word, worde

[A. S. word; cogn. with Dut. woord; Icel. ordh (for vord ); Dan. & Sw.ord; Ger. wort: Goth.waurd; Lat. verbum; Lithuan.ward as =a name. Word and verb are doublets.]. 1. A single articulate sound or a combination of articulate sounds or syllables uttered by the human voice, and by custom expre ing an idea or ideas; a vocable; a term; a single component part of a language or of human speech; a constituent part of a sentence. "Upon a nearer approach, I find that there is so close a connection between ideas and words ; and our abstract ideas and general words have so constant a relation one to another, that it is impo ible to speak clearly and distinctly of our knowledge, which all consists in propositions, without considering, first the nature, use, and signification of language."- Locke : Hum. Understanding, bk. ii., ch. xxxiii. 2. The letter, or letters, or other characters, writ ten or printed, which represent such a vocable. 3. ( Pl .): Speech, language. "Speak fair words." -Shakesp.: Venus and Adonis, 208. 4. Speech exchanged; conversation, discourse, talk. "The friars and you must have a word anon." Shakesp.: Measure for Measure, v. 5. Communication, information, tidings, me age, account (without an article, and only in the singu lar). "To send him word , they'll meet him." Shakesp.: Merry Wives, iv. 4. 6. A term or phrase of command; an order, an injunction, a direction, a command. "Brutus gave the word too early." Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, v. 3. 7. A pa word, a watchword, a signal, a motto; a distinctive or important term or phrase adopted as a signal or a shibboleth. "Now to my word , It is 'Adieu." Shakesp.: Hamlet , i. 5. 8. A term or phrase implying or containing an a ertion, declaration, promise, or the like, which involves the faith or honor of the utterer of it; a urance, promise, affirmation. (With po e ive pronouns.) "No, by my word ; a burly groom He seems."- Scott : Lady of the Lake , v. 19. *9. A brief or pithy remark or saying; a proverb, a motto. "The old word is, 'What the eye views not the heart rues not."- Bp . Hall. chin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; IMG:content-1014.png:[blocks in formation] "Calling him a word - and -a-blow man." - Mrs. Trollope : Michael Armstrong , ch. iv. 2. By word of mouth : By actual speaking; orally; viva voce. 3. Good word, *Good words : Favorable account or mention; commendation, praise; expre ed good opinion. "To speak a good word to Mistre Anne Page for my master."-Shakesp.: Merry Wives, i. 4. 4. In a word, In one word : In one short sentence; briefly; in short; to sum up; in fine. " In a word He is complete in feature and in mind." Shakesp.: Two Gentlemen , ii. 4. *5. In word: In mere phraseology; in speech only; in mere seeming or profe ion. "Let us not love in word , neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."-1 John iii. 18. 6. The Word : (1) The Scriptures, or any part of them. "The sword and the word ! Do you study them both, master parson?"- Shakesp .: Merry Wives, iii. 1. (2) The second person of the Trinity; the Logos (q. v.). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."- John i. 1. 7. To eat one's words: To retract what one has said. "I will not eat my words." --Shakesp .: Much Ado , v. 4. 8. To have a word with a person: To have a conversation with him. "The generals would have some words." Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, v. 1. *9. With a word , At a word : In short; in a word. 10. Word for word : In the exact words or terms; verbatim, exactly; as, He repeated the me age word for word .