shaft | noun (n.) The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow. |
| noun (n.) The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light. |
| noun (n.) That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical. |
| noun (n.) The trunk, stem, or stalk of a plant. |
| noun (n.) The stem or midrib of a feather. |
| noun (n.) The pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also, a thill. |
| noun (n.) The part of a candlestick which supports its branches. |
| noun (n.) The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc. |
| noun (n.) A pole, especially a Maypole. |
| noun (n.) The body of a column; the cylindrical pillar between the capital and base (see Illust. of Column). Also, the part of a chimney above the roof. Also, the spire of a steeple. |
| noun (n.) A column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument. |
| noun (n.) A rod at the end of a heddle. |
| noun (n.) A solid or hollow cylinder or bar, having one or more journals on which it rests and revolves, and intended to carry one or more wheels or other revolving parts and to transmit power or motion; as, the shaft of a steam engine. |
| noun (n.) A humming bird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; -- called also cora humming bird. |
| noun (n.) A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc. |
| noun (n.) A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft. |
| noun (n.) The chamber of a blast furnace. |
shack | noun (n.) The grain left after harvest or gleaning; also, nuts which have fallen to the ground. |
| noun (n.) Liberty of winter pasturage. |
| noun (n.) A shiftless fellow; a low, itinerant beggar; a vagabond; a tramp. |
| verb (v. t.) To shed or fall, as corn or grain at harvest. |
| verb (v. t.) To feed in stubble, or upon waste corn. |
| verb (v. t.) To wander as a vagabond or a tramp. |
| verb (v. i.) A hut; a shanty; a cabin. |
shackle | noun (n.) Stubble. |
| noun (n.) Something which confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion; specifically, a ring or band inclosing the ankle or wrist, and fastened to a similar shackle on the other leg or arm, or to something else, by a chain or a strap; a gyve; a fetter. |
| noun (n.) Hence, that which checks or prevents free action. |
| noun (n.) A fetterlike band worn as an ornament. |
| noun (n.) A link or loop, as in a chain, fitted with a movable bolt, so that the parts can be separated, or the loop removed; a clevis. |
| noun (n.) A link for connecting railroad cars; -- called also drawlink, draglink, etc. |
| noun (n.) The hinged and curved bar of a padlock, by which it is hung to the staple. |
| verb (v. t.) To tie or confine the limbs of, so as to prevent free motion; to bind with shackles; to fetter; to chain. |
| verb (v. t.) Figuratively: To bind or confine so as to prevent or embarrass action; to impede; to cumber. |
| verb (v. t.) To join by a link or chain, as railroad cars. |
shade | noun (n.) Comparative obscurity owing to interception or interruption of the rays of light; partial darkness caused by the intervention of something between the space contemplated and the source of light. |
| noun (n.) Darkness; obscurity; -- often in the plural. |
| noun (n.) An obscure place; a spot not exposed to light; hence, a secluded retreat. |
| noun (n.) That which intercepts, or shelters from, light or the direct rays of the sun; hence, also, that which protects from heat or currents of air; a screen; protection; shelter; cover; as, a lamp shade. |
| noun (n.) Shadow. |
| noun (n.) The soul after its separation from the body; -- so called because the ancients it to be perceptible to the sight, though not to the touch; a spirit; a ghost; as, the shades of departed heroes. |
| noun (n.) The darker portion of a picture; a less illuminated part. See Def. 1, above. |
| noun (n.) Degree or variation of color, as darker or lighter, stronger or paler; as, a delicate shade of pink. |
| noun (n.) A minute difference or variation, as of thought, belief, expression, etc.; also, the quality or degree of anything which is distinguished from others similar by slight differences; as, the shades of meaning in synonyms. |
| noun (n.) To undergo or exhibit minute difference or variation, as of color, meaning, expression, etc.; to pass by slight changes; -- used chiefly with a preposition, as into, away, off. |
| verb (v. t.) To shelter or screen by intercepting the rays of light; to keep off illumination from. |
| verb (v. t.) To shelter; to cover from injury; to protect; to screen; to hide; as, to shade one's eyes. |
| verb (v. t.) To obscure; to dim the brightness of. |
| verb (v. t.) To pain in obscure colors; to darken. |
| verb (v. t.) To mark with gradations of light or color. |
| verb (v. t.) To present a shadow or image of; to shadow forth; to represent. |
shadow | noun (n.) Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of the body which intercepts the rays of light; as, the shadow of a man, of a tree, or of a tower. See the Note under Shade, n., 1. |
| noun (n.) Darkness; shade; obscurity. |
| noun (n.) A shaded place; shelter; protection; security. |
| noun (n.) A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water. |
| noun (n.) That which follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion; hence, an obsequious follower. |
| noun (n.) A spirit; a ghost; a shade; a phantom. |
| noun (n.) An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; indistinct image; dim bodying forth; hence, mystical representation; type. |
| noun (n.) A small degree; a shade. |
| noun (n.) An uninvited guest coming with one who is invited. |
| noun (n.) To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to throw a shadow upon; to overspead with obscurity. |
| noun (n.) To conceal; to hide; to screen. |
| noun (n.) To protect; to shelter from danger; to shroud. |
| noun (n.) To mark with gradations of light or color; to shade. |
| noun (n.) To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent typically. |
| noun (n.) To cloud; to darken; to cast a gloom over. |
| noun (n.) To attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner; as, a detective shadows a criminal. |
shagreen | noun (n.) A kind of untanned leather prepared in Russia and the East, from the skins of horses, asses, and camels, and grained so as to be covered with small round granulations. This characteristic surface is produced by pressing small seeds into the grain or hair side when moist, and afterward, when dry, scraping off the roughness left between them, and then, by soaking, causing the portions of the skin which had been compressed or indented by the seeds to swell up into relief. It is used for covering small cases and boxes. |
| noun (n.) The skin of various small sharks and other fishes when having small, rough, bony scales. The dogfishes of the genus Scyllium furnish a large part of that used in the arts. |
| adjective (a.) Alt. of Shagreened |
| verb (v. t.) To chagrin. |
shake | noun (n.) The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation. |
| noun (n.) A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly. |
| noun (n.) A fissure in rock or earth. |
| noun (n.) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill. |
| noun (n.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart. |
| noun (n.) A shook of staves and headings. |
| noun (n.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground. |
| verb (v.) To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate. |
| verb (v.) Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of. |
| verb (v.) To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music. |
| verb (v.) To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; -- generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree. |
| verb (v. i.) To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter. |
| () obs. p. p. of Shake. |