Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GUESS, n.

Conjecture; judgment without any certain evidence or grounds. A poet must confess / His art 's like physic, but a happy guess. Dryden.

GUESS, v.i.

To conjecture; to judge at random. We do not know which road to take, but we must guess at it.

GUESS, v.t. [ges; D. gissen; Sw. gissa; Ir. geasam; Dan. gietter. It coincides with cast, like the L. conjicio; for in Danish, gietter is to guess, and giet-huus is a casting-house or foundery, gyder to pour out. Hence we see that this is the G. giessen, to pour, cast, or found, Eng. to gush. In Russ. gadayu is to guess, and kidayu, to cast Ar. حَزَي chajai, to divine or guess. Class Gs, No. 31. See also Class Gd. The sense is to cast, that is, to throw together circumstances, or to cast forward in mind.]

1. To conjecture; to form an opinion without certain principles or means of knowledge; to judge at random, either of a present unknown fact, or of a future fact. First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess. Pope.
2. To judge or form an opinion from some reasons that render a thing probable, but fall short of sufficient evidence. From slight circumstances or occasional expressions, we guess an author's meaning.
3. To hit upon by accident. Locke,
4. To suppose; to think; to be inclined to believe. Your own people have informed you, I guess, by this time. Middleton.

GUESS'ED, pp.

Conjectured; divined.

GUESS'ER, n.

One who guesses; a conjecturer; one who judges or gives an opinion without certain means of knowing. Pope.

GUESS'ING, ppr.

Conjecturing; judging without certain evidence, or grounds of opinion.

GUESS'ING-LY, adv.

By way of conjecture. Shak.

GUEST, n. [gest. Sax. gest; G. and D. gast; Dan. giest; Sw. gäst; W. gwêst, a going out, a visit, an inn, a lodging; also, to visit, to be a guest; gwes, a going; Russ. gost, a guest. This is the Latin visito, Eng. visit, with the Celtic prefix. See Owen's Welsh Dictionary.]

1. A stranger; one who comes from a distance, and takes a lodgings at a place, either for a night or for a longer time. Sidney.
2. A visitor; a stranger or friend, entertained in the house or at the table of another, whether by invitation or otherwise. The wedding was furnished with guests. Matth. xxii.

GUEST'-CHAM-BER, n.

An apartment appropriated to the entertainment of guests. Mark xiv.

GUEST'-RITE, a.

Office due to a guest. Chapman.

GUEST'-ROPE, or GUESS'-ROPE, n.

A rope to tow with, or to make fast a boat. Mar. Dict.

GUEST'WISE, adv.

In the manner of a guest.

GUG'GLE, v. [See GURGLE.]

GUHR, n.

A loose, earthy deposit from water, found in the cavities or clefts of rocks, mostly white, but sometimes red or yellow, from a mixture of clay or ocher. Nicholson. Cleaveland.

GUID'A-BLE, a.

That may be guided or governed by counsel. Sprat.

GUID'AGE, n. [See Guide.]

The reward given to a guide for services. [Little used.]

GUID'ANCE, n. [See Guide.]

The act of guiding; direction; government; a leading. Submit to the guidance of age and wisdom.

GUIDE, n. [Fr. guide; It. guida; Sp. guia.]

1. A person who leads or directs another in his way or course; a conductor. The army followed the guide. The traveler may be deceived by his guide.
2. One who directs another in his conduct or course of life. He will be our guide, even to death. Ps. xlviii.
3. A director; a regulator; that which leads or conducts. Experience is one of our best guides.

GUIDE, v.t. [gide; Fr. guider; It. guidare; Sp. guiar, to guide; guia, a guide, and in seamen's language, a guy; Port. id. See Class Gd, No. 17, 53.]

1. To lead or direct in away; to conduct in a course or path; as, to guide an enemy or a traveler, who is not acquainted with the road or course. The meek will he guide in judgment. Ps. xxv.
2. To direct; to order. He will guide his affairs with discretion. Ps. cxii.
3. To influence; to give direction to. Men are guided by their interest, or supposed interest.
4. To instruct and direct. Let parents guide their children to virtue, dignity and happiness.
5. To direct; to regulate and manage; to superintend. I will that the younger women marry, bear children, and guide the house. 1 Tim. v.

GUID'ED, pp.

Led; conducted; directed in the way; instructed and directed.

GUIDE'LESS, a.

Destitute of a guide; wanting a director. Dryden.

GUIDE'-POST', n.

A post at the forks of a road, for directing travelers the way.

GUID'ER, n.

A guide; one who guides or directs. South.

GUID'ING, ppr.

Leading; conducting; directing; superintending.

GUI'DON, n. [Fr.]

The flag or standard of a troop of cavalry; or the standard-bearer. Lunier. Encyc.