Dictionary De - En
De - Es
De - Pt| English Dictionary: On | by the DICT Development Group |
| 17 results for On | |
| From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners, For we be come unto a quiet rode [road]. --Spenser. {On}, [or] {Upon}, {the road}, traveling or passing over a road; coming or going; on the way. My hat and wig will soon be here, They are upon the road. --Cowper. {Road agent}, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.] The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly called. --The century. {Road book}, a quidebook in respect to roads and distances. {Road metal}, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads. {Road roller}, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers, for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and compact. -- often driven by steam. {Road runner} (Zo[94]l.), the chaparral cock. {Road steamer}, a locomotive engine adapted to running on common roads. {To go on the road}, to engage in the business of a commercial traveler. [Colloq.] {To take the road}, to begin or engage in traveling. {To take to the road}, to engage in robbery upon the highways. Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage; course. See {Way}. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Rub \Rub\, v. i. 1. To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost. 2. To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore. 3. To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world. {To rub along} or {on}, to go on with difficulty; as, they manage, with strict economy, to rub along. [Colloq.] | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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(b) To decline in condition; as, to run down in health. {To run down a coast}, to sail along it. {To run for an office}, to stand as a candidate for an office. {To run in} [or] {into}. (a) To enter; to step in. (b) To come in collision with. {To run in trust}, to run in debt; to get credit. [Obs.] {To run in with}. (a) To close; to comply; to agree with. [R.] --T. Baker. (b) (Naut.) To make toward; to near; to sail close to; as, to run in with the land. {To run mad}, {To run mad after} [or] {on}. See under {Mad}. {To run on}. (a) To be continued; as, their accounts had run on for a year or two without a settlement. (b) To talk incessantly. (c) To continue a course. (d) To press with jokes or ridicule; to abuse with sarcasm; to bear hard on. (e) (Print.) To be continued in the same lines, without making a break or beginning a new paragraph. {To run out}. (a) To come to an end; to expire; as, the lease runs out at Michaelmas. (b) To extend; to spread. [bd]Insectile animals . . . run all out into legs.[b8] --Hammond. (c) To expatiate; as, to run out into beautiful digressions. (d) To be wasted or exhausted; to become poor; to become extinct; as, an estate managed without economy will soon run out. And had her stock been less, no doubt She must have long ago run out. --Dryden. {To run over}. (a) To overflow; as, a cup runs over, or the liquor runs over. (b) To go over, examine, or rehearse cursorily. (c) To ride or drive over; as, to run over a child. {To run riot}, to go to excess. {To run through}. (a) To go through hastily; as to run through a book. (b) To spend wastefully; as, to run through an estate. {To run to seed}, to expend or exhaust vitality in producing seed, as a plant; figuratively and colloquially, to cease growing; to lose vital force, as the body or mind. {To run up}, to rise; to swell; to grow; to increase; as, accounts of goods credited run up very fast. But these, having been untrimmed for many years, had run up into great bushes, or rather dwarf trees. --Sir W. Scott. {To run with}. (a) To be drenched with, so that streams flow; as, the streets ran with blood. (b) To flow while charged with some foreign substance. [bd]Its rivers ran with gold.[b8] --J. H. Newman. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Screw \Screw\ (skr[udd]), n. [OE. scrue, OF. escroue, escroe, female screw, F. [82]crou, L. scrobis a ditch, trench, in LL., the hole made by swine in rooting; cf. D. schroef a screw, G. schraube, Icel. skr[umac]fa.] 1. A cylinder, or a cylindrical perforation, having a continuous rib, called the thread, winding round it spirally at a constant inclination, so as to leave a continuous spiral groove between one turn and the next, -- used chiefly for producing, when revolved, motion or pressure in the direction of its axis, by the sliding of the threads of the cylinder in the grooves between the threads of the perforation adapted to it, the former being distinguished as the external, or male screw, or, more usually the screw; the latter as the internal, or female screw, or, more usually, the nut. Note: The screw, as a mechanical power, is a modification of the inclined plane, and may be regarded as a right-angled triangle wrapped round a cylinder, the hypotenuse of the marking the spiral thread of the screw, its base equaling the circumference of the cylinder, and its height the pitch of the thread. 2. Specifically, a kind of nail with a spiral thread and a head with a nick to receive the end of the screw-driver. Screws are much used to hold together pieces of wood or to fasten something; -- called also {wood screws}, and {screw nails}. See also {Screw bolt}, below. 3. Anything shaped or acting like a screw; esp., a form of wheel for propelling steam vessels. It is placed at the stern, and furnished with blades having helicoidal surfaces to act against the water in the manner of a screw. See {Screw propeller}, below. 4. A steam vesel propelled by a screw instead of wheels; a screw steamer; a propeller. 5. An extortioner; a sharp bargainer; a skinflint; a niggard. --Thackeray. 6. An instructor who examines with great or unnecessary severity; also, a searching or strict examination of a student by an instructor. [Cant, American Colleges] 7. A small packet of tobacco. [Slang] --Mayhew. 8. An unsound or worn-out horse, useful as a hack, and commonly of good appearance. --Ld. Lytton. 9. (Math.) A straight line in space with which a definite linear magnitude termed the pitch is associated (cf. 5th {Pitch}, 10 (b) ). It is used to express the displacement of a rigid body, which may always be made to consist of a rotation about an axis combined with a translation parallel to that axis. 10. (Zo[94]l.) An amphipod crustacean; as, the skeleton screw ({Caprella}). See {Sand screw}, under {Sand}. {Archimedes screw}, {Compound screw}, {Foot screw}, etc. See under {Archimedes}, {Compound}, {Foot}, etc. {A screw loose}, something out of order, so that work is not done smoothly; as, there is a screw loose somewhere. --H. Martineau. {Endless, [or] perpetual, {screw}, a screw used to give motion to a toothed wheel by the action of its threads between the teeth of the wheel; -- called also a {worm}. {Lag screw}. See under {Lag}. {Micrometer screw}, a screw with fine threads, used for the measurement of very small spaces. {Right and left screw}, a screw having threads upon the opposite ends which wind in opposite directions. {Screw alley}. See {Shaft alley}, under {Shaft}. {Screw bean}. (Bot.) (a) The curious spirally coiled pod of a leguminous tree ({Prosopis pubescens}) growing from Texas to California. It is used for fodder, and ground into meal by the Indians. (b) The tree itself. Its heavy hard wood is used for fuel, for fencing, and for railroad ties. {Screw bolt}, a bolt having a screw thread on its shank, in distinction from a {key bolt}. See 1st {Bolt}, 3. {Screw box}, a device, resembling a die, for cutting the thread on a wooden screw. {Screw dock}. See under {Dock}. {Screw engine}, a marine engine for driving a screw propeller. {Screw gear}. See {Spiral gear}, under {Spiral}. {Screw jack}. Same as {Jackscrew}. {Screw key}, a wrench for turning a screw or nut; a spanner wrench. {Screw machine}. (a) One of a series of machines employed in the manufacture of wood screws. (b) A machine tool resembling a lathe, having a number of cutting tools that can be caused to act on the work successively, for making screws and other turned pieces from metal rods. {Screw pine} (Bot.), any plant of the endogenous genus {Pandanus}, of which there are about fifty species, natives of tropical lands from Africa to Polynesia; -- named from the spiral arrangement of the pineapple-like leaves. {Screw plate}, a device for cutting threads on small screws, consisting of a thin steel plate having a series of perforations with internal screws forming dies. {Screw press}, a press in which pressure is exerted by means of a screw. {Screw propeller}, a screw or spiral bladed wheel, used in the propulsion of steam vessels; also, a steam vessel propelled by a screw. {Screw shell} (Zo[94]l.), a long, slender, spiral gastropod shell, especially of the genus Turritella and allied genera. See {Turritella}. {Screw steamer}, a steamship propelled by a screw. {Screw thread}, the spiral rib which forms a screw. {Screw stone} (Paleon.), the fossil stem of an encrinite. {Screw tree} (Bot.), any plant of the genus {Helicteres}, consisting of about thirty species of tropical shrubs, with simple leaves and spirally twisted, five-celled capsules; -- also called {twisted-horn}, and {twisty}. {Screw valve}, a stop valve which is opened or closed by a screw. {Screw worm} (Zo[94]l.), the larva of an American fly ({Compsomyia macellaria}), allied to the blowflies, which sometimes deposits its eggs in the nostrils, or about wounds, in man and other animals, with fatal results. {Screw wrench}. (a) A wrench for turning a screw. (b) A wrench with an adjustable jaw that is moved by a screw. {To put the} {screw, [or] screws}, {on}, to use pressure upon, as for the purpose of extortion; to coerce. {To put under the} {screw [or] screws}, to subject to pressure; to force. {Wood screw}, a metal screw with a sharp thread of coarse pitch, adapted to holding fast in wood. See Illust. of {Wood screw}, under {Wood}. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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On \On\, prep. [OE. on, an, o, a, AS. on, an; akin to D. aan, OS. & G. an, OHG. ana, Icel. [be], Sw. [aring], Goth. ana, Russ. na, L. an-, in anhelare to pant, Gr. 'ana`, Zend ana. [root]195. Cf. {A-}, 1, {Ana-}, {Anon}.] The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath; as: 1. At, or in contact with, the surface or upper part of a thing, and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface; as, the book lies on the table, which stands on the floor of a house on an island. I stood on the bridge at midnight. --Longfellow. 2. To or against the surface of; -- used to indicate the motion of a thing as coming or falling to the surface of another; as, rain falls on the earth. Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. --Matt. xxi. 44. 3. Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with; as, to play on a violin or piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's feelings; to make an impression on the mind. 4. At or near; adjacent to; -- indicating situation, place, or position; as, on the one hand, on the other hand; the fleet is on the American coast. 5. In addition to; besides; -- indicating multiplication or succession in a series; as, heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss; thought on thought. --Shak. 6. Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in; as, to depend on a person for assistance; to rely on; hence, indicating the ground or support of anything; as, he will promise on certain conditions; to bet on a horse. 7. At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See {At} (synonym). 8. At the time of, conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform. Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded. 9. Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as, have pity or compassion on him. 10. At the peril of, or for the safety of. [bd]Hence, on thy life.[b8] --Dryden. 11. By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor. 12. To the account of; -- denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon; as, on us be all the blame; a curse on him. His blood be on us and on our children. --Matt. xxvii. 25. 13. In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect punctuality; a satire on society. 14. Of. [Obs.] [bd]Be not jealous on me.[b8] --Shak. Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? --Shak. Note: Instances of this usage are common in our older writers, and are sometimes now heard in illiterate speech. 15. Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey. 16. In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee. Note: On and upon are in general interchangeable. In some applications upon is more euphonious, and is therefore to be preferred; but in most cases on is preferable. {On a bowline}. (Naut.) Same as {Closehauled}. {On a wind}, [or] {On the wind} (Naut.), sailing closehauled. {On a sudden}. See under {Sudden}. {On board}, {On draught}, {On fire}, etc. See under {Board}, {Draught}, {Fire}, etc. {On it}, {On't}, of it. [Obs. or Colloq.] --Shak. {On shore}, on land; to the shore. {On the road}, {On the way}, {On the wing}, etc. See under {Road}, {Way}, etc. {On to}, upon; on; to; -- sometimes written as one word, onto, and usually called a colloquialism; but it may be regarded in analogy with into. They have added the -en plural form on to an elder plural. --Earle. We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the stage. --J. R. Green. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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On \On\, adv. [See {On}, prep.] 1. Forward, in progression; onward; -- usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on. [bd]Time glides on.[b8] --Macaulay. The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger. --Shak. 2. Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on. 3. In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on. 4. Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, [bd]He is neither on nor off,[b8] that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute. 5. Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use. [bd]I have boots on.[b8] --B. Gonson. He put on righteousness as a breastplate. --Is. lix. 17. 6. In progress; proceeding; as, a game is on. Note: On is sometimes used as an exclamation, or a command to move or proceed, some verb being understood; as, on, comrades; that is, go on, move on. {On and on}, continuously; for a long time together. [bd]Toiling on and on and on.[b8] --Longfellow. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Out \Out\, interj. Expressing impatience, anger, a desire to be rid of; -- with the force of command; go out; begone; away; off. Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools ! --Shak. {Out upon} [or] {on!} equivalent to [bd]shame upon![b8] [bd]away with![b8] as, out upon you! | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Square \Square\, n. [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. [82]querre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See {Four}, and cf. {Quadrant}, {Squad}, {Squer} a square.] 1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles. 2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment. He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. --Sir W. Scott. (b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet. 3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. --Addison. 4. (Mech. & Joinery) An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc. 5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.] 6. (Arith. & Alg.) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 [times] 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a^{2} + 2ab + b^{2}. 7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.] They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. --Hooker. I have not kept my square. --Shak. 8. (Mil.) A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. [bd]The brave squares of war.[b8] --Shak. 9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. We live not on the square with such as these. --Dryden. 10. (Astrol.) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.] 11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.] 12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] --Shak. {Geometrical square}. See {Quadrat}, n., 2. {Hollow square} (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. {Least square}, {Magic square}, etc. See under {Least}, {Magic}, etc. {On the square}, [or] {Upon the square}, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.] {On}, [or] {Upon}, {the square with}, upon equality with; even with. --Nares. {To be all squares}, to be all settled. [Colloq.] --Dickens. {To be at square}, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] --Nares. {To break no square}, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] {To break squares}, to depart from an accustomed order. {To see how the squares go}, to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] --L'Estrange. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Spot \Spot\, n. [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See {Spit} to eject from the mouth, and cf. {Spatter}.] 1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored. Out, damned spot! Out, I say! --Shak. 2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish. Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot. --Pope. 3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a playing card. 4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. [bd]Fixed to one spot.[b8] --Otway. That spot to which I point is Paradise. --Milton. [bd]A jolly place,[b8] said he, [bd]in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.[b8] --Wordsworth. 5. (Zo[94]l.) A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak. 6. (Zo[94]l.) (a) A sci[91]noid food fish ({Liostomus xanthurus}) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also {goody}, {Lafayette}, {masooka}, and {old wife}. (b) The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail. See {Redfish}. 7. pl. Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery. [Broker's Cant] {Crescent spot} (Zo[94]l.), any butterfly of the family {Melit[91]id[91]} having crescent-shaped white spots along the margins of the red or brown wings. {Spot lens} (Microscopy), a condensing lens in which the light is confined to an annular pencil by means of a small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field ilumination; -- called also {spotted lens}. {Spot rump} (Zo[94]l.), the Hudsonian godwit ({Limosa h[91]mastica}). {Spots on the sun}. (Astron.) See {Sun spot}, ander {Sun}. {On}, [or] {Upon}, {the spot}, immediately; before moving; without changing place. It was determined upon the spot. --Swift. Syn: Stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish; place; site; locality. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Strength \Strength\, n. [OE. strengthe, AS. streng[edh]u, fr. strang strong. See {Strong}.] 1. The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment. All his [Samson's] strength in his hairs were. --Chaucer. Thou must outlive Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty. --Milton. 2. Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; -- in this sense opposed to {frangibility}; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like. [bd]The brittle strength of bones.[b8] --Milton. 3. Power of resisting attacks; impregnability. [bd]Our castle's strength will laugh a siege to scorn.[b8] --Shak. 4. That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument. 5. One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security. God is our refuge and strength. --Ps. xlvi. 1. What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths. --Sprat. Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation. --Jer. Taylor. 6. Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea? 7. Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; -- said of literary work. And praise the easy vigor of a life Where Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join. --Pope. 8. Intensity; -- said of light or color. Bright Ph[d2]bus in his strength. --Shak. 9. Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; -- said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids. 10. A strong place; a stronghold. [Obs.] --Shak. {On}, [or] {Upon}, {the strength of}, in reliance upon. [bd]The allies, after a successful summer, are too apt, upon the strength of it, to neglect their preparations for the ensuing campaign.[b8] --Addison. Syn: Force; robustness; toughness; hardness; stoutness; brawniness; lustiness; firmness; puissance; support; spirit; validity; authority. See {Force}. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Penalty \Pe"nal*ty\, n.; pl. {Penalties}. [F. p[82]nalit[82]. See {Penal}.] 1. Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass. Death is the penalty imposed. --Milton. 2. The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine. The penalty and forfeit of my bond. --Shak. 3. A handicap. [Sporting Cant] Note: The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment. {Bill of pains and penalties}. See under {Bill}. {On}, [or] {Under}, {penalty of}, on pain of; with exposure to the penalty of, in case of transgression. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Peril \Per"il\, n. [F. p[82]ril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare. See {Fare}, and cf. {Experience}.] Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction. In perils of waters, in perils of robbers. --2 Cor. xi. 26. Adventure hard With peril great achieved. --Milton. {At}, [or] {On}, {one's peril}, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of. [bd]On thy soul's peril.[b8] --Shak. Syn: Hazard; risk; jeopardy. See {Danger}. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Tail \Tail\, v. t. 1. To follow or hang to, like a tail; to be attached closely to, as that which can not be evaded. [Obs.] Nevertheless his bond of two thousand pounds, wherewith he was tailed, continued uncanceled, and was called on the next Parliament. --Fuller. 2. To pull or draw by the tail. [R.] --Hudibras. {To tail in} [or] {on} (Arch.), to fasten by one of the ends into a wall or some other support; as, to tail in a timber. | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Tapis \Ta"pis\, n. [F. See {Tapestry}.] Tapestry; formerly, the cover of a council table. {On}, [or] {Upon}, {the tapis}, on the table, or under consideration; as, to lay a motion in Parliament on the tapis. | |
| From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
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On light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have "Heliopolis" ("city of the sun") instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The "city of destruction" Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. "of Heres;" Heb. 'Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., "city of the sun") may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the "city of the sun-god" shall become the "city of destruction" of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship of the true God be established. In ancient times this city was full of obelisks dedicated to the sun. Of these only one now remains standing. "Cleopatra's Needle" was one of those which stood in this city in front of the Temple of Tum, i.e., "the sun." It is now erected on the Thames Embankment, London. "It was at On that Joseph wooed and won the dark-skinned Asenath, the daughter of the high priest of its great temple." This was a noted university town, and here Moses gained his acquaintance with "all the wisdom of the Egyptians." | |
| From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
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On, pain; force; iniquity | |
