n. [ AS. teár; akin to G. zärhe, OHG. zahar, OFries. & Icel. tār, Sw. tår, Dan. taare, Goth. tagr, OIr. dēr, W. dagr, OW. dacr, L. lacrima, lacruma, for older dacruma, Gr.
And yet for thee ne wept she never a tear. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
Let Araby extol her happy coast,
Her fragrant flowers, her trees with precious tears. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Tear is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, tear-distilling, tear-drop, tear-filled, tear-stained, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]
Tears of St. Lawrence,
Tears of wine,
v. t.
Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
The hand of fate
Hath torn thee from me. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
To tear a cat,
To tear down,
To tear off,
To tear out,
To tear up,
v. i.
n. The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
Wear and tear.
n. One who tears or rends anything; also, one who rages or raves with violence. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Shedding tears; tender. [ Poetic ] “Tear-falling pity.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Abounding with tears; weeping; shedding tears;
a. Shedding no tears; free from tears; unfeeling. --
n. (Anat.) A cavity or pouch beneath the lower eyelid of most deer and antelope; the lachrymal sinus; larmier. It is capable of being opened at pleasure and secretes a waxy substance. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Bot.) A name given to several species of plants of the genus Polygonum, having angular stems beset with minute reflexed prickles. [ 1913 Webster ]