Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 706

Hornblende

Horn"blende` (?), n. [G., fr. horn horn + blende blende.] (Min.) The common black, or dark green or brown, variety of amphibole. (See Amphibole.) It belongs to the aluminous division of the species, and is also characterized by its containing considerable iron. Also used as a general term to include the whole species. Hornblende schist (Geol.), a hornblende rock of schistose structure.

Hornblendic

Horn*blend"ic (?), a. Composed largely of hornblende; resembling or relating to hornblende.

Hornblower

Horn"blow`er (?), n. [AS. hornblāwere.] One who, or that which, blows a horn.

Hornbook

Horn"book` (?), n.

1. The first book for children, or that from which in former times they learned their letters and rudiments; -- so called because a sheet of horn covered the small, thin board of oak, or the slip of paper, on which the alphabet, digits, and often the Lord's Prayer, were written or printed; a primer. He teaches boys the hornbook." Shak.

2. A book containing the rudiments of any science or branch of knowledge; a manual; a handbook.

Hornbug

Horn"bug` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large nocturnal beetle of the genus Lucanus (as L. capreolus, and L. dama), having long, curved upper jaws, resembling a sickle. The grubs are found in the trunks of old trees.

Horned

Horned (?), a. Furnished with a horn or horns; furnished with a hornlike process or appendage; as, horned cattle; having some part shaped like a horn.

The horned moon with one bright star Within the nether tip. Coleridge.

Horned bee (Zoöl.), a British wild bee (Osmia bicornis), having two little horns on the head. -- Horned dace (Zoöl.), an American cyprinoid fish (Semotilus corporialis) common in brooks and ponds; the common chub. See Illust. of Chub. -- Horned frog (Zoöl.), a very large Brazilian frog (Ceratophrys cornuta), having a pair of triangular horns arising from the eyelids. -- Horned grebe (Zoöl.), a species of grebe (Colymbus auritus), of Arctic Europe and America, having two dense tufts of feathers on the head. -- Horned horse (Zoöl.), the gnu. -- Horned lark (Zoöl.), the shore lark. -- Horned lizard (Zoöl.), the horned toad. -- Horned owl (Zoöl.), a large North American owl (Bubo Virginianus), having a pair of elongated tufts of feathers on the head. Several distinct varieties are known; as, the Arctic, Western, dusky, and striped horned owls, differing in color, and inhabiting different regions; -- called also great horned owl, horn owl, eagle owl, and cat owl. Sometimes also applied to the long-eared owl. See Eared owl, under Eared. -- Horned poppy. (Bot.) See Horn poppy, under Horn. -- Horned pout (Zoöl.), an American fresh-water siluroid fish; the bullpout. -- Horned rattler (Zoöl.), a species of rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes), inhabiting the dry, sandy plains, from California to Mexico. It has a pair of triangular horns between the eyes; -- called also sidewinder. -- Horned ray (Zoöl.), the sea devil. -- Horned screamer (Zoöl.), the kamichi. -- Horned snake (Zoöl.), the cerastes. -- Horned toad (Zoöl.), any lizard of the genus Phrynosoma, of which nine or ten species are known. These lizards have several hornlike spines on the head, and a broad, flat body, covered with spiny scales. They inhabit the dry, sandy plains from California to Mexico and Texas. Called also horned lizard. -- Horned viper. (Zoöl.) See Cerastes.
Hornedness
Horn"ed*ness (?), n. The condition of being horned.
Hornel
Horn"el (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European sand eel. [Scot.]
Horner
Horn"er (?), n.
1. One who works or deal in horn or horns. [R.] Grew.
2. One who winds or blows the horn. [Obs.] Sherwood.
3. One who horns or cuckolds. [Obs.] Massinger.
4. (Zoöl.) The British sand lance or sand eel (Ammodytes lanceolatus).
Hornet
Hor"net (?), n. [AS. hyrnet; akin to OHG. hornaz, hornuz, G. horniss; perh. akin to E. horn, and named from the sound it makes as if blowing the horn; but more prob. akin to D. horzel, Lith. szirszone, L. crabo.] (Zoöl.) A large, strong wasp. The European species (Vespa crabro) is of a dark brown and yellow color. It is very pugnacious, and its sting is very severe. Its nest is constructed of a paperlike material, and the layers of comb are hung together by columns. The American white-faced hornet (V. maculata) is larger and has similar habits. Hornet fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect of the genus Asilus, and allied genera, of which there are numerous species. They are large and fierce flies which capture bees and other insects, often larger than themselves, and suck their blood. Called also hawk fly, robber fly. -- To stir up a hornet's nest, to provoke the attack of a swarm of spiteful enemies or spirited critics. [Colloq.]
Hornfish
Horn"fish` (?), n. [AS. hornfisc.] (Zoöl.) The garfish or sea needle.
Hornfoot
Horn"foot` (?), a. Having hoofs; hoofed.
Hornify
Horn"i*fy (?), v. t. [Horn + -fy.] To horn; to cuckold. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Horning
Horn"ing, n. Appearance of the moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent. J. Gregory. Letters of horning (Scots Law), the process or authority by which a person, directed by the decree of a court of justice to pay or perform anything, is ordered to comply therewith. Mozley & W.

Hornish

Horn"ish, a. Somewhat like horn; hard.

Hornito

Hor*ni"to (?), n. [A dim. fr. Sp. horno oven, L. furnus. See Furnace.] (Geol.) A low, oven-shaped mound, common in volcanic regions, and emitting smoke and vapors from its sides and summit. Humboldt.

Hornless

Horn"less (?), a. Having no horn.

Horn-mad

Horn"-mad` (?), a. Quite mad; -- raving crazy.

Did I tell you about Mr. Garrick, that the town are horn-mad after? Gray.

Hornotine

Hor"no*tine (?), n. [L. hornotinus of this year.] (Zoöl.) A yearling; a bird of the year.

Hornowl

Horn"owl` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Horned Owl.

Hornpike

Horn"pike` (?), n. The garfish. [Prov. Eng.]

Hornpipe

Horn"pipe` (?), n. (Mus.) (a) An instrument of music formerly popular in Wales, consisting of a wooden pipe, with holes at intervals. It was so called because the bell at the open end was sometimes made of horn. (b) A lively tune played on a hornpipe, for dancing; a tune adapted for such playing.

Many a hornpipe he tuned to his Phyllis. Sir W. Raleigh.

Hornpout

Horn"pout` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Horned pout, under Horned.

Hornsnake

Horn"snake` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A harmless snake (Farancia abacura), found in the Southern United States. The color is bluish black above, red below.

Hornstone

Horn"stone` (?), n. (Min.) A siliceous stone, a variety of quartz, closely resembling flint, but more brittle; -- called also chert.

Horntail

Horn"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of family (Uroceridæ) of large hyminopterous insects, allied to the sawflies. The larvæ bore in the wood of trees. So called from the long, stout ovipositors of the females.

Hornwork

Horn"work` (?), n. (Fort.) An outwork composed of two demibastions joined by a curtain. It is connected with the works in rear by long wings.

Hornwort

Horn"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) An aquatic plant (Ceratophyllum), with finely divided leaves.

Hornwrack

Horn"wrack` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A bryozoan of the genus Flustra.

Horny

Horn"y (?), a. [Compar. Hornier (?); superl. Horniest.]

1. Having horns or hornlike projections. Gay.

2. Composed or made of horn, or of a substance resembling horn; of the nature of horn. The horny . . . coat of the eye." Ray.

3. Hard; callous. His horny fist." Dryden.

Horny-handed

Horn"y-hand`ed (?), a. Having the hands horny and callous from labor.

Hornyhead

Horn"y*head` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any North American river chub of the genus Hybopsis, esp. H. biguttatus.

Horography

Ho*rog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. hour + -graphy: cf. F. horographie.]

1. An account of the hours. Chaucer.

2. The art of constructing instruments for making the hours, as clocks, watches, and dials.

Horologe

Hor"o*loge (?), n. [OE. horologe, orloge, timepiece, OF. horloge, orloge, oriloge, F. horloge, L. horologium, fr. Gr. ; hour + to say, tell. See Hour, and Logic.]

1. A servant who called out the hours. [Obs.]

2. An instrument indicating the time of day; a timepiece of any kind; a watch, clock, or dial. Shak.

Horologer

Ho*rol"o*ger (?), n. A maker or vender of clocks and watches; one skilled in horology.

Horological

Hor`o*log"ic*al (?), a. [L. horologicus, Gr. .] Relating to a horologe, or to horology.

Horologiographer

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*pher (?), n. [See Horologiography.] A maker of clocks, watches, or dials.

Horologiographic

Hor`o*lo`gi*o*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to horologiography. Chambers.

Horologiography

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. horologe + -graphy.]

1. An account of instruments that show the hour.

2. The art of constructing clocks or dials; horography.

Horologist

Ho*rol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in horology.

Horology

Ho*rol"o*gy (?), n. [See Horologe.] The science of measuring time, or the principles and art of constructing instruments for measuring and indicating portions of time, as clocks, watches, dials, etc.

Horometer

Ho*rom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. hour + -meter.] An instrument for measuring time.

Horometrical

Hor`o*met"ric*al (?), a. Belonging to horometry.

Horometry

Ho*rom"e*try (?), n. [Cf. F. horométrie. See Horometer.] The art, practice, or method of measuring time by hours and subordinate divisions. The horometry of antiquity." Sir T. Browne.

Horopter

Ho*rop"ter (?), n. [Gr. boundary + one who looks.] (Opt.) The line or surface in which are situated all the points which are seen single while the point of sight, or the adjustment of the eyes, remains unchanged.

The sum of all the points which are seen single, while the point of sight remains unchanged, is called the horopter. J. Le Conte.

Horopteric

Hor`op*ter"ic (?), a. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the horopter.

Horoscope

Hor"o*scope (?), n. [F. horoscope, L. horoscopus, fr. Gr. , adj., observing hours or times, esp. observing the hour of birth, n., a horoscope; hour + to view, observe. See Hour, and -scope.]

1. (Astrol.) (a) The representation made of the aspect of the heavens at the moment of a person's birth, by which the astrologer professed to foretell the events of the person's life; especially, the sign of the zodiac rising above the horizon at such a moment. (b) The diagram or scheme of twelve houses or signs of the zodiac, into which the whole circuit of the heavens was divided for the purposes of such prediction of fortune.

2. The planisphere invented by Jean Paduanus.

3. A table showing the length of the days and nights at all places. Heyse.

Horoscoper, Horoscopist

Hor"o*sco`per (?), Ho*ros"co*pist (?), n. One versed in horoscopy; an astrologer.
Horoscopy
Ho*ros"co*py (?), n.
1. The art or practice of casting horoscopes, or observing the disposition of the stars, with a view to prediction events.
2. Aspect of the stars at the time of a person's birth.
Horrendous
Hor*ren"dous (?), a. [L. horrendus.] Fearful; frightful. [Obs.] I. Watts.
Horrent
Hor"rent (?), a. [L. horrens, p.pr. of horrere to bristle. See Horror.] Standing erect, as bristles; covered with bristling points; bristled; bristling.
Rough and horrent with figures in strong relief. De Quincey.
With bright emblazonry and horrent arms. Milton.

Horrible
Hor"ri*ble (?), a. [OE. horrible, orrible, OF. horrible, orrible, F. horrible, fr. L. horribilis, fr. horrere. See Horror.] Exciting, or tending to excite, horror or fear; dreadful; terrible; shocking; hideous; as, a horrible sight; a horrible story; a horrible murder.
A dungeon horrible on all sides round. Milton.
Syn. -- Dreadful; frightful; fearful; terrible; awful; terrific; shocking; hideous; horrid.
Horribleness
Hor"ri*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being horrible; dreadfulness; hideousness.
The horribleness of the mischief. Sir P. Sidney.

Horribly
Hor"ri*bly, adv. In a manner to excite horror; dreadfully; terribly.
Horrid
Hor"rid (?), a. [L. horridus. See Horror, and cf. Ordure.]
1. Rough; rugged; bristling. [Archaic]
Horrid with fern, and intricate with thorn. Dryden.

2. Fitted to excite horror; dreadful; hideous; shocking; hence, very offensive.
Not in the legions Of horrid hell. Shak.

The horrid things they say. Pope.
Syn. -- Frightful; hideous; alarming; shocking; dreadful; awful; terrific; horrible; abominable.
Horridly
Hor"rid*ly, adv. In a horrid manner. Shak.
Horridness
Hor"rid*ness, n. The quality of being horrid.
Horrific
Hor*rif"ic (?), a. [L. horrifieus; horrere to be horrible + -ficare (in comp.) to make: cf. F. horrifique. See Horror, -fy.] Causing horror; frightful.
Let . . . nothing ghastly or horrific be supposed. I. Taylor.

Horrification
Hor`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. That which causes horror. [R.] Miss Edgeworth.
Horrify
Hor"ri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Horrified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Horrifying (?).] [L. horrificare. See Horrific.] To cause to feel horror; to strike or impress with horror; as, the sight horrified the beholders. E. Irving.
Horripilation
Hor*rip`i*la"tion (?), n. [L. horripilatio, fr. horripilare to bristle; horrere to bristle + pilus the hair: cf. F. horripilation.] (Med.) A real or fancied bristling of the hair of the head or body, resulting from disease, terror, chilliness, etc.
Horrisonant
Hor*ris"o*nant (?), a. Horrisonous. [Obs.]
Horrisonous
Hor*ris"o*nous (?), a. [L. horrisonus; horrere to be horrible + sonus a sound.] Sounding dreadfully; uttering a terrible sound. [Obs.] Bailey.
Horror
Hor"ror (?), n. [Formerly written horrour.] [L. horror, fr. horrere to bristle, to shiver, to tremble with cold or dread, to be dreadful or terrible; cf. Skr. hsh to bristle.]
1. A bristling up; a rising into roughness; tumultuous movement. [Archaic]
Such fresh horror as you see driven through the wrinkled waves. Chapman.

2. A shaking, shivering, or shuddering, as in the cold fit which precedes a fever; in old medical writings, a chill of less severity than a rigor, and more marked than an algor.
3. A painful emotion of fear, dread, and abhorrence; a shuddering with terror and detestation; the feeling inspired by something frightful and shocking.
How could this, in the sight of heaven, without horrors of conscience be uttered? Milton.

4. That which excites horror or dread, or is horrible; gloom; dreariness.
Breathes a browner horror on the woods. Pope.
The horrors, delirium tremens. [Colloq.]