GRIND, gr[=i]nd, _v.t._ to reduce to powder by friction: to wear down or
sharpen by rubbing: to rub together: to oppress or harass: to set in motion
by a crank.--_v.i._ to be moved or rubbed together: to drudge at any
tedious task: to read hard:--_pr.p._ gr[=i]nd'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
ground.--_n._ hard or distasteful work: laborious study for a special
examination, &c.--_ns._ GRIND'ER, he who, or that which, grinds: a double
or jaw tooth that grinds food: a coach or crammer of students for
examination: a hard student; GRIND'ERY, a place where knives, &c., are
ground, or where they are sold: shoemakers' materials; GRIND'ING, act or
process of reducing to powder.--_p.adj._ harassing.--_n._ GRIND'STONE, a
circular revolving stone for grinding or sharpening tools.--KEEP ONE'S NOSE
TO THE GRINDSTONE, to subject one to severe continuous toil or
punishment.--TAKE A GRINDER (_Dickens_), to put the left thumb to the nose,
and to work a visionary coffee-mill round it with the right--a gesture of
contempt. [A.S. _grindan_.]
GRINGO, gring'g[=o], _n._ an Englishman or American among Spanish-speaking
Americans. [Sp. 'gibberish,' prob. _Griego_, Greek.]
GRIP, grip, _n._ a small ditch or trench, a drain.--Also GRIPE. [M. E.
_grip_, _grippe_; cf. Low Ger. _gruppe_.]
GRIP, grip, _n._ grasp or firm hold with the hand, &c.: the handle or part
by which anything is grasped: a mode of grasping, a particular mode of
grasping hands for mutual recognition, as by Freemasons: a clutching device
connecting a car with a moving traction-cable: oppression: pinching
distress.--_v.t._ to take fast hold of, to grasp or gripe:--_pr.p._
grip'ping; _pa.p._ gripped, gript.--_v.t._ GR[=I]PE, to grasp with the
hand: to seize and hold fast: to squeeze: to give pain to the bowels.--_n._
fast hold, grasp: forcible retention: a griffin: a usurer: (_pl._) severe
spasmodic pain in the intestines.--_n._ GR[=I]P'ER.--_p.adj._ GR[=I]P'ING,
avaricious: of a pain that catches or seizes acutely.--_adv._
GR[=I]P'INGLY, in a griping or oppressive manner.--_ns._ GRIPPE, influenza
or epidemic catarrh; GRIP'PER, one who, or that which, grips.--_adj._
GRIP'PLE (_Spens._), griping, grasping: greedy.--_n._ a gripe.--_n._
GRIP'-SACK, a hand-satchel.--LOSE ONE'S GRIP, to lose hold or control.
[A.S. _grípan_, _grap_, _gripen_; Ice. _grípa_, Ger. _grei'fen_, Dut.
_grijpen_; allied to grab.]
GRIQUA, grek'wa, _n._ one of a mixed race in South Africa, descended from
Boer fathers and Hottentot or Bush women.
GRISAILLE, gr[=e]-z[=a]l', _n._ a style of decorative painting in grayish
tints in imitation of bas-reliefs: a stained-glass window in this style.
[Fr.,--_gris_, gray.]
GRIS-AMBER, gris'-am'b[.e]r, _n._ (_Milt._)--ambergris.
GRISE, GRIZE. See GREE (_2_).
GRISELDA, gris-el'da, _n._ a woman of exemplary gentleness and patience,
from the name of the heroine of a tale retold by Boccaccio, Petrarch, and
Chaucer (_Clerkes Tale_).
GRISEOUS, gris'[=e]-us, _adj._ bluish-gray.
GRISETTE, gri-zet', _n._ a gay young Frenchwoman of the lower class. [Fr.
_grisette_, a gray gown, which used to be worn by that class--_gris_,
gray.]
GRISKIN, gris'kin, _n._ (_prov._) the spine of a hog. [Obs. _gris_,
_grice_, a pig--Ice. _griss_, a young pig.]
GRISLED, griz'ld. Same as GRIZZLED.
GRISLY, griz'li, _adj._ frightful: hideous.--_n._ GRIS'LINESS. [A.S.
_gryslíc_, _ágrísan_, to dread; Ger. _grässlich_.]
GRIST, grist, _n._ corn for grinding at one time: supply: profit.--_n._
GRIST'-MILL, a mill for grinding grain.--Bring grist to the mill, to be a
source of profit. [A.S. _grist_, _gerst_, a grinding; from root of
_grind_.]
GRISTLE, gris'l, _n._ a soft elastic substance in animal bodies--also
called _Cartilage_.--_n._ GRIST'LINESS.--_adj._ GRIST'LY. [A.S.
_gristle_--_grist_, grinding.]
GRIT, grit, _n._ the coarse part of meal: gravel: a kind of hard sandstone:
firmness of character, spirit: (_pl._) oats coarsely ground, groats.--_ns._
GRIT'STONE; GRIT'TINESS.--_adj._ GRIT'TY, having hard particles: sandy:
determined, plucky. [A.S. _greót_; Dut. _grut_, groats, Ger. _gries_,
gravel.]
GRIT, grit, a Scotch form of _great_.
GRIZE. See GREE (2).
GRIZZLE, griz'l, _n._ a gray colour.--_adjs._ GRIZZ'LED, gray, or mixed
with gray; GRIZZ'LY, of a gray colour.--_n._ the grizzly bear (_Ursus
horribilis_) of the Rocky Mountains. [M. E. _grisel_--Fr. _gris_,
gray--Mid. High Ger. _grís_, gray, Ger. _greis_.]
GROAN, gr[=o]n, _v.i._ to utter a moaning sound in distress: (_fig._) to be
afflicted: to express disapprobation of a speaker by means of audible
groans or similar sounds.--_n._ a deep moaning sound as of distress: a
sound of disapprobation.--_adj._ GROAN'FUL (_Spens._), sad,
agonising.--_n._ GROAN'ING, a deep moan as of pain: any low rumbling sound.
[A.S. _gránian_.]
GROAT, grawt, or gr[=o]t, _n._ an English silver coin, worth
fourpence--only coined after 1662 as Maundy money--the silver
fourpenny-piece, coined from 1836-56, was not called a groat: a very small
sum, proverbially. [Old Low Ger. _grote_, a coin of Bremen--orig. _grote
sware_, 'great pennies,' as compared with the smaller copper coins, five to
the groat.]
GROATS, gr[=o]ts, _n.pl._ the grain of oats deprived of the husks. [M. E.
_grotes_, prob. Ice. _grautr_, barley; cog. with A.S. _grút_, coarse meal.]
GROBIAN, gr[=o]'bi-an, _n._ a boorish rude fellow. [Ger. _grob_, coarse;
cf. _gruff_--Dut. _grof_.]
GROCER, gr[=o]s'[.e]r, _n._ a dealer in tea, sugar, &c.--_n._ GROC'ERY
(generally used in _pl._), articles sold by grocers. [Earlier _grosser_ or
_engrosser_, a wholesale dealer; O. Fr. _grossier_--_gros_, great.]
GROG, grog, _n._ a mixture of spirits and cold water, without sugar.--_ns._
GROG'-BLOSS'OM, a redness of the nose due to drinking; GROG'GERY (_U.S._),
a low public-house; GROG'GINESS, state of being groggy; GROG'GING,
extracting the spirit from the wood of empty spirit-casks with
water.--_adj._ GROG'GY, affected by grog, partially intoxicated: (_boxing_)
weak and staggering from blows: applied to a horse that bears wholly on his
heels in trotting.--_n._ GROG'-SHOP, a dram-shop. [From 'Old Grog,' the
nickname of Admiral Vernon, who introduced it about 1745--from his
_grogram_ breeches.]
GROGRAM, grog'ram, _n._ a kind of coarse cloth of silk and mohair. [O. Fr.
_grosgrain_.]
GROIN, groin, _n._ the part of the body on either side of the belly where
the thigh joins the trunk: (_archit._) the angular curve formed by the
crossing of two arches.--_v.t._ to form into groins, to build in
groins.--_n._ GROIN'-CEN'TRING, the centring of timber during
construction.--_adj._ GROINED, having angular curves made by the
intersection of two arches.--_n._ GROIN'ING.--UNDERPITCH GROINING, a kind
of vaulting used when the main vault of a groined roof is higher than the
transverse intersecting vault, as in St George's Chapel, Windsor--sometimes
called _Welsh groining_. [Ice. _grein_, division, branch--greina, to
divide; Sw. _gren_, branch, space between the legs; Scot. _graine_,
_grane_, the branch of a tree or river.]
GROIN, groin, _v.i._ (_obs._) to grunt, to growl. [O. Fr. _grogner_--L.
_grunn[=i]re_, to grunt.]
GROLIER, gr[=o]'lye, _n._ a book or a binding from the library of the
French bibliophile, Jean _Grolier_ (1479-1565).--_adj._ GROLIERESQUE',
after the style of Grolier's bindings, with geometrical or arabesque
figures and leaf-sprays in gold lines.
GROMMET, grom'et, _n._ a ring formed of a single strand of rope, laid in
three times round, fastening the upper edge of a sail to its stay: a
ship-boy. [O. Fr.]
GROMWELL, grom'wel, _n._ a herb of the borage family. [O. Fr. _grumel_--L.
_grumulus_, a hillock.]
GROOM, gr[=oo]m, _n._ one who has the charge of horses: a title of several
officers of the royal household: a bridegroom.--_v.t._ to tend, as a
horse.--_n._ GROOMS'MAN, the attendant on a bridegroom at his marriage.
[Prob. from A.S. _guma_ (in bride_groom_), a man, Goth. _guma_, Ice.
_gumi_, L. _homo_.]
GROOVE, gr[=oo]v, _n._ a furrow, or long hollow, such as is cut with a
tool.--_v.t._ to grave or cut a groove or furrow in. [Prob. Dut. _groef_,
_groeve_, a furrow; cog. with Ger. _grube_, a pit, Ice. _gróf_, Eng.
_grave_.]
GROPE, gr[=o]p, _v.i._ to search for something, as if blind or in the
dark.--_v.t._ to search by feeling.--_adv._ GROP'INGLY, in a groping
manner. [A.S. _grápian_, to seize; allied to _grab_, _gripe_.]
GROSBEAK, gr[=o]s'b[=e]k, _n._ a name applied to not a few highly
specialised finches (_Fringillidæ_), with thick, heavy, seed-crushing
bills--also to many other birds, as the cardinal grosbeaks and the
rose-breasted grosbeak. [_Gross_ and _beak_.]
GROSCHEN, gr[=o]'shen, _n._ a small silver coin till 1873-76 current in the
north of Germany, in value 1/30th of a thaler. [Ger.,--L. _grossus_,
thick.]
GROSER, gr[=o]'ser, _n._ (_prov._) a gooseberry--(_Scot._)
GROS'SART.--_adj._ GROSSUL[=A]'CEOUS, pertaining to the gooseberry. [See
GOOSEBERRY.]
GROSS, gr[=o]s, _adj._ coarse: rough: dense: palpable, glaring, shameful:
whole: coarse in mind: stupid: sensual: obscene.--_n._ the main bulk: the
whole taken together: a great hundred--i.e. twelve dozen.--_adv._
GROSS'LY.--_n._ GROSS'NESS.--IN GROSS, in bulk, wholesale. [Fr. _gros_--L.
_grossus_, thick.]
GROTESQUE, gr[=o]-tesk', _adj._ extravagantly formed: ludicrous.--_n._
(_art_) extravagant ornament, containing animals, plants, &c. not really
existing.--_adv._ GROTESQUE'LY.--_ns._ GROTESQUE'NESS; GROTESQU'ERY. [Fr.
_grotesque_--It. _grotesca_--_grotta_, a grotto.]
GROTIAN, gr[=o]'shi-an, _adj._ of or pertaining to Hugo _Grotius_
(1583-1645), the Latinised form of Huig van _Groot_, founder of the science
of international law.--GROTIAN THEORY, the theory that man is essentially a
social being, and that the principles of justice are of perpetual
obligation and in harmony with his nature; GROTIAN, or GOVERNMENTAL, THEORY
OF THE ATONEMENT, a divine acquittal for Christ's sake, rather than a real
satisfaction on the part of Christ.
GROTTO, grot'[=o], _n._ a cave: a place of shade, for pleasure--also
GROT:--_pl._ GROTT'OS--_n._ GROTT'O-WORK, a grotto-like structure. [It.
_grotta_ (Fr. _grotte_)--L. _crypta_--Gr. _krypt[=e]_, a crypt.]
GROUND, grownd, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _grind_.
GROUND, grownd, _n._ the surface of the earth: a portion of the earth's
surface: land, field, soil: the floor, &c.: position: field or place of
action: (_lit._ or _fig._) that on which something is raised: foundation:
sufficient reason: (_art_) the surface on which the figures are
represented.--_v.t._ to fix on a foundation or principle: to instruct in
first principles: to cover with a layer of plaster, &c., as a basis for
painting: to coat with a composition, as a surface to be etched.--_v.i._ to
strike the bottom and remain fixed.--_ns._ GROUND'AGE, the tax paid by a
ship for the space occupied while in port; GROUND'-ANG'LING, fishing
without a float, with a weight placed a few inches from the hook--called
also _Bottom-fishing_; GROUND'-ASH, a sapling of ash; GROUND'-BAIT, bait
dropped to the bottom of the water.--_adv._ GROUND'EDLY (_Browning_), on
good grounds.--_ns._ GROUND'ER, at baseball, &c., a ball thrown low rather
than rising into the air; GROUND'-FLOOR, the floor of a house on a level
with the street or exterior ground; GROUND'-GAME, hares, rabbits, as
distinguished from winged game; GROUND'-HOG, the American marmot, or
woodchuck: the aardvark of Africa; GROUND'-HOLD (_Spens._), ground-tackle;
GROUND-ICE, the ice formed at the bottom of a water first--also
AN'CHOR-ICE; GROUND'ING, the background of embroidery, &c.;
GROUND'-[=I]'VY, a common British creeping-plant whose leaves were once
used for flavouring ale (_gill-ale_ or _gell-ale_).--_adj._ GROUND'LESS,
without ground, foundation, or reason.--_adv._ GROUND'LESSLY.--_ns._
GROUND'LESSNESS; GROUND'LING, a fish which keeps near the bottom of the
water, esp. the spinous loach: a spectator in the pit of a theatre---hence
one of the common herd: (_pl._) the vulgar.--_adj._ (_Lamb_) base.--_ns._
GROUND'-NUT, ground-bean, or pea-nut, the fruit of the annual leguminous
plant _Arachis hypogæa_; GROUND'-OAK, a sapling of oak; GROUND'-PLAN, plan
of the horizontal section of the lowest or ground story of a building:
GROUND'-PLOT, the plot of ground on which a building stands; GROUND'-RENT,
rent paid to a landlord for the use of the ground for a specified term,
usually in England ninety-nine years.--_n.pl._ GROUNDS, dregs of drink:
sediment at the bottom of liquors (explained by Skeat as Celtic--Gael.
_grunndas_, lees, _grunnd_, bottom, Ir. _gruntas_, _grunnt_,
bottom).--_ns._ GROUND'SELL, GROUND'SILL, the timber of a building which
lies next to the ground; GROUND-SQUIRR'EL, the chipmuck or hackee;
GROUND'-SWELL, a broad, deep undulation of the ocean, proceeding from a
distant storm; GROUND'-TACK'LE, the tackle necessary for securing a vessel
at anchor; GROUND'WORK, that which forms the ground or foundation of
anything: the basis: the essential part: the first principle.--GROUND
ANNUAL, in the law of Scotland, an annual payment, sometimes called a
rent-charge, made for land--a substitute for feu-duty.--BE ON ONE'S OWN
GROUND, to be dealing with a matter in which one is specially versed; BREAK
GROUND, to take the first step in any project; FALL TO THE GROUND, to come
to nothing; GAIN GROUND, to advance, to obtain an advantage; GIVE GROUND,
to yield advantage; LOSE GROUND, to retire, to lose advantage; SLIPPERY
GROUND, an insecure footing; STAND, or HOLD, ONE'S GROUND, to stand firm.
[A.S. _grund_; most prob. _grund-en_, pa.p. of _grindan_, and orig. meaning
'earth ground small;' cog. with Ger. _grund_, Ice. _grunnr_.]
GROUNDSEL, grownd'sel, _n._ an annual plant, about a foot high, with small
yellow flowers. [A.S. _grundeswelge_--_grund_, ground, _swelgan_, to
swallow.]
GROUP, gr[=oo]p, _n._ a number of persons or things together: a number of
individual things related, in some definite way differentiating them from
others: (_art_) a combination of figures forming a harmonious
whole.--_v.t._ to form into a group or groups.--_v.i._ to fall into
harmonious combination.--_n._ GROUP'ING (_art_), the act of disposing and
arranging figures or objects in a group. [Fr. _groupe_--It. _groppo_, a
bunch, knot--Teut.; cf. Ger. _kropf_, protuberance.]
GROUSE, grows, _n._ the heathcock or moorfowl, a plump bird with a short
curved bill, short legs, and feathered feet, which frequents Scotch moors
and hills--the _Scotch ptarmigan_, _red-grouse_: any bird of the family
_Tetraonidæ_, and sub-family _Tetraoninæ_. [Prob. from the older _grice_
(on the analogy of _mouse_, _mice_)--O. Fr. _griesche_, gray.]
GROUT, growt, _n._ coarse meal: the sediment of liquor: lees: a thin coarse
mortar: a fine plaster for finishing ceilings.--_n._ GROUT'ING, the filling
up or finishing with grout: the stuff so used.--_adj._ GROUT'Y, thick,
muddy: sulky. [A.S. _grút_, coarse meal; cog. with Dut. _grut_, Ice.
_grautr_, porridge, Ger. _grütze_, groats.]
GROVE, gr[=o]v, _n._ a wood of small size, generally of a pleasant or
ornamental character: an avenue of trees: (_B._) an erroneous translation
of _Asherah_, the wooden upright image of the lewdly worshipped goddess
Ashtoreth; also of Heb. _eshel_ in Gen. xxi. 33.--GROVES OF ACADEME, the
shady walks of the Academy at Athens, any place of learned pursuits. [A.S.
_gráf_, a grove--_grafan_, pa.t. _gróf_, to dig.]
GROVEL, grov'el, _v.i._ to crawl on the earth, esp. in abject fear, &c.: to
be base or mean:--_pr.p._ grov'elling; _pa.p._ grov'elled.--_n._
GROV'ELLER.--_adj._ GROV'ELLING, mean. [Explained by Skeat as due to M. E.
_groveling_, flat on the ground, properly an _adv._, also _grofling_--Ice.
_grûfa_.]
GROW, gr[=o], _v.i._ to become enlarged by a natural process: to advance
towards maturity: to increase in size: to develop: to become greater in any
way: to extend: to improve: to pass from one state to another: to
become.--_v.t._ to cause to grow: to cultivate:--_pa.t._ grew (gr[=oo]);
_pa.p._ grown.--_ns._ GROW'ER; GROW'ING; GROWTH, a growing: gradual
increase: progress: development: that which has grown: product.--GROW ON,
to gain in the estimation of; GROW OUT OF, to issue from, result from: to
pass beyond in development, to give up; GROW TO, to advance to; GROW
TOGETHER, to become united by growth; GROW UP, to advance in growth, become
full-grown; to take root, spring up. [A.S. _grówan_; Ice. _gróa_; conn.
with _green_.]
GROWL, growl, _v.i._ to utter a deep, murmuring sound like a dog: to
grumble surlily.--_v.t._ to express by growling.--_n._ a murmuring,
snarling sound, as of an angry dog.--_ns._ GROWL'ER, one who growls: a fish
of the Perch family, abundant in North American rivers, so named from the
sound it emits: (_slang_) a four-wheeled cab: (_Amer._) a jug or pitcher
used for carrying beer; GROWL'ING, grumbling, snarling: a rumbling
sound.--_adv._ GROWL'INGLY. [Dut. _grollen_, to grumble; allied to Gr.
_gryllizein_, to grunt.]