American Dictionary of the English Language

Dictionary Search

Websters Dictionary 1828


This online edition has been carefully prepared in a special format. All words, definitions, and examples have been preserved, but the explanations of word origins have been left out to make the data easier to use in a digital format. We have also removed Webster's long technical introduction for the same reason.

Scripture references have been converted to a modern format, and many abbreviations have been expanded to make them easier to understand.

Word of the Day

Scorch

SCORCH, verb transitive

1. To burn superficially; to subject to a degree of heat that changes the color of a thing, or both the color and texture of the surface. Fire will scorch linen or cotton very speedily in extremely cold weather.

2. To burn; to affect painfully with heat. Scorched with the burning sun or burning sands of Africa.

SCORCH, verb intransitive To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up.

Scatter a little mungy straw and fern among your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching.

First Occurrence in the Bible(KJV): Revelation 16:8