Webster 1913: 109
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Page 109
B
B (?) is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, ?? 196,220.) It is etymologically related to p , v , f , w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. pear; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It. gomito; Eng. seven, Anglo-Saxon seofon, Ger. sieben, Lat. septem, Gr., Sanskrit saptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from Greek B (Beta), of Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the capital B. In Music, B is the nominal of the seventh tone in the model major scale (the scale of C major ), or of the second tone in it's relative minor scale (that of A minor ) . B♭ stands for B flat, the tone a half step , or semitone, lower than B. In German, B stands for our B♭, while our B natural is called H (pronounced hä).
Baal
Ba"al (?), n.; Heb. pl. Baalim (). [Heb. ba'al lord.]
1. (Myth.) The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations. &hand; The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and elsewhere with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering to the different ideas of his character; as, Baal-berith (the Covenant Baal), Baal-zebub (Baal of the fly).
2. pl. The whole class of divinities to whom the name Baal was applied. Judges x. 6.
Baalism
Ba"al*ism (?), n. Worship of Baal; idolatry.
Baalist, Baalite
Ba"al*ist (?), Ba"al*ite (?), n. A worshiper of Baal; a devotee of any false religion; an idolater.
Baba
Ba"ba (?), n. [F.] A kind of plum cake.
Babbitt
Bab"bitt (?), v. t. To line with Babbitt metal.
Babbitt metal
Bab"bitt met`al (?). [From the inventor, Isaac Babbitt of Massachusetts.] A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a nine parts of tin to one of copper, or of fifty parts of tin to five of antimony and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish friction.
Babble
Bab"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babbled ();p. pr. & vb. n. Babbling.] [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying ba, imitative of a child learning to talk.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles.
2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words.
3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate.
4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones.
In every babbling he finds a friend. Wordsworth.
&hand; Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too noisy after having found a good scent. Syn. -- To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip.
Babble
Bab"ble, v. i.
1. To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat,as words, in a childish way without understanding.
These [words] he used to babble in all companies. Arbuthnot.
2. To disclose by too free talk, as a secret.
Babble
Bab"ble, n.
1. Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble; twaddle. This is mere moral babble." Milton.
2. Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
The babble of our young children. Darwin.
The babble of the stream. Tennyson.
Babblement
Bab"ble*ment (?), n. Babble. Hawthorne.
Babbler
Bab"bler (?), n.
1. An idle talker; an irrational prater; a teller of secrets.
Great babblers, or talkers, are not fit for trust. L'Estrange.
2. A hound too noisy on finding a good scent.
3. (Zoöl.) A name given to any one of family (Timalinæ) of thrushlike birds, having a chattering note.
Babblery
Bab"ble*ry (?), n. Babble. [Obs.] Sir T. More
Babe
Babe (?), n. [Cf. Ir. bab, baban, W. baban, maban.]
1. An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby.
2. A doll for children. Spenser.
Babehood
Babe"hood (?), n. Babyhood. [R.] Udall.
Babel
Ba"bel (?), n. [Heb. Bābel, the name of the capital of Babylonia; in Genesis associated with the idea of confusion"]
1. The city and tower in the land of Shinar, where the confusion of languages took place.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel. Gen. xi. 9.
2. Hence: A place or scene of noise and confusion; a confused mixture of sounds, as of voices or languages.
That babel of strange heathen languages. Hammond.
The grinding babel of the street. R. L. Stevenson.
Babery
Bab"er*y (?), n. [Perh. orig. for baboonery. Cf. Baboon, and also Babe.] Finery of a kind to please a child. [Obs.] Painted babery." Sir P. Sidney.
Babian, Babion
Ba"bi*an (?), Ba"bi*on (?), n. [See Baboon] A baboon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Babillard
Bab"il*lard (?), n. [F., a babbler.] (Zoöl.) The lesser whitethroat of Europe; -- called also babbling warbler.
Babingtonite
Bab"ing*ton*ite (?), n. [From Dr. Babbington.] (Min.) A mineral occurring in triclinic crystals approaching pyroxene in angle, and of a greenish black color. It is a silicate of iron, manganese, and lime.
Babiroussa, Babirussa
Bab`i*rous"sa, Bab`i*rus"sa (), n. [F. babiroussa, fr.Malay bābī hog + rsa deer.] (Zoöl.) A large hoglike quadruped (Sus, or Porcus, babirussa) of the East Indies, sometimes domesticated; the Indian hog. Its upper canine teeth or tusks are large and recurved.
Babish
Bab"ish (?), a. Like a babe; a childish; babyish. [R.] Babish imbecility." Drayton. -- Bab"ish*ly, adv. -- Bab"ish*ness, n. [R.]
Babism
Bab"ism (?), n. [From Bab (Pers. bab a gate), the title assumed by the founder, Mirza Ali Mohammed.] The doctrine of a modern religious sect, which originated in Persia in 1843, being a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian, Jewish and Parsee elements.
Babist
Bab"ist, n. A believer in Babism.
Bablah
Bab"lah (?), n. [Cf. Per. babl a species of mimosa yielding gum arabic.] The ring of the fruit of several East Indian species of acacia; neb-neb. It contains gallic acid and tannin, and is used for dyeing drab.
Baboo, Babu
Ba"boo, Ba"bu (?), n. [Hind. bāb ] A Hindoo gentleman; native clerk who writes English; also, a Hindoo title answering to Mr. or Esquire. Whitworth.
Baboon
Bab*oon" (?), n. [OE. babewin, baboin, fr.F. babouin, or LL. babewynus. Of unknown origin; cf. D. baviaan, G. pavian, baboon, F. babin lip of ape, dogs, etc., dial. G. bäppe mouth.] (Zoöl.) One of the Old World Quadrumana, of the genera Cynocephalus and Papio; the dog-faced ape. Baboons have dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks. They are mostly African. See Mandrill, and Chacma, and Drill an ape.
Baboonery
Bab*oon"ery (?), n. Baboonish behavior. Marryat.
Baboonish
Bab*oon"ish, a. Like a baboon.
Baby
Ba"by (?), n.; pl. Babies. [Dim. of babe] An infant or young child of either sex; a babe.
2. A small image of an infant; a doll. Babies in the eyes, the minute reflection which one sees of one's self in the eyes of another.
She clung about his neck, gave him ten kisses, Toyed with his locks, looked babies in his eyes. Heywood.
Baby
Ba"by, a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an infant; young or little; as, baby swans. Baby figure" Shak.
Baby
Ba"by, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babied (); p. pr. & vb. n.Babying.] To treat like a young child; to keep dependent; to humor; to fondle. Young.
Baby farm
Ba"by farm` (?). A place where the nourishment and care of babies are offered for hire.
Baby farmer
Ba"by farm`er (?). One who keeps a baby farm.
Baby farming
Ba"by farm`ing. The business of keeping a baby farm.
Babyhood
Ba"by*hood (?), n. The state or period of infancy.
Babyhouse
Ba"by*house` (?), a. A place for children's dolls and dolls' furniture. Swift.
Babyish
Ba"by*ish, a. Like a baby; childish; puerile; simple. -- Ba"by*ish*ly, adv. -- Ba"by*ish*ness, n.
Babyism
Ba"by*ism (?), n.
1. The state of being a baby.
2. A babyish manner of acting or speaking.
Baby jumper
Ba"by jump`er (?). A hoop suspended by an elastic strap, in which a young child may be held secure while amusing itself by jumping on the floor.
Babylonian
Bab`y*lo"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the real or to the mystical Babylon, or to the ancient kingdom of Babylonia; Chaldean.
Babylonian
Bab`y*lo"ni*an, n.
1. An inhabitant of Babylonia (which included Chaldea); a Chaldean.
2. An astrologer; -- so called because the Chaldeans were remarkable for the study of astrology.
Babylonic, Babylonical
Bab`y*lon"ic (?), Bab`y*lon"ic*al (?), a.
1. Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as Babylonic garments,carpets, or hangings.
2. Tumultuous; disorderly. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.
Babylonish
Bab"y*lo`nish (?), n.
1. Of or pertaining to, or made in, Babylon or Babylonia. A Babylonish garment." Josh. vii. 21.
2. Pertaining to the Babylon of Revelation xiv.8.
3. Pertaining to Rome and papal power. [Obs.]
The . . . injurious nickname of Babylonish. Gape.
4. Confused; Babel-like. ==Babyroussa, [[Babyrussa Bab`y*rous"sa, Bab`y*rus"sa (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Babyroussa.
Babyship
Ba"by*ship (?), n. The quality of being a baby; the personality of an infant.
Bac
Bac (?), n. [F. See Back a vat]
1. A broad, flatbottomed ferryboat, usually worked by a rope.
2. A vat or cistern. See 1st Back.
Baccalaureate
Bac"ca*lau"re*ate (?), n. [NL. baccalaureatus, fr.LL. baccalaureus a bachelor of arts, fr. baccalarius, but as if fr L. bacca lauri bayberry, from the practice of the bachelor's wearing a garland of bayberries. See Bachelor.]
1. The degree of bachelor of arts. (B.A. or A.B.), the first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges.
2. A baccalaureate sermon. [U.S.]
Baccalaureate
Bac`ca*lau"re*ate, a. Pertaining to a bachelor of arts. Baccalaureate sermon, in some American colleges, a sermon delivered as a farewell discourse to a graduating class.
Baccara, Baccarat
Bac`ca*ra", Bac`ca*rat" (?), n. [F.] A French game of cards, played by a banker and punters.
Baccare, Backare
Bac*ca"re, Bac*ka"re (?), interj. Stand back! give place! -- a cant word of the Elizabethan writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a knowledge of Latin which he did not possess.
Baccare! you are marvelous forward. Shak.
Baccate
Bac"cate (?), a. [L. baccatus, fr. L. bacca berry.] (Bot.) Pulpy throughout, like a berry; -- said of fruits. Gray.
Baccated
Bac"ca*ted (?), a.
1. Having many berries.
2. Set or adorned with pearls. [Obs.]
Bacchanal
Bac"cha*nal (?), a. [L. Bacchanalis. See Bacchanalia.]
1. Relating to Bacchus or his festival.
2. Engaged in drunken revels; drunken and riotous or noisy.
Bacchanal
Bac"cha*nal (?), n.
1. A devotee of Bacchus; one who indulges in drunken revels; one who is noisy and riotous when intoxicated; a carouser. Tipsy bacchanals." Shak.
2. pl. The festival of Bacchus; the bacchanalia.
3. Drunken revelry; an orgy.
4. A song or dance in honor of Bacchus.
Bacchanalia
Bac`cha*na"li*a (?), n. pl. [L. Bacchanal a place devoted to Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchus the god of wine, Gr. ]
1. (Myth.) A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.
2. Hence: A drunken feast; drunken reveler.
Bacchanalian
Bac`cha*na"li*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness.
Even bacchanalian madness has its charms. Cowper.
Bacahanalian
Bac`aha*na"li*an, n. A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
Bacchanalianism
Bac`cha*na"li*an*ism (?), n. The practice of bacchanalians; bacchanals; drunken revelry.
Bacchant
Bac"chant (?), n.; pl. E. Bacchants, L. Bacchantes. [L. bacchans, -antis, p. pr. of bacchari to celebrate the festival of Bacchus.]
1. A priest of Bacchus.
2. A bacchanal; a reveler. Croly.
Bacchant
Bac"chant, a. Bacchanalian; fond of drunken revelry; wine-loving; reveling; carousing. Byron.
Bacchante
Bac"chante (?), n.; L. pl. Bacchantes.
1. A priestess of Bacchus.
2. A female bacchanal.
Bacchantic
Bac*chan"tic (?), a. Bacchanalian.
Bacchic, Bacchical
Bac"chic (?), Bac"chic*al (?), a. [L. Bacchicus, Gr. ] Of or relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial, or riotous,with intoxication.
Bacchius
Bac*chi"us (?), n.; pl. Bacchii. [L. Bacchius pes, Gr. (sc. foot).] (Pros.) A metrical foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones; according to some, two long and a short.
Bacchus
Bac"chus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ] (Myth.) The god of wine, son of Jupiter and Semele.
Bacciferous
Bac*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. baccifer; bacca berry + ferre to bear] Producing berries. Bacciferous trees." Ray.
Bacciform
Bac"ci*form (?), a. [L. bacca berry + -form. ] Having the form of a berry.
Baccivorous
Bac*civ"o*rous (?), a. [L. bacca berry + varare to devour.] (Zoöl.) Eating, or subsisting on, berries; as, baccivorous birds.
Bace
Bace (?), n., a., & v. See Base. [Obs.] Spenser.
Bacharach, Backarack
Bach"a*rach, Back"a*rack (?), n. A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine.
Bacheelor
Bache"e*lor (?), n. [OF. bacheler young man, F. bachelier (cf.Pr. bacalar, Sp.bachiller, Pg. bacharel, It. baccalare), LL. baccalarius the tenant of a kind of farm called baccalaria, a soldier not old or rich enough to lead his retainers into battle with a banner, person of an inferior academical degree aspiring to a doctorate. In the latter sense, it was afterward changed to baccalaureus. See Baccalaureate, n.]
1. A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. W. Irving.
2. An unmarried woman. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
