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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.
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1828 Noah Webster Dictionary
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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [opossum]

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opossum

OPOS'SUM, n. A quadruped of the genus Didelphis. It has a prehensile tail, like some of the monkeys, and is distinguished by a pouch or false belly, in which it protects and carries its young. The name is also given to other species of the genus, some of which want the pouch.



Evolution (or devolution) of this word [opossum]

1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

OPOS'SUM, n. A quadruped of the genus Didelphis. It has a prehensile tail, like some of the monkeys, and is distinguished by a pouch or false belly, in which it protects and carries its young. The name is also given to other species of the genus, some of which want the pouch.


O-POS'SUM, n. [This name is pronounced possum, which perhaps may be its true orthography.]

The popular name of several species of Didelphis, a genus of marsupiate carnivorous mammals. One species only of seventeen inhabits the United States, and this is one of the six species whose females have an abdominal pouch, in which they protect and carry their young. The Didelphis Virginiana has a prehensile tail by which it easily suspends itself.


O*pos"sum
  1. Any American marsupial of the genera Didelphys and Chironectes. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana.

    * Several related species are found in South America. The water opossum of Brazil (Chironectes variegatus), which has the hind feet, webbed, is provided with a marsupial pouch and with cheek pouches. It is called also yapock.

    Opossum mouse. (Zoöl.) See Flying mouse, under Flying. -- Opossum shrimp (Zoöl.), any schizopod crustacean of the genus Mysis and allied genera. See Schizopoda.

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Opossum

OPOS'SUM, noun A quadruped of the genus Didelphis. It has a prehensile tail, like some of the monkeys, and is distinguished by a pouch or false belly, in which it protects and carries its young. The name is also given to other species of the genus, some of which want the pouch.

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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

labor

LA'BOR, n. [L. labor, from labo, to fail.]

1. Exertion of muscular strength, or bodily exertion which occasions weariness; particularly, the exertion of the limbs in occupations by which subsistence is obtained, as in agriculture and manufactures, in distinction from exertions of strength in play or amusements, which are denominated exercise, rather than labor. Toilsome work; pains; travail; any bodily exertion which is attended with fatigue. After the labors of the day, the farmer retires, and rest is sweet. Moderate labor contributes to health.

What is obtained by labor will of right be the property of him by whose labor it is gained.

2. Intellectual exertion; application of the mind which occasions weariness; as the labor of compiling and writing a history.

3. Exertion of mental powers, united with bodily employment; as the labors of the apostles in propagating christianity.

4. Work done, or to be done; that which requires wearisome exertion.

Being a labor of so great difficulty, the exact performance thereof we may rather wish than look for.

5. Heroic achievement; as the labors of Hercules.

6. Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth.

7. The evils of life; trials; persecution, &c.

They rest from their labors - Rev. 14.

LA'BOR, v.i. [L. laboro.]

1. To exert muscular strength; to act or move with painful effort, particularly in servile occupations; to work; to toil.

Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work - Ex. 20.

2. To exert one's powers of body or mind, or both, in the prosecution of any design; to strive; to take pains.

Labor not for the meat which perisheth. John 6.

3. To toil; to be burdened.

Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11.

4. To move with difficulty.

The stone that labors up the hill.

5. To move irregularly with little progress; to pitch and roll heavily; as a ship in a turbulent sea.

6. To be in distress; to be pressed.

- As sounding cymbals aid the laboring moon.

7. To be in travail; to suffer the pangs of childbirth.

8. To journey or march.

Make not all the people to labor thither. Josh. 7.

9. To perform the duties of the pastoral office. 1Tim. 5.

10. To perform christian offices.

To labor under, to be afflicted with; to be burdened or distressed with; as, to labor under a disease or an affliction.

LA'BOR, v.t.

1. To work at; to till; to cultivate.

The most excellent lands are lying fallow, or only labored by children.

2. To prosecute with effort; to urge; as, to labor a point or argument.

3. To form or fabricate with exertion; as, to labor arms for Troy.

4. To beat; to belabor. [The latter word is generally used.]

5. To form with toil and care; as a labored composition.

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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.

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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.


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