a. (Med.) Good against convulsions. J. Floyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A driving or striking against; an appulse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Striking against; impinging; as, the appulsive influence of the planets. P. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By appulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. avulsio. ] 1. A tearing asunder; a forcible separation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The avulsion of two polished superficies. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fragment torn off. J. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The sudden removal of lands or soil from the estate of one man to that of another by an inundation or a current, or by a sudden change in the course of a river by which a part of the estate of one man is cut off and joined to the estate of another. The property in the part thus separated, or cut off, continues in the original owner. Wharton. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. compulsio. See Compel. ] The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force. [ 1913 Webster ]

If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With what compulsion and laborious flight
We sunk thus low. Milton.

Syn. -- See Constraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By compulsion; by force. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. convulsio: cf. F. convulsion. ] 1. (Med.) An unnatural, violent, and unvoluntary contraction of the muscular parts of an animal body. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any violent and irregular motion or agitation; a violent shaking; a tumult; a commotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those two massy pillars,
With horrible convulsion, to and fro
He tugged, he shook, till down they came. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Times of violence and convulsion. Ames.

Syn. -- Agitation; commotion; tumult; disturbance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or having, convulsions; convulsionary. [ R. ] Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. convulsionnaire. ] Pertaining to convulsion; convulsive. “Convulsionary struggles.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A convulsionist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who has convulsions; esp., one of a body of fanatics in France, early in the eighteenth century, who went into convulsions under the influence of religious emotion; as, the Convulsionists of St. Médard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. convulsif. ] Producing, or attended with, convulsions or spasms; characterized by convulsions; convulsionary. [ 1913 Webster ]

An irregular, convulsive movement may be necessary to throw off an irregular, convulsive disease. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. in a convulsive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. depulsio. ] A driving or thrusting away. [ R. ] Speed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to pull asunder, tear, or rend; distracting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or produced from, emulsin; as, emulsic acid. Hoblyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Emulsion + -fy. ] To convert into an emulsion; to form an emulsion; to reduce from an oily substance to a milky fluid in which the fat globules are in a very finely divided state, giving it the semblance of solution; as, the pancreatic juice emulsifies the oily part of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Emulsion, Emulge. ] (Chem.) (a) The white milky pulp or extract of bitter almonds. [ R. ] (b) An unorganized ferment (contained in this extract and in other vegetable juices), which effects the decomposition of certain glucosides. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. emulgere, emulsum: cf. F. émulsion. See Emulge. ] Any liquid preparation of a color and consistency resembling milk; as: (a) In pharmacy, an extract of seeds, or a mixture of oil and water united by a mucilaginous substance. (b) In photography, a liquid preparation of collodion holding salt of silver, used in the photographic process. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. émulsif. ] 1. Softening; milklike. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Yielding oil by expression; as, emulsive seeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Producing or yielding a milklike substance; as, emulsive acids. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. evulsio, fr. evellere, evulsum, to pluck out; e out + vellere to pluck; cf. F. évulsion. ] The act of plucking out; a rooting out. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. expulsio, fr. expellere: cf. F. expulsion. See Expel. ] 1. The act of expelling; a driving or forcing out; summary removal from membership, association, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The expulsion of the Tarquins. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being expelled or driven out. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. expulsif. ] Having the power of driving out or away; serving to expel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The expulsive power of a new affection. Chalmers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Idio- + repulsive. ] Repulsive by itself; as, the idiorepulsive power of heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. impulsio: cf. F. impulsion. See Impel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of impelling or driving onward, or the state of being impelled; the sudden or momentary agency of a body in motion on another body; also, the impelling force, or impulse. “The impulsion of the air.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Influence acting unexpectedly or temporarily on the mind; sudden motive or influence; impulse. “The impulsion of conscience.” Clarendon. “Divine impulsion prompting.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. impulsif. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Poor men! poor papers! We and they
Do some impulsive force obey. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings. [ 1913 Webster ]

My heart, impulsive and wayward. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mech.) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous; -- said of forces. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent. Sir W. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an impulsive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being impulsive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. insulsitas. ] Insipidity; stupidity; dullness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The insulsity of mortal tongues. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. propulsion. See Propel. ] 1. The act driving forward or away; the act or process of propelling; as, steam propulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An impelling act or movement. [ 1913 Webster ]

God works in all things; all obey
His first propulsion. Whittier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending, or having power, to propel; driving on; urging. “[ The ] propulsive movement of the verse.” Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pulse + L. facere to make. ] Exciting the pulse; causing pulsation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pulse + -meter. ] (Physiol.) A sphygmograph. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pulsio, fr. pellere, pulsum, to drive: cf. F. pulsion. ] The act of driving forward; propulsion; -- opposed to suction or traction. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to compel; compulsory. [ R. ] “The pulsive strain of conscience.” Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Renewed or repeated expulsion. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. repulsio: cf. F. répulsion. ] 1. The act of repulsing or repelling, or the state of being repulsed or repelled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A feeling of violent offence or disgust; repugnance. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physics) The power, either inherent or due to some physical action, by which bodies, or the particles of bodies, are made to recede from each other, or to resist each other's nearer approach; as, molecular repulsion; electrical repulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. répulsif. ] 1. Serving, or able, to repulse; repellent; as, a repulsive force. [ 1913 Webster ]

Repulsive of his might the weapon stood. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cold; forbidding; offensive; as, repulsive manners. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Re*pul"sive*ly, adv. -- Re*pul"sive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. retro- + L. pellere, pulsum, to impel. ] Driving back; repelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. révulsion, L. revulsio, fr. revellere, revulsum, to pluck or pull away; pref. re- re- + vellere to pull. Cf. Convulse. ] 1. A strong pulling or drawing back; withdrawal. “Revulsions and pullbacks.” SSir T. Brovne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sudden reaction; a sudden and complete change; -- applied to the feelings. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sudden and violent revulsion of feeling, both in the Parliament and the country, followed. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) The act of turning or diverting any disease from one part of the body to another. It resembles derivation, but is usually applied to a more active form of counter irritation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. révulsif. ] Causing, or tending to, revulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which causes revulsion; specifically (Med.), a revulsive remedy or agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Self-repelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]