayed. Dryden.
KEEP. ʃ. [from the verb.]
1. Cuſtody ; guard. Spenſer, Dryden.
2. Guardianſhip ; reſtraint. jijoham.
KE'EPER. ʃ. [from keep.]
1. One who holds any thing for the uſe of
another. Sidney.
2. One who has priſonerfin cuſtody. Dryden.
3. One who has the care of parks, or
beaſts of chafe. Shakʃpeare.
4. One that has the ſuperintendence or
care of any thing. 2 Kings.
KE'EPER of the great fial. Is a lord by his
ofBce, called lord keeper of the great feal af
England, &c, and is of the kmg's privycouncil,
under whoſe hands paſs all charters,
commilhrns, and grants of the king,
ſtrengthened by the great or broa-d feal,
without which feal all ſuch inſtruments by
law are of no force. This lord keeper, by
the ſtat\ite of ; Elizabeth. hath the like
jurifi^iition, and all other advantages, as
hath the lord chancellor of England. Cowel.
KE'EPERSHIP. ʃ. [from keeper.] .Office
of a keeper. Carew.
KEG. ʃ. [cafue, French.] A ſmall barrel,
commonly uſed for a hrti barrel.
KELL. ʃ. A ſort of pottage. Ainsworth.
KELL. ʃ. The on,entum ; that which inwr-
ps the guts. lytJiWiv.
KELP. ʃ. A idlt produced from cajcjned
ſea weed. Boyle.
KELSON. /. [more properly kuljon,'} The
wood next the keel. Raleigh.
To KEMB. v. a. [rrembin, Saxon.] To
ſeparate or diſentangle by an inltrr.ment.
Ben. Johnſon,
To KEN. ʃ. a. [cennan, Saxon.]
1. To lee at a diſtancee ; to delcry. Addiʃon.
2. To know. Ca'i,
KEN. jf. [f.rom the verb.] View; re.uh
of lignc. Shakʃpeare. Lock/',
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com
K E T
KE'NNEL. ʃ. [f.^,»;', French.]
1. A cot for dog'. Sidney, Shakʃpeare.
2. A number of dogs kept in a kennel.Shakʃpeare.
3. The hole of a fox, or other beaii.
4. [Kennel, Dutch.] The water-courſe
f ^ <.'''. Arbuthnot.
To KE'NNEL. v. a. [from the noun.] To
Jie ; to dwell : med ai beaſts, and of man
in contempt. L'Eſtrange.
KEPT. pret. and part. paff. of hep.
KERCHE'IF. ʃ.
1. A head dreſs. Shakʃpeare.
2. Any cloath uſed in dreſs. Hayward.
KERCHE'IFED. ʃ. d. Uromkerchein Dreff.
KERCKE'IFT. I ed ; hooded. Milton.
KERF. ʃ. [ceoppan, Saxon. to cut-.] The
fawn-away iht between two pieces of ſtuff
is called a kerf. Moxon.
KE'RMES. ʃ. Kermei is a reundiſh body,
of the bigneſs of a pea, and of a browniſh
red colour, covered when mofl perfect
with a purpliſh srey duſtl It contains a
multitude of little diflmft granules, ſoft,
and when cruſhed yield a ſcarlet juice. Ic
is found adhering to a kind of holm oak.
KERN. ʃ. [an Irifn word.] Inſh foot foU
<.'«Spenſer.
KERN. ʃ. A hand-mill conſiſting of two
pieces of ſtone, by which cora is ground.
To KERN. ^. „.
1. To harden as ripeaed corn, Carew.
2. To take the for.m of grains ; to granulate. Grew.
KE'RNEL. ʃ. [cypnel, a gland, Saxon.]
1. The edible luaftance contained in a
ſhell. ji^ore.
2. Any thing included in a huſk or integunient. Denham.
3. The feeds of pulpy fruits. Bacon.
4. The central part of any thing upon
which the ambient ſtrata are concreted. Arbuthnot.
5. Knobby concretions in childrens fleſh.
To KE'RNEL. v. n. [from the noun.] To
ripen to kernels. Mortimer.
KE'RNELLY. a. [^f^om kerml.] full of
kernels ; having the quality or reſemblance
of kernels.
KERNELWORT. ʃ. An herb. Ainfu>ortl>,
KE'RSEY. ʃ. [karfaye, Dut,J C^atfe fluft.
Htile.
KEST. The preter tenfe of cafl. Fairfax
KE'STREL. ʃ. A little kind of baſtard
hawk. Spenſer.
KETCH. ʃ. [from caicchlo, Italian, a barrel.]
A heavy ſhip. Shakʃpeare.
KE'TTLE. ʃ. [cetl, Saxon.] A vdfel ,n
which liauor is boiled. Dryden.
KETTLEDRUM. ʃ. [kettle and drum.] A
drum of which the head is ſpread over a
body of iiiik. Shakʃpeare.
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com
K I D
KEY. ʃ. [c(2j, Saxon.]
1. An inliromenC f.rmsd with cavities
correl'pondent to the wards of a lock. Fairfax.
2. An inſtrument by which ſomething is
fere wed or turneH. Swift.
3. An explanation of any thing difficult. Burnet.
4. The parts of a muſical inſtrument which
are ſtruck with the fingers. Pamela.
5. [lamuſick.j Is ^ certain tone whereto
every compoſition, whecher long or
ihort, ought to be fitted. Harris.
6. Kjye^ Dutch ; quai , French.] A bank
raiſed perpendicular for the eaſe of lading
and unlading ſhips. Dryden.
KE'YAGE. ʃ. [from key.] Money paid
for lying at the key. Ainſworth.
KEYHO'LE. ʃ. [key and hole} The perforation
in the door or lock through which
the key is put. Prior.
KEYSTO'NE. ʃ. [ley ^r^A Jiorc.] The middle
Acne of an arch. Moxon.
KIBE. ʃ. [from f^ct^, a cut, German.] An
ulcerated clulbUin ; a chap in the heel. Wiseman.
KI'BED. a. [from kibe.] Troubled with
kibes.
To KICK. v. a. [kauchen, Gern:ian.] To
Ihike with the foot. Swift.
To KICK. v. n. To beat the foot in anger
or contempt. TiHofjCrt.
KICK. ʃ. [from the verb.] A blow with
the foot. Dryden.
KI'CKER. ʃ. [from Mck.] One whoſtrikes
with his foot.
KI'CKSHAW. ʃ. A corruption of quelque
chojc, ſomething.
1. Something uncommon ; fantaſtical ; ſomething ridiculous. Milton.
2. A diſh ſo changed by the cookery that
it can ſcarcely be known. Fenton.
KI'CKSEY-WICKSEY. ʃ. A made word
in ridicule and diſdain of a wife. Shakʃpeare.
KID. ʃ. [kid, Daniſh.]
1. The young of a goat. Spenſer.
-, [From eidiwen, Welſh, a faggot] A
bundle of heath or furze.
To KID. v. a. [from the noun.] To bring
forth kids.
KI'DDER. ʃ. An ingroſſer of corn to enhance
its price. Ainsworth.
To KIDNAP. v. a. [from kind, Dutch, a
child, and nap.] To ſteal children ; to
ſteal human beings.
KIDNA'PPER. ʃ. [from kidnap.] One
who ſteals human beings. S/.eilMor,
KI'DNEY. ʃ.
1. Theſe are two in number, one on each
ſide : they have the lame figure as kidneybeans
: their length is four or five fingers,
their breaclh three^ and their thickneſs
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com
K I N
two ! the ri^ht is i;nder the liver, and the
left under the ſpleen. The uſe of the kidneys
is to ſeparate the urine from the blood.
^uirey,
2. Race ; kind : in ludicrous language. L'Eſtrange.
KI'DNEYBEAN. ʃ. An herb. Mtller.
KI'DNEYVETCH.? , _,, . ,
KI DNEYWORT. /' P^^'.' -^'P^o^tb.
KILDERKIN. ſ.Ikindekiv^ ababy.Dut.]
A ſmall barrel. Dryden.
To KILL. v. e. [cpelbn, Saxon.]
1. To deprive of life ; to put to death as
an agent. 2 Mac,
2. To deſtroy animals for food.Shakʃpeare.
3. To deprive of life as a cauſe or inſtrument. Bacon.
4. To deprive of vegetative or other motion,
or active qualit:es. Ptofer.
KI'LLER. ʃ. [from kilt.] One that 'deprives
of life, Sidney. H'alker.
KI'LLOW. ʃ. An earth of a blackWh or
deep blue co'our. Woodward,
KILN. ʃ. [cyln, Saxon.] A ſtove ; a fabrick
formed for admitting heat, in order
to dry or burn things. Bacon.
To KI'LNDRY. v. a. [kUn and d^y.] To
dry by means of a kiln. Mortimer.
KILT. f.x killed. Stenſer.
KI'MBO. a. [a fehembo, Italian.] Crooked ; b;nt ; arched. Arbuthnot.
KIN. ʃ. [cyane, Saxon.]
1. Relation either of confanguinity or affinity. Bacon.
2. Relatives ; thoſe who are of the ſame
race. Dryden.
3. A relation ; one related. Davies.
4. The ſame generical dafs. Boyle.
5. A diminutive termination from kind, a
child, Dutch.
KIND. a. [from rynne, relation, Saxon.]
1. Benevolent ; tiJled with general goodwill. South.
2. Favourable ; beneficent. Luke.
KIND. ʃ. [tynne, Saxon.]
1. Race ; generical claſs. Hooker.
2. Pirticular nature. Baker.
3. Natural ſtate. Bacon, Arbuthnot.
^, Nature; natural determination.Shakʃpeare.
5. Manner ; way. Bacon.
6. Sort. Bacon.
To KINDLE. v. a.
1. To ſet on fire ; to light ; to make to
burn. ^^ Coarlcs,
2. To inflame the pafiicns ; to exaſperate ; to anim.ne. Daniel.
To KI'NDLE. v. n. [annu, Welfli 3 cyn-
'oel-iiij Saxon.]
1. To catch fire. Ifainb.
2. [From cennan, to bring foith, Saxon.]
KI'NDLIR. ʃ. [from kindle.] One t>iat
lights ; one who inflames. Gay.
KI'NDLY. ad. [from i:nd.] Benevolencly
; favourably; with good will.Shakʃpeare.
KI'NDLY. a. [from kifid.]
1. Homogeneal ; congeneal ; kinclred. Hammond.
2. Bland ; milJ ; ſoftening. Dryden.
KI'NDNESS. ʃ. [from kind.] Benevolence ;
beneficence ; good will ; tavour ; love.
PolHer.
KI'NDRED. ʃ. [cynjiene, Saxon.]
1. Relation by birth or marriage ; cognation
; affinity, Dryden.
2. Relation ; fort, Shakʃpeare.
3. Relatives. Denham,
KI'NDRED. a. Congeneal ; related ; cog.
nate, Dryden.
KINE. ʃ. plur. from ccw. Ben. Johnſon.
KING. ʃ. [^cuning, or cyning, Teut.]
1. Monarch ; ſupreme governoar. Pof>e.
2. It is taken by Bacon in the feminine :
as prince alſo it.
3. A card with the picture of a king. Pope.
4. King at Arms, or of heralds, a principal
officer at arms, that has the preeminence
of the ſociety ; of whom there
are three in number, viz. Garter, Norroy,
and Clarencieux. Philips.
To KING. v. a. [from the noun.]
1. To ſupply with a king. Shakʃpeare.
2. To make royal ; to raiſe to royalty.Shakʃpeare.
KI'NGAPPLE. ʃ. A kind of apple.
KI'NGCRAFT. ʃ. [king and craft.] The
act of governing.
KI'NGCUP. ʃ. [king and cup.] A fltſwer. Peacham.
KI'NGDOM. ʃ. [from king.]
1. The dommion of a king; the territories
ſubject to a monarch. Shakʃpeare.
2. A different claſs or order of beings. Locke.
5. A region ; a tract. Shakʃpeare.
KI'NGFISHER. ʃ. A ſpecies of bird. May.
KINGLIKE.? of KI'NGLY. t^' .^-]
1. Royal ; ſovereign ; monarchical, Shak.
2. Belonging to a king. Shakʃpeare.
3. Noble; auguſt. Sidney.
KI'NGLY. ad. With an air of royalty ; with ſuperiour dignity. Dur.ciad,
KINGSE'VIL. ʃ. [king and evil.] A ſcrofjilous
diftemper, in which the glands are
\ilcerated, commonly believed to be cured
by the touch of the king. Wiſeman.
KI'NGSHIP. ʃ. [ſto-^ king.] Royalty; monarchy. King Charles, South.
KI'NGSPEAR. ʃ. A plant. Miller.
KI'NGSTONE. ʃ. A fiſh, Ainſworth.
KI'NSFOLK. ʃ. [kin aad/e/A,J Relati-ons
; thoſe who are of the fdm.e family, ^p^,
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com
K N A
KI'NSMAN. ʃ. [kimnAman.] 'A mzn of
the ſame race or family.
KI'NSWOMAN. ʃ. [kin and tvomdn.] A
female relation. Dennis.
KIRK. ʃ. [cyjice, Saxon.] An old word
f.;r a church, yet retained in S'-otiand.
eieavilani,
KI'RTLE. ʃ. [(yjitd, SsxJn.] An.upper
garment ; a gown. Shakſpeare.
To Kiss. v. a. [cofan, Welfli; Kva.]
1. To touch With the lips. Sidney.
2. To treat with fondneſs, Shnkiffea^.
3. To touch gently. Shakʃpeare.
KISS. ʃ. [from the verb] Salute given by
joining lips. Dryden.
KI'SSER. ʃ. [from kifs.] One that kifTes.
KI'SSINGCRUST. ʃ. [kft'^g and crufi.]
Cruft formed where one loaf in the oveh
touches another. King's Cookery,
KIT. f. [kitte, Dutch.]
1. A large bottle. Sklnher,
2. A ſmall diminutive fiddle. Grew.
3. A ſmall wooden veſſel.
KITCHEN. ʃ. [kegin, Welfli, euijint, Fr.]
The room in a houſe where the proviſions
are cooked, Hooker.
KI'TCHENGARDEN. ʃ. [kitchen and
garden.] Garden in which efculent plants
are produced. Spectator.
KITCHENMAID. ʃ. [kitchemtiiL maid.]
A cookmaid.
KI'TCHENSTUFF. ʃ. [khden and Jluff.]
The fat of meat ſcummed oft' the pot,' or
gathered out of the dripping-pan.
KI'TCHENWENCH. ʃ. [kitchen and wench.]
Scullion ; maid employed to clean the inſtruments
of cookery. Shakʃpeare.
KI'TCHENWORK. ʃ. [kitchen andwork.]
Cookery ; work done in the kitchen.
KITE. ʃ. [cyra, Saxan.]
1. A bird of prey that infeſts _the farm?,
and ſteals the chickens. Grew.
2. A name of reproach denoting rapacity.Shakʃpeare.
3. A fiſhtious bird made of paper.
Government of the Tonrsje.
KI'TESFOOT. ʃ. A plant. Ainſworth.
KI'TTEN. ʃ. [katleken, Dutch.] A young
cat. Prior.
To KI'TTEN. v. n. [from the noun.] To
bring forth young cats. Shakʃpeare.
To KLICK. v. n. [from clack.] To make
a ſmall ſharp noiſe.
To KNAB. v. rf. [^»tf/i/>^», Dutch.] To
bite. L'Eſtrange.
KNACK. ʃ. [cnscy Welſh ; cnajvr.je, &ill,
Saxon.]
1. A little machine ; a petty contrivance »
a toy. Shakʃpeare.
2. A readineſs ; an habitual facility ; a
lucky dexterity. Ben. Johnſon. Stuifi.
3. A nice trick. Pope. .
3. Z To
Johnson's Dictionary 1756 @ whichenglish.com
K N E
To KNACK. v. n. [from the noun.] To
make a ſharp quick noifc, as when a flick
breaks,
KNA'CKER. ʃ. [from inaci.]
1. A maker of ſmall work. Mortimer.
2. A ropemaker. [rejiio, Latin.] AitiJ.
KNAG. ʃ. [^knagy a wart, Daniſh.] A hard
knot in wood.
KNA'GGY. a. [from kiiag.] Knotty; fet
with hard rough knots.
KNAP. ʃ. [cnap, Weirh, a protuberance.]
A protuberance ; a ſwelling prominence. Bacon.
To KNAP. v. a. [knappen, Dutch< ;
1. To bite ; to break ſhort.
Common Prayer,
2. [Knaapf Erfe.] To ſtrike ſo as to
make a ſharp noiſe like that of breaking. Bacon.
To KNAP. v. n. To make a ſhort ſharp
noiſe. Wiseman.
To KNA'PPLE. v. «. [from knai>.] To
break off with a ſharp quick noiſe. Ainſworth.
KNA'PSACK. ʃ. [from knappen, to cat.]
The bag which a ſoldier carries on his
back ; a bag of proviſions. AT, Charles,
KNA'PWEED. ʃ. A plant. Miller.
KNARE. ʃ. [knor, German.] A hard knot. Dryden.
KNAVE. ʃ. [cnapa, Saxon.]
1. A boy ; a male child.
2. A I'ervant. Both theſe are obſolete. Sidney.
3. A petty rafcal | a ſcoundrcl. South.
4. A card with a ſoldier painted on it. Hudibras.
KNA'VERY. ʃ. [from knave.]
t, Diſhoneſty; tricks ; petty villainy. Shakʃpeare, Dryden.
2. Miſchievous tricks or practices.Shakʃpeare.
KNA'VISH. a. [from knave.]
1. Diſhoneſt ; wicked ; fraudulent. Pope. .
2. Waggiſh ; miſchievous. Shakʃpeare.
KNA'VISHLY. ad. [from .wi/;/.]
1. Diſhoneſtly ; fraudulently.
2. Waggiſhly; miſchievouſly.
To KNEAD. v. a. [cnaeban, Saxon.] To
beat or mingle any ſtuffor ſubſtance. Donne.
KNE'ADINGTROUGH. ʃ. [knead and
trottgb,'\ A trough in which the parte
of bread is worked together. Exodut.
KNEE. ʃ. [cneop, Saxon.]
1. The joint of the leg where the leg is
joined to the thigh. Bacon.
it. A knee is a piece of timber growing
crooked, and ſo cut that the trunk and
branch make an angle. Bacon.
To KNEE. v. a. [from the noun.] To ſup.
phcate bykneehng. Shakʃpeare.
KNEED. a. [from knee.]
1. Having knees: utn- kneed.
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K N I
2. Having joints . as kneed graſs,
KNEEDEEP. a. [knee in^ deep.]
1. Riling to the knees.
2. Sank to the knees. Dryden.t
KNE'EHOLM. ʃ. An herb.
KNE'EPAN. ʃ. [knee and />/!«.] A little
round bone about two inches broad, pretty
thick, a little convex on both ſides, and
covered with a ſmooth cartilage on its foreſide.
Sidney,
To KNEEL. v. n. [from knee.} To perform
the act of genuflexion ; to bend the
knee. layltr,
KNE'ETRIBUTE. ʃ. [knee and tribute.]
Genuflexion ; worſhip or obeifance ſhown
by kneeling. Milton.
KNEL. ʃ. [f«7, Welſh, cnyllan. Sax.]
The found of a bell rung at a funeral. Donne, Cowley.
KNEW. The preterite of knotv.
KNIFE. ʃ. plur. knivei. [cnip. Sax.] An
inſtrument edged and pointed, wherewith
meat is cut. Watts.»
KNIGHT. ʃ. [cnipt, Sax.]
1. A man advanced to a certain degree of
military rank. It was anciently the cuſtom
to knight every man, of rank or fortune.
In England knighthood confers the title of
ſir ; as, fir Thomas, ſir Richard. When
the name was not known^ it was uſual to
fay fir knight. Daniel.
2. Among us the order of gentlemen next
to the nobility, except the baronets. Addiʃon.
3. A champion. Drayton.
KNIGHT Errant, A wandering knight.
Denham. Hudibras.
KNIGHT Errantry, [from knight errant,']
The character or manners of wandering
knights. Norris.
KNIGHT of the Pofi. A hireling evidence. South.
KNIGHT of the Shire. One of the reprefencatives
of a county in parliament : he
formerly was a military knight, but now
any man having an eſlate in land of fix
hundred pounds a year is qualified.
To KNIGHT. v. a. [from the noun.] To
create one a knight. Wotton.
KNI'GHTLY. a. [from knight.] Befitting
a knight ; befeeming a knight. Sidney.
KNI'GHTHOOD. ʃ. [from knight.] The
character or dignity of a knight. Ben. Johnson.
KNI'GHTLESS. a. [Ucm knight.] Unbecoming
a knight. Obſolete. Spenſer.
To KNIT. ʃ. ti. preter. knit or knitted,
[cnirtan, Saxon.]
1. To make or unite by texture without a
loom. Waller
2. To tye. Shakʃpeare.
3. To join ; to unite. Shakʃpeare.
4. To contract, Addiſon.„
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5. To tyeup. ASs.
To KNIT. ʃ. n.
1. To weave without a loom. Sidney, Dryden.
t. To join ; tocloſe; to unite. Shakſp.
KNIT. ʃ. [from the verb.] Texture.Shakʃpeare.
KNI'TTER. ʃ. [from knit.] One who
weaves or knits. Shakʃpeare.
KNI'TTINGNEEDLE. ʃ. [knit mi needle.
1. A wire which women uſe in knitting.
Arbuthnot.
KNI'TTLE. ʃ. [from knit.] A firing that
gathers a purſe round, Ainſworth.
4. A hard part in a piece of wood civitm
by the protuberance of a bough, and conſequently
by a tranſverſe direction of the
fibies. mfd.
5. A confederacy ; an aflociation f^a ſmall
band. Ben. Johnſon.
6. Difficulty ; intricacy. South.
7. An intrigue, or difficult perplexity of
affairs. Dryden.
8. Aclufter; a collection. Dryden.
To KNOT. v. tf [from the npua.]
1. To complicate in knots, Sidney.
Z, To intangle ; to perplex,
3. To unite. Bacon.
KNOB. ʃ. [k>:oofi, Dutch.] A protuberance ; To KNOT, v.n,
any part bluntly riling above the reſt. I. To form buds, knots, or joints in tc-
Eay, getation. Mortimer.
KNO'BBED. a. [from knob.] Set with 2- To knit knots for fringes.
knobs ; having protuberances. Grew.
KNOTBERRYBUSH. ſ. A plant. J^inf,
KNO'BBINESS. ʃ. [from knobby.] The KNO'TGRASS. ſ. [knot &n^ graft. '\ A
quality of having knobs
KNO BBY. a. [from knob.]
1. Full of knobs.
2. Hard ; ſtubborn. Hazvel.
To KNOCK. v.n. [cnucian, Saxon.]
1. To claſh i
to be driven ſuddenly together. Berkley.
2. To beat as at ; door for admittance. Dryden.
3. To Knock under, A common expreſſion,
that denotes wheo a man yields or ſubmits.
To KNOCK. v. a.
1. To affect or change io any reſpeCl by
blows. Dryden.
4. To daſh together ; to ſtrike; to collide
with a ſharp noiſe. Dryden, Rowe.
3. To Knock down. To ſells by a blow. Addiſon.
4. To Knock on the bead. To kill by a
blow ; to deſtroy. South.
KNOCK. ʃ. [from the verb.]
1. A ſudden ſtrcke ; a blow. Brown.
2. A loud ſtroke at a door for admiſſion. Dryden.
KNOCKER. ʃ. [from knock.]
1. He that knocks.
2. The hammer which hangs at the door
for ſtrangers to ſtrike. Pope. .
To KNOLL. v. a. [from knell.] To ring the
bell, generally for a funeral. Shakʃpeare.
To KNOLL. v. n. To lound as a bell.Shakʃpeare.
KNOLL. ʃ. A little hill. Ainſworth.
KNOP. ʃ. [A corruption of knap,\ Any
tufty top
KNOT. ʃ. [cnotZ3. Saxon]
plant.
KNO TTED. a. [from knot.] Full of knots,.
KNO'TTINESS. ʃ. [from knotty.] Fulnef.; of knots ; unevenneſs ; intricacy. Peacham.
KNO'TTY. a. [from knot.]
1. Full of knots, Shakʃpeare.
2. Hard ; rugged, Roiue,
3. Intricate ; perplexed; difficult} embaraffed. Bacon.
To KNOW. v. a. prefer, / knew, I have
known, [cnafjan, Saxon.]
1. To perceive with certainty, whether
intuitiv^or diſcurfive. Locke.
2. To be informed of ; to be ta»ght. Milton.
To diſtinguiſh. Locke.
To recogn'fe. Shakʃpeare.
To be no ſtranger to, Shakʃpeare.
To converſe with another ſex. Gert,
To fee with approbation, Hofea,
To KNOW. v. rt.
1. To have clear and certain perception; not to be doubtful. j43s.
2. Not to be ignorant. Bacon.
3. To be informed, Shakʃpeare.
4. To Kn o w yjr. To have knowledge of.Shakʃpeare.
5. To Know of. To take cognifance of,Shakʃpeare.
KNO'WABLE. a. [from know.] Cognofcible
; poſſible to be diſcovered or underſtood, Glanville.
KNO'WER. ʃ. [from kncw.] One who has
ſkill or knowledge. Glanville, Ainſworth.
KNO'WING. a. [from know.]
Skilful ; well inſtructed ; remote from
A complication of a cord or firing not ignorance. Boyle.
eaſily to be diſentangled. Addiſon.
1. Confcious; intelligent, Blackmare,
2. Any figure of which the lines/requently KNOWING. ſ. [from know.] Knowledge, interfeſt each other. Prior, Shakʃpeare.
3. Any bond of aflociation or union.
KNOWINGLY. ad. [from {flew;'»^.] With
Cnvley, ſkill ; with knowledge. Atterbury.
KNOWN
KNO'WLEDGE. ʃ. [from ««9W.]
1. Certain perception. Locke.
2. Learning; illumination of the mind.Shakʃpeare.
3. Skill in any thing. Shakʃpeare.
4. Acquaintance with any fad or perſon. Sidney.
5. Cogfiifance ; notice. Ben. Johnson.
6. Information ; power of knowing. Sidney.
To KNO'WLEDGE. v. a. [not in uſe.]
To acknowledge ; to avow. Bacon.
To KNU'BBLE. v. a. [hnipkr, Daniſh.]
To beat. Skinner.
KNUCKLE. ʃ. [cnucle,Saxon.]
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1. The Joints of the fingers protuberant
when the fingers cloſe. Garth.
2. The knee joint of a calf. Bacon.
3. The articulation or joint of a plant. Bacon.
To KNU'CKLE. v. n. [from the noun.]
To ſubmit.
KNU'CKLED. a. [from knuckle.] Jointed. Bacon.
KNUFF. ʃ. A lout. An old word. Hayw.
KNUR. ʃ. [knor, German.] A knot ;
KNURLE. ʃ. a hard ſubſtance. Woodw.
KONED for knew. Spenſer.
To KYD. v. n. [cuK, Saxon.] To know.
Spenſert