*eh*

pos>adv. Beforehand; in anticipation. [ Archaic or Dial. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She is come aforehand to anoint my body. Mark xiv. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Prepared; previously provided; -- opposed to behindhand. [ Archaic or Dial. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Aforehand in all matters of power. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen. ] 1. (Chem.) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) Any compound having the group -CHO. Methyl aldehyde, the simplest aldehyde, is more commonly called formaldehyde, H-CHO, and acetic aldehyde is now more commonly called acetaldehyde. The higher aldehydes may be solids. A reducing sugar typically contains the aldehyde group. [ PJC ]

☞ The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetaldehyde, acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde (called also formaldehyde), CH2O. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hōfe ground ivy; the first part is perh. a corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove, ground ivy, “in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue.” Prior. ] Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ ‖ } n. [ Ar. 'almah (fem.) learned, fr. 'alama to know: cf. F. almée. ] An Egyptian dancing girl; an Alma. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Almehs lift their arms in dance. Bayard Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being an ape. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be apprehensive; to fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is worse to apprehend than to suffer. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Apprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Apprehending. ] [ L. apprehendere; ad + prehendere to lay hold of, seize; prae before + -hendere (used only in comp.); akin to Gr. chanda`nein to hold, contain, and E. get: cf. F. appréhender. See Prehensile, Get. ] 1. To take or seize; to take hold of. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We have two hands to apprehend it. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest; as, to apprehend a criminal. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider. [ 1913 Webster ]

This suspicion of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzz, soon got a sting in the king's head, and he violently apprehended it. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eternal laws, such as the heroic age apprehended them. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To know or learn with certainty. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

G. You are too much distrustful of my truth.
E. Then you must give me leave to apprehend
The means and manner how. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

The opposition had more reason than the king to apprehend violence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To catch; seize; arrest; detain; capture; conceive; understand; imagine; believe; fear; dread. -- To Apprehend, Comprehend. These words come into comparison as describing acts of the mind. Apprehend denotes the laying hold of a thing mentally, so as to understand it clearly, at least in part. Comprehend denotes the embracing or understanding it in all its compass and extent. We may apprehended many truths which we do not comprehend. The very idea of God supposes that he may be apprehended, though not comprehended, by rational beings. “We may apprehended much of Shakespeare's aim and intention in the character of Hamlet or King Lear; but few will claim that they have comprehended all that is embraced in these characters.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who apprehends. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being apprehensible. [ R. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. apprehensibilis. See Apprehend. ] Capable of being apprehended or conceived. “Apprehensible by faith.” Bp. Hall. -- Ap`*pre*hen"si*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. apprehensio: cf. F. appréhension. See Apprehend. ] 1. The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an organ of apprehension. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as, the felon, after his apprehension, escaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation of things, without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment; intellection; perception. [ 1913 Webster ]

Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked intellection of an object. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense, the word often denotes a belief, founded on sufficient evidence to give preponderation to the mind, but insufficient to induce certainty; as, in our apprehension, the facts prove the issue. [ 1913 Webster ]

To false, and to be thought false, is all one in respect of men, who act not according to truth, but apprehension. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding; as, a man of dull apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or fear at the prospect of future evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small apprehension for his own life. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Apprehension, Alarm. Apprehension springs from a sense of danger when somewhat remote, but approaching; alarm arises from danger when announced as near at hand. Apprehension is calmer and more permanent; alarm is more agitating and transient. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. appréhensif. See Apprehend. ] 1. Capable of apprehending, or quick to do so; apt; discerning. [ 1913 Webster ]

It may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive . . . friend, is listening to our talk. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Knowing; conscious; cognizant. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A man that has spent his younger years in vanity and folly, and is, by the grace of God, apprehensive of it. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Relating to the faculty of apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

Judgment . . . is implied in every apprehensive act. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Anticipative of something unfavorable' fearful of what may be coming; in dread of possible harm; in expectation of evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not at all apprehensive of evils as a distance. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reformers . . . apprehensive for their lives. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Sensible; feeling; perceptive. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thoughts, my tormentors, armed with deadly stings,
Mangle my apprehensive, tenderest parts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an apprehensive manner; with apprehension of danger. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being apprehensive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Apprenticeship. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. execretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal.
Syn. -- anus, arse, asshole [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Babyhood. [ R. ] Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bæchūs. See Bake, v. t., and House. ] A house for baking; a bakery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Having bare hands. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, a. & adv. Having the head uncovered; as, a bareheaded girl. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ OE. bede prayer + E. house. See Bead, n. ] An almshouse for poor people who pray daily for their benefactors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Beadhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hive for a swarm of bees. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A common and typical form of beehive was a domeshaped inverted basket, whence certain ancient Irish and Scotch architectural remains are called beehive houses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A house for bees; an apiary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Beetle a mallet + head. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A stupid fellow; a blockhead. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The black-bellied plover, or bullhead (Squatarola helvetica). See Plover. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Before + hand. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; -- often followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime. [ 1913 Webster ]

They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rich and much beforehand. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. on-behalve in the name of, bihalven by the side of, fr. AS. healf half, also side, part: akin to G. halb half, halber on account of. See Be-, and Half, n. ] Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support; defense; vindication. [ 1913 Webster ]

In behalf of his mistress's beauty. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Against whom he had contracted some prejudice in behalf of his nation. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

In behalf of, in the interest of. --
On behalf of, on account of; on the part of. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To happen to. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Behaved p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving. ] [ AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben (obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref. be- + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ] 1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those that behaved themselves manfully. 2 Macc. ii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This verb is often used colloquially without an adverb of manner; as, if he does not behave, he will be punished. It is also often applied to inanimate objects; as, the ship behaved splendidly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; -- used also of inanimate objects; as, the behavior of a ship in a storm; the behavior of the magnetic needle. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gentleman that is very singular in his behavior. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be upon one's good behavior,
To be put upon one's good behavior, to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on propriety of conduct. --
During good behavior, while (or so long as) one conducts one's self with integrity and fidelity or with propriety. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Bearing; demeanor; manner. -- Behavior, Conduct. Behavior is the mode in which we have or bear ourselves in the presence of others or toward them; conduct is the mode of our carrying ourselves forward in the concerns of life. Behavior respects our manner of acting in particular cases; conduct refers to the general tenor of our actions. We may say of soldiers, that their conduct had been praiseworthy during the whole campaign, and their behavior admirable in every instance when they met the enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to behavior. behavioral sciences [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. an approach to psychology that emphasizes observable measurable behavior.
Syn. -- behaviourism, behavioristic psychology, behaviouristic psychology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a psychologist who subscribes to behaviorism.
Syn. -- behaviourist. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of behaviorists or behaviorism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as behaviorism.
Syn. -- behaviorism, behavioristic psychology, behaviouristic psychology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as behaviorist.
Syn. -- behaviorist. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beheaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beheading. ] [ OE. bihefden, AS. beheáfdian; pref. be- + heáfod head. See Head. ] To sever the head from; to take off the head of. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Beheading. [ Modern ] [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Behold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Heb. behemōth, fr. Egyptian P-ehe-maut hippopotamus. ] 1. An animal, probably the hippopotamus, described in Job xl. 15-24. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. something of large size or great power. [ PJC ]

v. t. To vow. [ Obs. ] Paston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. biheste promise, command, AS. beh&aemacr_;s promise; pref. be- + h&aemacr_;s command. See Hest, Hight. ] 1. That which is willed or ordered; a command; a mandate; an injunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

To do his master's high behest. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A vow; a promise. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made. Paston. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Behight. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]