HOME
SIGN UP LOGIN
https://1828.mshaffer.com
Monday - March 18, 2024

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.
- Preface

1828 Noah Webster Dictionary
  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z   <3

Search, browse, and study this dictionary to learn more about the early American, Christian language.

1828.mshaffer.comWord [beam]

0
0
Cite this! Share Definition on Facebook Share Definition on Twitter Simple Definition Word-definition Evolution

beam

BEAM, n. [We see by the Gothic, that the word belongs to Class Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem of a tree; that is, the fixed, firm part.]

1. The largest, or a principal piece in a building, that lies across the walls, and serves to support the principal rafters.

2. Any large piece of timber, long in proportion to its thickness, and squared, or hewed for use.

3. The part of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended; sometimes used for the whole apparatus for weighing.

4. The part on the head of a stag, which bears the antlers, royals and tops.

5. The pole of a carriage, which runs between the horses.

6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; and this name is given also to the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled,as it is wove.

7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.

8. In ships, a great main cross timber, which holds the sides of a ship from falling together. The beams support the decks and orlops. The main beam is next the mainmast.

9. The main piece of a plow, in which the plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is drawn.

10. Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam, having sliding sockets, that carry steel or pencil points; used for describing large circles, and in large projections for drawing the furniture on wall-dials.

On the beam, in navigation, signified any distance from the ship, on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.

Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or the line of the beam, and that point of the compass which she steers.

Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her beam ends, when she inclines so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.

Beam-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers of a hawk's wing.




Evolution (or devolution) of this word [beam]

1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

BEAM, n. [We see by the Gothic, that the word belongs to Class Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem of a tree; that is, the fixed, firm part.]

1. The largest, or a principal piece in a building, that lies across the walls, and serves to support the principal rafters.

2. Any large piece of timber, long in proportion to its thickness, and squared, or hewed for use.

3. The part of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended; sometimes used for the whole apparatus for weighing.

4. The part on the head of a stag, which bears the antlers, royals and tops.

5. The pole of a carriage, which runs between the horses.

6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; and this name is given also to the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled,as it is wove.

7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.

8. In ships, a great main cross timber, which holds the sides of a ship from falling together. The beams support the decks and orlops. The main beam is next the mainmast.

9. The main piece of a plow, in which the plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is drawn.

10. Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam, having sliding sockets, that carry steel or pencil points; used for describing large circles, and in large projections for drawing the furniture on wall-dials.

On the beam, in navigation, signified any distance from the ship, on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.

Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or the line of the beam, and that point of the compass which she steers.

Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her beam ends, when she inclines so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.

Beam-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers of a hawk's wing.


BEAM, n.1 [Goth. bagms, a tree; Sax. beam; G. baum; D. boom, a tree; Dan. bom, a bar or rail; Ir. beim, a beam. We see by the Gothic, that the word belongs to Class Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem of a tree; that is, the fixed, firm part.]

  1. The largest, or a principal piece in a building, that lies across the walls, and serves to support the principal rafters. – Encyc.
  2. Any large piece of timber, long in proportion to its thickness, and squared, or hewed for use.
  3. The part of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended; sometimes used for the whole apparatus for weighing. – Encyc.
  4. The part on the head of a stag, which bears the antlers, royals and tops.
  5. The pole of a carriage, which runs between the horses. – Dryden.
  6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; and this name is given also to the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is wove.
  7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
  8. In ships, a great main cross timber, which holds the sides of a ship from falling together. The beams support the decks and orlops. The main beam is next the mainmast. – Mar. Dict.
  9. The main piece of a plow, in which the plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is drawn.
  10. Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam, having sliding sockets, that carry steel or pencil points; used for describing large circles, and in large projections for drawing the furniture on wall-dials. – Encyc. Johnson. On the beam, in navigation, signifies any distance from the ship, on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel. – Mar. Dict. Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or the line of the beam, and that point of the compass which she steers. – Mar. Dict. Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her beam ends, when she inclines so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position. – Mar. Dict. Beam-feathers in falconry, the long feathers of a hawk's wing. – Bailey.

BEAM, n.2 [Sax. beam, a ray of the sun; beamian, to shine or send forth beams; Sam. bahmah, splendor; Ir. beim, a stroke, and solbheim, a thunderbolt.]

A ray of light, emitted from the sun, or other luminous body.


BEAM, v.i.

To emit rays of light, or beams; to shine. He beam'd, the day star of the rising age. – Trumbull.


BEAM, v.t.

To send forth; to emit.


Beam
  1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
  2. To send forth] to emit; -- followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.
  3. To emit beams of light.

    He beamed, the daystar of the rising age.
    Trumbull.

  4. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.

    The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across from side to side to support the decks.
    Totten.

  5. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.
  6. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

    The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
    Pope.

  7. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.
  8. The pole of a carriage.

    [Poetic] Dryden.
  9. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.
  10. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
  11. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
  12. A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called also working beam or walking beam.
  13. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.

    How far that little candle throws his beams!
    Shak.

  14. Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.

    Mercy with her genial beam.
    Keble.

  15. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather.

    Abaft the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the direction of her beams, and that point of the compass toward which her stern is directed. -- Beam center (Mach.), the fulcrum or pin on which the working beam of an engine vibrates. -- Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam, having sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points; -- used for drawing or describing large circles. -- Beam engine, a steam engine having a working beam to transmit power, in distinction from one which has its piston rod attached directly to the crank of the wheel shaft. -- Before the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon included between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and that point of the compass toward which the ship steers. -- On the beam, in a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel. -- On the weather beam, on the side of a ship which faces the wind. -- To be on her beam ends, to incline, as a vessel, so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.

1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

Thank you for visiting!

  • Our goal is to try and improve the quality of the digital form of this dictionary being historically true and accurate to the first American dictionary. Read more ...
  • Below you will find three sketches from a talented artist and friend depicting Noah Webster at work. Please tell us what you think.
Divine Study
  • Divine StudyDivine Study
    Divine Study
Window of Reflection
  • Window of ReflectionWindow of Reflection
    Window of Reflection
Enlightening Grace
  • Enlightening GraceEnlightening Grace
    Enlightening Grace

136

881

101

960

167

990
Beam

BEAM, noun [We see by the Gothic, that the word belongs to Class Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem of a tree; that is, the fixed, firm part.]

1. The largest, or a principal piece in a building, that lies across the walls, and serves to support the principal rafters.

2. Any large piece of timber, long in proportion to its thickness, and squared, or hewed for use.

3. The part of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended; sometimes used for the whole apparatus for weighing.

4. The part on the head of a stag, which bears the antlers, royals and tops.

5. The pole of a carriage, which runs between the horses.

6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; and this name is given also to the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is wove.

7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.

8. In ships, a great main cross timber, which holds the sides of a ship from falling together. The beams support the decks and orlops. The main beam is next the mainmast.

9. The main piece of a plow, in which the plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is drawn.

10. beam compass, an instrument consisting of a square wooden or brass beam having sliding sockets, that carry steel or pencil points; used for describing large circles, and in large projections for drawing the furniture on wall-dials.

On the beam in navigation, signified any distance from the ship, on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.

Before the beam is an arch of the horizon between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or the line of the beam and that point of the compass which she steers.

BEAM ends. A vessel is said to be on her beam ends, when she inclines so much on one side that her beams approach a vertical position.

BEAM-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers of a hawk's wing.

Why 1828?

0
2
 


I want the original meaning not the liberal twist on definitions.

— Randy (Holland, OH)

Word of the Day

importance

IMPORT'ANCE, n.

1. Weight; consequence; a bearing on some interest; that quality of any thing by which it may affect a measure, interest or result. The education of youth is of great importance to a free government. A religious education is of infinite importance to every human being.

2. Weight or consequence in the scale of being.

Thy own importance know.

Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.

3. Weight or consequence in self-estimation.

He believes himself a man of importance.

4. Thing implied; matter; subject; importunity. [In these senses, obsolete.]

Random Word

gibbeted

GIB'BETED, pp. Hanged and exposed on a gibbet.

Noah's 1828 Dictionary

First dictionary of the American Language!

Noah Webster, the Father of American Christian education, wrote the first American dictionary and established a system of rules to govern spelling, grammar, and reading. This master linguist understood the power of words, their definitions, and the need for precise word usage in communication to maintain independence. Webster used the Bible as the foundation for his definitions.

This standard reference tool will greatly assist students of all ages in their studies.

No other dictionary compares with the Webster's 1828 dictionary. The English language has changed again and again and in many instances has become corrupt. The American Dictionary of the English Language is based upon God's written word, for Noah Webster used the Bible as the foundation for his definitions. This standard reference tool will greatly assist students of all ages in their studies. From American History to literature, from science to the Word of God, this dictionary is a necessity. For homeschoolers as well as avid Bible students it is easy, fast, and sophisticated.


Regards,


monte

{x:

Project:: 1828 Reprint










Hard-cover Edition

330

508

Compact Edition

310

217

CD-ROM

262

176

* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well.



[ + ]
Add Search To Your Site


Our goal is to convert the facsimile dictionary (PDF available: v1 and v2) to reprint it and make it digitally available in several formats.

Overview of Project

  1. Image dissection
  2. Text Emulation
  3. Dictionary Formatting
  4. Digital Applications
  5. Reprint

Please visit our friends:

{ourFriends}

Learn more about U.S. patents:

{ourPatent}

Privacy Policy

We want to provide the best 1828 dictionary service to you. As such, we collect data, allow you to login, and we want your feedback on other features you would like.

For details of our terms of use, please read our privacy policy here.

Page loaded in 0.354 seconds. [1828: 25, T:0]


1828 Noah Webster Dictionary

^ return to top
Back to Top