The Illustrated London Reading Book

COLLO'QUIAL, a. that relates to common conversation

COLO'NIAL, a. that which relates to a colony

CO'LONIST, s. one that colonises; one that dwells in a colony

COLO'SSAL, a. of enormous magnitude; large

CO'LOUR, s. the appearance of bodies to the eye only; hue; appearance

CO'LUMN, s. a round pillar; a long file or row of troops; half a page, when divided into two equal parts by a line passing down the middle

COLU'MNAR, a. formed in columns

COMBINA'TION, s. a union; a joining together

CO'MFORTABLE, a. admitting comfort; dispensing comfort

COMMA'NDER, s. a general; chief; leader

COMMEMORA'TION, s. an act of public celebration

COMME'NCE, v.a. to begin

CO'MMERCE, s. intercourse; exchange of one thing for another; trade

COMME'RCIAL, a. that which relates to commerce

CO'MMINUTE, v.a. to grind; to pulverise

COMMO'DITY, s. wares; merchandise

COMMONWE'ALTH, s. a polity; an established form of civilized life; public; republic

COMMU'NICATE, v.a. impart knowledge; reveal

COMMU'NITY, s. the commonwealth; the body politic; common possession

COMPA'NION, s. a partner; an associate

CO'MPANY, s. persons assembled together; a band; a subdivision of a regiment of foot

CO'MPARABLE, a. capable of being compared; of equal regard

COMPA'RE, v.n. make one thing the measure of another; find a likeness of one thing with another

COMPA'RISON, s. the act of comparing; state of being compared; comparative estimate

COMPE'TE, v.a. to vie; to contend; to strive; to endeavour to outstrip

COMPLA'INT, s. representation of pains or injuries; malady; remonstrance against

COMPLAI'SANCE, s. civility; desire of pleasing

COMPLE'TION, s. accomplishment; act of fulfilling

COMPLI'ANCE, s. the act of yielding to any design or demand

CO'MPLICATE, v.a. to render difficult and incomprehendable; to join one with another

COMPOSI'TION, s. a mass formed by mingling different ingredients; written work

COMPREHE'ND, v.a. comprise; include; conceive; understand

CONCE'AL, v.a. hide; keep secret; cover

CONCE'IT, s. vain pride

CONCE'NTRIC, a. having one common centre

CONCE'PTION, s. the act of conceiving; state of being conceived; notion; sentiment

CONCE'SSION, s. the act of granting or yielding

CONCI'LIATE, v.a. to gain; to win; to reconcile

CONCI'SE, a. short; brief; not longer than is really needful

CONCO'CT, v.a. to devise

CO'NCORD, s. agreement between persons or things; peace; union; a compact

CONCU'SSION, s. the state of being shaken

CONDE'NSE, v.n. to grow close and weighty

CONDI'TION, s. rank; property; state

CO'NDOR, s. a monstrous bird in America

CONDU'CT, v.a. lend; accompany; manage

CONE, s. a solid body, of which the base is circular, but which ends in a point

CONFE'R, v.a. compare; give; bestow; contribute; conduce

CO'NFERENCE, s. formal discourse; an appointed meeting for discussing some point by personal debate

CONFE'SS, v.a. acknowledge a crime; own; avow; grant

CONFI'NEMENT, s. imprisonment; restraint of liberty

CO'NFLUENCE, s. the joining together of rivers; a concourse; the act of joining together

CONFORMA'TION, s. the form of things as relating to each other; the act of producing suitableness or conformity to anything

CONFO'RMITY, s. similitude; consistency

CONGE'NER, s. a thing of the same kind or nature

CONGE'NIAL, a. partaking of the same genius

CONGLO'MERATE, v.a. to gather into a ball, like a ball of thread

CO'NICAL, a. in the shape of a cone

CONJE'CTURE, s. guess; imperfect knowledge; idea

CONNEC'TION, s. union

CO'NQUER, v.a. gain by conquest; win; subdue

CO'NQUEROR, s. a victor; one that conquers

CO'NQUEST, s. a victory

CO'NSCIENCE, s. the faculty by which we judge of the goodness or wickedness of ourselves

CO'NSCIOUS, a. endowed with the power of knowing one's own thoughts and actions; bearing witness by the dictates of conscience to anything

CONSCRI'PTION, s. an enrolling or registering

CO'NSECRATE, v.a. to make sacred; to canonize

CO'NSEQUENCE, s. that which follows from any cause or principle; effect of a cause

CO'NSEQUENT, a. following by rational deduction; following as the effect of a cause

CONSI'DERABLE, a. worthy of consideration; important; valuable

CONSI'ST, v.n. subsist; be composed; be comprised

CONSI'STENCE, s. state with respect to material existence; degree of denseness or rarity

CONSI'STENCY, s. adhesion; agreement with itself or with any other thing

CONSPI'CUOUS, a. obvious to the sight

CO'NSTANT, a. firm; fixed; certain; unvaried

CONSTELLA'TION, s. a cluster of fixed stars; an assemblage of splendours

CONSTERNA'TION, s. astonishment; amazement; wonder

CO'NSTITUTE, v.a. give formal existence; produce; erect; appoint another in an office

CONSTRU'CT, v.a. build; form; compile

CONSTRU'CTION, s. the act of building; structure; form of building

CONSTR'UCTIVE, a. by construction

CONSU'MPTION, s. the act of consuming; waste; a disease; a waste of muscular flesh

CO'NTACT, s. touch; close union

CONTA'GIOUS, a. infectious; caught by approach

CONTA'IN, v.a. hold; comprehend; restrain

CONTE'MPLATE, v.a. study; meditate; muse; think studiously with long attention

CONTEMPLA'TION, s. meditation; studious thought

CONTE'MPLATIVE, a. given to thought or study

CONTE'MPORARY, s. one who lives at the same time with another

CONTE'MPTIBLE, a. worthy of contempt, of scorn; neglected; despicable

CO'NTEST, s. dispute; difference; debate

CONTE'ST, v.a. to strive; to vie; to contend

CONTI'GUOUS, a. meeting so as to touch

CO'NTINENT, s. land not disjoined by the sea from other lands; that which contains anything; one of the quarters of the globe

CONTI'NGENCY, s. accidental possibility

CONTI'NUE, v.n. remain in the same state; last; persevere

CONTRA'CT, v.a. to shrink up; to grow short; to bargain

CO'NTRARY, a. opposite; contradictory; adverse

CONTRI'VANCE, s. the act of contriving; scheme; plan; plot

CONVE'NIENCE, s. fitness; ease; cause of ease

CONVE'NIENT, a. fit; suitable; proper; well adapted

CO'NVENT, s. an assembly of religious persons; a monastery; a nunnery

CO'NVERSE, s. conversation; acquaintance; familiarity

CONVE'RSION, s. change from one state to another

CONVE'RT, v.a. change into another substance; change from one religion to another; turn from a bad to a good life; apply to any use

CONVE'Y, v.a. carry; transport from one place to another; bring; transfer

CONVU'LSIVE, a. that gives twitches or spasms

CO'PIOUS, a. plentiful; abundant

CO'PPICE, s. a low wood; a place overrun with brushwood

CO'RDIAL, a. reviving; hearty; sincere

CORONA'TION, s. the act of crowning a King

CORPORA'TION, s. a body politic, constituted by Royal charter

CORPO'REAL, a. having a body; material; not spiritual

CORRE'CT, v.a. punish; discipline; remark faults; take away fault

CORRESPONDENCE, s. intercourse; relation; friendship

CO'UNCILLOR, s. one that gives counsel

COU'NTENANCE, s. the form of the face; air; look; calmness of look; patronage

CO'UNTRY, s. a tract of land; a region; rural parts

CO'URAGE, s. bravery; boldness

CO'VERING, s. dress; anything spread over another

CRA'FTY, a. cunning; knowing; scheming; politic

CRA'TER, s. the bowl, opening, or funnel of a volcano

CREA'TION, s. the act of creating; universe

CREA'TOR, s. the Divine Being that created all things

CRE'ATURE, s. a being created; a general term for man

CRE'VICE, s. a crack; a cleft; a narrow opening

CRI'MINAL, s. a man accused; a man guilty of a crime

CRI'MINA'LITY, s. the act of being guilty of a crime

CRI'TIC, s. a judge; otherwise a censurer

CRI'TICAL, a. relating to criticism

CRO'CODILE, s an amphibious voracious animal, in shape like a lizard

CROO'KED, a. bent; winding; perverse

CRU'ELTY, s. inhumanity; savageness; act of intentional affliction

CRU'SADE, s. an expedition against the infidels; a holy war

CRY'STAL, s. crystals are hard, pellucid, and naturally colourless bodies, of regular angular figures

CU'LPABLE, a. criminal; guilty; blamable

CU'LTIVATE, v.a. forward or improve the product of the earth by manual industry; improve

CULTIVA'TION, s. improvement in general

CU'POLA, s. a dome

CU'RFEW, s. an evening peal, by which the Conqueror willed that every man should rake up his fire and put out his light

CURIO'SITY, s. inquisitiveness; nice experiment; an object of curiosity; rarity

CU'RIOUS, a. inquisitive; desirous of information; difficult to please; diligent about; elegant; neat; artful

CU'RRENT, a. passing from hand to hand; authoritative; common; what is now passing

CU'STOM, s. habit; fashion; practice of buying of certain persons

CY'MBAL, s. a kind of musical instrument

CY'PRESS, s. a tall straight tree. It is the emblem of mourning

DALMA'TIA, s. a province of Austria

DALMA'TIAN, a. belonging to Dalmatia

DA'MAGE, s. mischief; hurt; loss

DA'NGER, s. risk; hazard; peril

DA'NGEROUS, a. hazardous; perilous

DA'STARDLY, ad. cowardly; mean; timorous

DA'UNTED, a. discouraged

DECE'PTION, s. the act or means of deceiving; cheat; fraud; the state of being deceived

DECLI'NE, v.a. shun; avoid; refuse; bring down

DE'CORATE, v.a. adorn; embellish; beautify

DECORA'TION, s. ornament; added beauty

DE'DICATE, v.a. to inscribe

DEFA'CE, v. a destroy; raze; ruin; disfigure

DEFE'CTIVE, a. wanting the just quantity; full of defects; imperfect; faulty

DEFE'NCE, s. guard; protection; resistance

DEFI'CIENCY, s. want; something less than is necessary; imperfection

DEGE'NERACY, s. departure from the virtue of our ancestors

DEGE'NERATE, a. unworthy; base

DE'ITY, s. divinity; the nature and essence of God; fabulous Rod; the supposed divinity of a heathen god

DE'LICACY, s. daintiness; softness; feminine beauty; nicety; gentle treatment; smallness

DE'LICATE, s fine; soft; pure; clear; unable to bear hardships; effeminate

DELI'CIOUS, a. sweet; delicate; agreeable

DELI'GHT, v.a. please; content; satisfy

DELI'NEATE, v.a. to paint; to represent; to describe

DELI'VER, v.a. set free; release; give; save; surrender

DE'LUGE, v.a. flood

DE'LUGE, v.a. drown; lay totally under water; overwhelm; cause to sink

DEME'ANOUR, s. carriage; behaviour

DEMO'LISH, v.a. raze; destroy; swallow up

DEMONSTRA'TION, s. the highest degree of argumental evidence

DENO'MINATE, v.a. to name anything

DEPA'RTMENT, s. separate allotment; province or business assigned to a particular person

DEPO'RTMENT, s carriage; bearing

DEPO'SIT, s. a pledge; anything given as a security

DEPO'SIT, v.a. lay up; lay aside

DEPRA'VITY, s. corruption

DE'PREDA'TION, s. a robbing; a spoiling; waste

DEPRI'VE, v.a. bereave one of a thing; hinder; debar from

DE'RVISE, s. a Turkish priest

DESCE'NDANT, s. the offspring of an ancestor

DESCRI'BE, v.a. mark out; define

DESCRI'PTION, s. the sentence or passage in which anything is described

DESCRY', v.a. give notice of anything suddenly discovered; detect; discover

DE'SERT, s. a wilderness; solitude; waste country

DESE'RVE, v.a. be entitled to reward or punishment

DESI'GN, s. an intention; a purpose; a scheme

DESIGNA'TION, s. appointment; direction; intention to design

DESI'RE, v.a. wish; long for; intreat

DE'SOLATE, a. without inhabitants; solitary; laid waste

DESPA'TCH, s. to send away hastily; to do business quickly; to put to death

DE'SPERATE, a. without hope; rash; mad; furious

DE'SPICABLE, a. worthy of scorn; contemptible

DESPI'SE, v.a. scorn; condemn; slight; abhor

DE'SPOTISM, s. absolute power

DESTINA'TION, s. the place where it was our destiny to go; fate; doom

DE'STINE, v.a. doom; devote

DE'STINY, s. doom; fate

DE'STITUTE, a. forsaken; abject; in want of

DESTRO'Y, v.a. lay waste; make desolate; put an end to

DESTRU'CTION, s. the act of destroying; the state of being destroyed; ruin

DETA'CH, v.a. separate; disengage

DETA'CHMENT, s. a body of troops sent out from the main army

DETE'R, v.a. fright from anything

DETERMINA'TION, s. absolute direction to a certain end; the result of deliberation; judicial decision

DETE'RMINE, v.a. fix; settle; resolve; decide

DETE'STABLE, a. hateful; abominable; odious

DETRA'CTION, s. the withdrawing or taking off from a thing

DETRU'DE, v.a. thrust down; force into a lower place

DEVASTA'TION, s. waste; havoc; desolation; destruction

DEVE'LOP, v.a. to disentangle; to disengage from something that enfolds and conceals

DEVIA'TION, s. the act of quitting the right way; wandering

DEVO'TE, v.a. dedicate; consecrate

DE'VOTEE, s. one erroneously or superstitiously religious; a bigot

DEVO'TION, s. piety; prayer; strong affection; power

DE'XTEROUS, a. subtle; full of expedients; expert; active; ready

DIABO'LICAL, a. devilish

DI'ADEM, s. the mark of Royalty worn on the head

DI'AL, s. a plate marked with lines, where a hand or shadow shows the hour

DI'ALECT, s. subdivision of a language; style; manner of expression

DI'ALOGUE, s. a discussion between two persons

DIA'METER, s. the straight line which, passing through the centre of a circle, divides it into two equal parts

DI'AMOND, s. the most valuable and hardest of all the gems; a brilliant

DI'FFER, v.n. be distinguished from; contend; be of a contrary opinion

DI'FFERENT, a. distinct; unlike; dissimilar

DIFFICULTY, s. hardness; something hard to accomplish; distress; perplexity in affairs

DI'GNITY, s. rank of elevation; grandeur of mien; high place

DILA'TE, v n. widen; grow wide; speak largely

DI'LIGENCE, s. industry; assiduity

DIMI'NISH, v.a. to make less

DIMI'NUTIVE, a. small; narrow; contracted

DIRE'CT, v.a. aim at a straight line; regulate; order; command; adjust; mark out a certain course

DIRE'CTION, s. tendency of motion impressed by a certain impulse; order; command; prescription

DIRE'CTLY, ad. immediately; apparently; in a straight line

DISAGRE'EABLE, a. unpleasing; offensive

DISA'STROUS, a. calamitous

DISCI'PLE, s. a scholar; one that professes to receive instruction from another

DISCIPLINE, s. education; the art of cultivating the mind; a state of subjection

DISCONCE'RT, v.a. unsettle the mind; discompose

DISCOU'RAGE, v.a. depress; deprive of confidence

DISCO'VER, v.a. disclose; bring to light; find out

DISCO'VERY, s. the act of finding anything hidden

DISCRI'MINATION, s. the state of being distinguished from other persons or things; the mark of distinction

DISHO'NOUR, s. reproach; disgrace; ignominy

DISLO'DGE, v.a. to go to another place; to drive or remove from a place

DISMA'NTLE, v.a. strip; deprive of a dress; strip a town of its outworks; loose

DISMA'Y, s. fall of courage; desertion of mind

DISOBE'DIENCE, s. the act of disobeying; inattention to the words of those who have right to command

DISO'RDER, s. irregularity; tumult; sickness

DISPA'RAGEMENT, s. reproach; disgrace; indignity

DISPLA'Y, v.a. exhibit; talk without restraint

DISPOSI'TION, s. order; method; temper of mind

DISQUI'ETUDE, s. uneasiness

DI'SREGARD, v.a. to slight; to neglect

DI'SSIPATE, v.a. scatter every way; disperse; scatter the attention

DISSO'LVE, v.n. be melted; fall to nothing

DISTANCE, s. remoteness in place; retraction of kindness; reserve

DISTE'MPER, s. disease; malady; bad constitution of the mind

DISTI'NCTION, s. the act of discerning one as preferable to the other; note of difference; honourable note of superiority; discernment

DISTINCTLY, ad. not confusedly; plainly; clearly

DISTRE'SS, s. calamity; misery; misfortune

DISTRI'BUTE, v.a. to deal out; to dispensate

DI'STRICT, s. region; country; territory

DIVE'RGE, v.n. send various ways from one point

DIVE'RSIFY, v.a. make different from another

DIVE'RSION, s. the act of turning anything off from its course

DIVE'RSITY, s. difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness; variety

DIVI'DE, v.a. part one whole in different pieces; separate; deal out

DI'VIDEND, s. a share

DO'CILE, a. teachable; easily instructed; tractable

DOMA'IN, s. dominion; possession; estate; empire

DOME'STIC, a. belonging to the house; private

DOME'STICATE, v.a. make domestic; withdraw from the public

DOMI'NION, s. sovereign authority; power; territory

DO'RSAL, a. pertaining to the back

DO'UBLE, a. two of a sort; in pairs; twice as much

DRAMA'TIC, a. representable by action

DRA'MATIST, s. author of dramatic compositions

DRAW'INGROOM, s. a room to which company withdraw—originally withdrawing-room

DRE'ADFUL, a. terrible; frightful

DRE'ARINESS, s. gloominess; sorrowfulness

DRE'ARY, a. sorrowful; gloomy; dismal; horrid

DU'CAT, s. a coin struck by Dukes; in silver valued at about four shillings and sixpence, in gold at nine shillings and sixpence

DURA'TION, s. power of continuance; length of continuance

DU'RING, prep. for the time of the continuance

EA'RLY, ad. soon; betimes

EA'RTHQUAKE, s. tremour or convulsion of the earth

EA'STERN, a. belonging to the east; lying to the east; oriental

EA'SY, a. not difficult; ready; contented; at rest

ECLI'PSE, s. an obscuration of the heavenly luminaries; darkness; obscuration

ECO'NOMY, s. frugality; discretion of expense; system of matter

E'DIFICE, s. a fabric; a building

EDI'TION, s. publication of anything, particularly of a book

EDUCA'TION, s. formation of manners in youth

EFFE'CT, s. that which is produced by an operating cause; success; purpose; meaning; consequence

EFFE'CTUAL, a. productive of effects; expressive of facts

EFFE'MINACY, s. softness; unmanly delicacy

E'FFLUENCE, s. what issues from some other principle

E'FFULGENCE, s. lustre; brightness; splendour

EFFU'SE, v.a. to pour out; to spill, to shed

EJA'CULATION, s. an exclamation

ELA'BORATE, a. finished with care

ELE'CTRIC, a. relating to electricity

ELE'CTRO-MA'GNETISM, s. a branch of electrical science

E'LEGANCE, s. beauty, rather soothing than striking; beauty without grandeur

E'LEGY, s. a mournful song; short poem without points or turns

E'LEPHANT, s. a large quadruped

E'LEVA'TED, a. exalted; raised up; progressed in rank

ELEVA'TION, s. the act of raising up aloft; exaltation

ELOCU'TION, s. the power of fluent speech; the power of expression; eloquence; flow of language

E'LOQUENCE, s. the power or speaking with fluency and elegance

ELU'DE, v.a. to mock by unexpected escape

E'MANATE, v.a. to issue; to flow from something else

EMBA'LM, v.a. impregnate a body with aromatics, that it may resist putrefaction

EMBA'RK, v.n. to go on board a ship; to engage in any affair

EMBROI'DERY, s. variegated work; figures raised upon a ground

E'MERALD, s. a precious stone of a green colour

EME'RGE, v.n. to issue; to proceed; to rise

EME'RGENCY, s. the act of rising into view; any sudden occasion; pressing necessity

E'MINENCE, s. loftiness; height; summit; distinction

E'MINENT, a. celebrated; renowned

EMI'T, v.a. to send forth; to let fly; to dart

EMO'LUMENT, s. profit; advantage

E'MPEROR, s. a monarch of title and dignity superior to a king

EMPLO'Y, v.a. busy; keep at work; use as materials; trust with the management of any affairs; use as means

E'MULATE, v.a. to vie

EMULA'TION, s. rivalry; desire of superiority

ENA'BLE, v.a. make able; confer power

ENCA'MPMENT, s. the act of encamping or pitching tents; a camp

ENCHA'NTMENT, s. magical charms; spells; irresistible influence

ENCI'RCLING, a. environing; surrounding

ENCLO'SE, v.a. part from things or grounds common by a fence; surround; encompass

ENCOU'NTER, v.a. meet face to face; attack

ENCRO'ACHMENT, s. an unlawful gathering in upon another man; advance into the territories or rights of another

ENDA'NGER, v.a. put in hazard; incur the danger of

ENDU'RANCE, s. continuance; lastingness; delay

E'NEMY, s. foe; antagonist; any one who regards another with malevolence

ENERGE'TIC, a. operative; active; vigorous

E'NERGY, s. activity; quickness; vigour

ENGA'GE, v.a. employ; stake; unite; enlist; induce; fight

ENGINE'ER, s. one who manages engines; one who directs the artillery of an army

ENGRA'VER, s. a cutter in wood or other matter

ENGRA'VING, s. the work of an engraver

ENGRO'SS, v.a thicken; increase in bulk; fatten; to copy in a large hand

ENJO'Y, v.a. feel or perceive with pleasure; please; delight

ENLA'RGEMENT, s. increase; copious discourse

ENNO'BLE, v.a. to dignify; to exalt; to make famous