Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1651

Whoop

Whoop (?), n.

1. A shout of pursuit or of war; a very of eagerness, enthusiasm, enjoyment, vengeance, terror, or the like; an halloo; a hoot, or cry, as of an owl.

A fox, crossing the road, drew off a considerable detachment, who clapped spurs to their horses, and pursued him with whoops and halloos. Addison.

The whoop of the crane. Longfellow.

2. A loud, shrill, prolonged sound or sonorous inspiration, as in whooping cough.

Whooper

Whoop"er (?), n. One who, or that which, whooops. Woopher swan. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Swan.

Whooping

Whoop"ing, a. & n. from Whoop, v. t. Whooping cough (Med.), a violent, convulsive cough, returning at longer or shorter intervals, and consisting of several expirations, followed by a sonorous inspiration, or whoop; chin cough; hooping cough. Dunglison. -- Whooping crane (Zoöl.), a North American crane (Crus Americana) noted for the loud, whooplike note which it utters.<-- The species was reduced by hunting to several dozen in the 1960's and the numbers have been slowly rising since. --> -- Whooping swan (Zoöl.), the whooper swan. See the Note under Swan.

Whoot

Whoot (?), v. i. [See Hoot.] To hoot. [Obs.]

Whop

Whop (?), v. t. Same as Whap. Forby.

Whop

Whop, n. Same as Whap.

Whopper

Whop"per (?), n. [Cf. Whapper.] <-- since < 1950 the preferred term for whapper, something very large, as a big lie. -->

1. One who, or that which, whops.

2. Same as Whapper.

Whore

Whore (?), n. [OE. hore, AS. hre; akin to D. hoer, hoere, G. hure, OHG. huora, huorra, Icel. hra, Dan. hore, Sw. hora, Goth. hrs an adulterer, AS. hr adultery, OHG. huor, and probably to L. carus dear. Cf. Charity.] A woman who practices unlawful sexual commerce with men, especially one who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a harlot. Wyclif. Syn. -- Harlot; courtesan; prostitute; strumpet.

Whore

Whore, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whoring.] [Cf. Icel. hra. See Whore, n.]

1. To have unlawful sexual intercourse; to practice lewdness.

2. (Script.) To worship false and impure gods.

Whore

Whore, v. t. To corrupt by lewd intercourse; to make a whore of; to debauch. [R.] Congreve.

Whoredom

Whore"dom (?), n. [OE. hordom; cf. Icel. hrdmr.]

1. The practice of unlawful intercourse with the other sex; fornication; lewdness.

2. (Script.) The sin of worshiping idols; idolatry.

O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled; they will not . . . turn unto their God. Hos. v. 3, 4.

Wheremaster

Where"mas`ter (?), n.

1. A man who practices lewdness; a lecher; a whoremonger.

2. One keeps or procures whores for others; a pimp; a procurer.

Whoremasterly

Whore"mas`ter*ly, a. Having the character of a whoremaster; lecherous; libidinous.

Whoremonger

Whore"mon`ger (?), n. A whoremaster; a lecher; a man who frequents the society of whores.

Whoreson

Whore"son (?), n. A bastard; colloquially, a low, scurvy fellow; -- used generally in contempt, or in coarse humor. Also used adjectively. [Archaic] Shak.

Whorish

Whor"ish (?), a. Resembling a whore in character or conduct; addicted to unlawful pleasures; incontinent; lewd; unchaste. -- Whor"ish*ly, adv. -- Whor"ish*ness, n.

Whorl

Whorl (?), n. [OE. whorvil the whirl of a spindle; akin to AS. hweorfa the whirl of a spindle, hweorfan to turn; cf. OD. worvel the whirl of a spindle. See Whirl, n. & v.]

1. (Bot.) A circle of two or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.

2. (Zoöl.) A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.

3. (Spinning) The fly of a spindle.

Whorled

Whorled (?), a. Furnished with whorls; arranged in the form of a whorl or whorls; verticillate; as, whorled leaves.

Whorler

Whorl"er (?), n. A potter's wheel.

Whort

Whort (?), n. [See Whortleberry.] (Bot.) The whortleberry, or bilberry. See Whortleberry (a).

Whortle

Whor"tle (?), n. (Bot.) The whortleberry, or bilberry.

[He] looked ahead of him from behind a tump of whortles. R. D. Blackmore.

Whortleberry

Whor"tle*ber`ry (?), n. [AS. wyrtil a small shrub (dim. of wyrt wort) + E. berry. See Wort, and cf. Huckleberry, Hurtleberry.] (Bot.) (a) In England, the fruit of Vaccinium Myrtillus; also, the plant itself. See Bilberry, 1. (b) The fruit of several shrubby plants of the genus Gaylussacia; also, any one of these plants. See Huckleberry.

Whose

Whose (?), pron. [OE. whos, whas, AS. hwæs, gen. of hwā. See Who.] The possessive case of who or which. See Who, and Which.

Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Gen. xxiv. 23.

The question whose solution I require. Dryden.

Whosesoever

Whose`so*ev"er (?), pron. The possessive of whosoever. See Whosoever.

Whoso

Who"so (?), pron. Whosoever. Piers Plowman.

Whoso shrinks or falters now, . . . Brand the craven on his brow! Whittier.

Whoso-ever

Who`so-ev"er (?), pron. Whatsoever person; any person whatever that; whoever.

Whosoever will, let him take . . . freely. Rev. xxii. 17.

Whot

Whot (?), a. Hot. [Obs.] Spenser.

Whur

Whur (?), v. i. [Probably of imitative origin. Cf. Hurr, Hurry, Whir.]

1. To make a rough, humming sound, like one who pronounces the letter r with too much force; to whir; to birr.

2. To snarl or growl, as a dog. Halliwell.

Whur

Whur (?), n. A humming or whirring sound, like that of a body moving through the air with velocity; a whir.

Whurry

Whur"ry (?), v. t. [See Hurry.] To whisk along quickly; to hurry. [R.]

Whurrying the chariot with them to the shore. Vicars.

Whurt

Whurt (?), n. (Bot.) See Whort.

Why

Why (?), adv. [OE. whi, why, AS. hwī, hw, instrumental case of hwā, hwæt; akin to Icel. hvī why, Dan. & Sw. hvi; cf. Goth. hw. . See Who.]

1. For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

2. For which; on account of which; -- used relatively.

No ground of enmity between us known Why he should mean me ill or seek to harm. Milton.

Turn the discourse; I have a reason why I would not have you speak so tenderly. Dryden.

3. The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; -- used as a compound relative. &hand; Why is sometimes used as an interjection or an expletive in expression of surprise or content at a turn of affairs; used also in calling. Why, Jessica!" Shak.

If her chill heart I can not move, Why, I'll enjoy the very love. Cowley.

Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun.

The how and the why and the where. Goldsmith.

For why, because; why. See Forwhy. [Obs. or Colloq.]

Why

Why, n. A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Whydah bird, ∨ Whydah finch

Whyd"ah bird` (?), ∨ Whyd"ah finch` (?). (Zoöl.) The whidah bird.
Why-not
Why"-not` (?), n. A violent and peremptory procedure without any assigned reason; a sudden conclusive happening. [Obs.]
When the church Was taken with a why-not in the lurch. Hudibras.

This game . . . was like to have been lost with a why-not. Nugæ Antiq.

Wich
Wich (?), n. A variant of 1st Wick.
Wichitas
Wich"i*tas (?), n. pl.; sing. Wichita (). (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians native of the region between the Arkansas and Red rivers. They are related to the Pawnees. See Pawnees.
Wick, ∨ Wich
Wick (?), ∨ Wich (?), n. [AS. wīc village, fr. L. vicus. In some names of places, perhaps fr. Icel. vīk an inlet, creek, bay. See Vicinity, and cf. Villa.]
1. A street; a village; a castle; a dwelling; a place of work, or exercise of authority; -- now obsolete except in composition; as, bailiwick, Warwick, Greenwick. Stow.
2. (Curling) A narrow port or passage in the rink or course, flanked by the stones of previous players.
Wick
Wick (?), n. [OE. wicke, weyke, weke, AS. weoca or wecca; cf. D. wiek a roll of lint, Prov. G. wicke, and wieche, OHG. wiohha, Sw. veke, Dan. væge; of uncertain origin.] A bundle of fibers, or a loosely twisted or braided cord, tape, or tube, usually made of soft spun cotton threads, which by capillary attraction draws up a steady supply of the oil in lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for illumination, in small successive portions, to be burned.
But true it is, that when the oil is spent The light goes out, and wick is thrown away. Spenser.

Wick
Wick, v. i. (Curling) To strike a stone in an oblique direction. Jamieson.
Wicke
Wick"e (?), a. Wicked. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. With full wikke intent." Chaucer.
Wicked
Wicked (?), a. Having a wick; -- used chiefly in composition; as, a two-wicked lamp.
Wicked
Wick"ed (?) a. [OE. wicked, fr. wicke wicked; probably originally the same word as wicche wizard, witch. See Witch.]
1. Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral; profligate; -- said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs.
Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place of evil, hell, Thou and thy wicked crew! Milton.

Never, never, wicked man was wise. Pope.

2. Cursed; baneful; hurtful; bad; pernicious; dangerous. [Obs.] Wicked dew." Shak.
This were a wicked way, but whoso had a guide. P. Plowman.

3. Ludicrously or sportively mischievous; disposed to mischief; roguish. [Colloq.]
Pen looked uncommonly wicked. Thackeray.
Syn. -- Iniquitous; sinful; criminal; guilty; immoral; unjust; unrighteous; unholy; irreligious; ungodly; profane; vicious; pernicious; atrocious; nefarious; heinous; flagrant; flagitious; abandoned. See Iniquitous.
Wickedly
Wick"ed*ly, adv. In a wicked manner; in a manner, or with motives and designs, contrary to the divine law or the law of morality; viciously; corruptly; immorally.
I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. 2 Sam. xxiv. 17.

Wickedness
Wick"ed*ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being wicked; departure from the rules of the divine or the moral law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; depravity; sinfulness.
God saw that the wickedness of man was great. Gen. vi. 5.

Their inward part is very wickedness. Ps. v. 9.

2. A wicked thing or act; crime; sin; iniquity.
I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man comes to good. Shak.

Wicken tree
Wick"en tree` (?). Same as Quicken tree.
Wicker
Wick"er (?), n. [OE. wiker, wikir, osier, probably akin to AS. wīcan to give way. Cf. Weak.]
1. A small pliant twig or osier; a rod for making basketwork and the like; a withe.
2. Wickerwork; a piece of wickerwork, esp. a basket.
Then quick did dress His half milk up for cheese, and in a press Of wicker pressed it. Chapman.

3. Same as 1st Wike. [Prov. Eng.]
Wicker
Wick"er (?), a. Made of, or covered with, twigs or osiers, or wickerwork.
Each one a little wicker basket had, Made of fine twigs, entrailéd curiously. Spenser.

Wickered
Wick"ered (?), a. Made of, secured by, or covered with, wickers or wickerwork.
Ships of light timber, wickered with osier between, and covered over with leather. Milton.

Wickerwork
Wick"er*work` (?), n. A texture of osiers, twigs, or rods; articles made of such a texture.
Wicket
Wick"et (?), n. [OE. wiket, OF. wiket, guichet, F. quichet; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. vk a small creek, inlet, bay, vik a corner.]
1. A small gate or door, especially one forming part of, or placed near, a larger door or gate; a narrow opening or entrance cut in or beside a door or gate, or the door which is used to close such entrance or aperture. Piers Plowman. Heaven's wicket." Milton.
And so went to the high street, . . . and came to the great tower, but the gate and wicket was fast closed. Ld. Berners.

The wicket, often opened, knew the key. Dryden.

2. A small gate by which the chamber of canal locks is emptied, or by which the amount of water passing to a water wheel is regulated.
3. (Cricket) (a) A small framework at which the ball is bowled. It consists of three rods, or stumps, set vertically in the ground, with one or two short rods, called bails, lying horizontally across the top. (b) The ground on which the wickets are set.
4. A place of shelter made of the boughs of trees, -- used by lumbermen, etc. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
5. (Mining) The space between the pillars, in postand-stall working. Raymond. Wicket door, Wicket gate, a small door or gate; a wicket. See def. 1, above. Bunyan. -- Wicket keeper (Cricket), the player who stands behind the wicket to catch the balls and endeavor to put the batsman out.
Wicking
Wick"ing, n. the material of which wicks are made; esp., a loosely braided or twisted cord or tape of cotton.
Wiclifite, Wickliffite
Wic"lif*ite, Wick"liff*ite (?), n. See Wyclifite.
Wicopy
Wic"o*py (?), n. (Bot.) See Leatherwood.
Widdy
Wid"dy (?), n. [Cf. Withy.] A rope or halter made of flexible twigs, or withes, as of birch. [Scot.]
Wide
Wide (?), a. [Compar. Wider (?); superl. Widest.] [OE. wid, wyde, AS. wīd; akin to OFries. & OS. wīd, D. wijd, G. weit, OHG. wīt, Icel. vī\'ebr, Sw. & Dan. vid; of uncertain origin.]
1. Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad; as, wide cloth; a wide table; a wide highway; a wide bed; a wide hall or entry.
The chambers and the stables weren wyde. Chaucer.

Wide is the gate . . . that leadeth to destruction. Matt. vii. 18.

2. Having a great extent every way; extended; spacious; broad; vast; extensive; as, a wide plain; the wide ocean; a wide difference. This wyde world." Chaucer.
For sceptered cynics earth were far too wide a den. Byron.

When the wide bloom, on earth that lies, Seems of a brighter world than ours. Bryant.

3. Of large scope; comprehensive; liberal; broad; as, wide views; a wide understanding.
Men of strongest head and widest culture. M. Arnold.

4. Of a certain measure between the sides; measuring in a direction at right angles to that of length; as, a table three feet wide.
5. Remote; distant; far.
The contrary being so wide from the truth of Scripture and the attributes of God. Hammond.

6. Far from truth, from propriety, from necessity, or the like. Our wide expositors." Milton.
It is far wide that the people have such judgments. Latimer.

How wide is all this long pretense ! Herbert.

7. On one side or the other of the mark; too far side-wise from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc.
Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand. Spenser.

I was but two bows wide. Massinger.

8. (Phon.) Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the mouth organs; -- opposed to primary as used by Mr. Bell, and to narrow as used by Mr. Sweet. The effect, as explained by Mr. Bell, is due to the relaxation or tension of the pharynx; as explained by Mr. Sweet and others, it is due to the action of the tongue. The wide of &emac; (&emac;ve) is &icr; (&icr;ll); of ā (āte) is &ecr; (&ecr;nd), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13-15. &hand; Wide is often prefixed to words, esp. to participles and participial adjectives, to form self-explaining compounds; as, wide-beaming, wide-branched, wide-chopped, wide-echoing, wide-extended, wide-mouthed, wide-spread, wide-spreading, and the like. Far and wide. See under Far. -- Wide gauge. See the Note under Cauge, 6.
Wide
Wide, adv. [As. wde.]
1. To a distance; far; widely; to a great distance or extent; as, his fame was spread wide.
[I] went wyde in this world, wonders to hear. Piers Plowman.

2. So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening. Shak.
3. So as to be or strike far from, or on one side of, an object or purpose; aside; astray.
Wide
Wide, n.
1. That which is wide; wide space; width; extent. The waste wide of that abyss." Tennyson.
2. That which goes wide, or to one side of the mark.