Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GUILD, n. [gild; Sax. geld, gield, gild or gyld; D. gild; G. gilde; so called, it is said, from geldan, gildan, to pay, because each member of the society was to pay something toward the charge and support of the company.]

In England, a society, fraternity or company, associated for some purpose, particularly for carrying on commerce. The merchant-guilds of our ancestors, answer to our modern corporations. They were licensed by the king, and governed by laws and orders of their own. Hence the name Guildhall, the great court of judicature in London. Cowel. Encyc.

GUILD'A-BLE, a.

Liable to a tax. Spelman.

GUILD'ER, n. [See GILDER.]

GUILE, n. [gile; Qu. Old French guille or gille. It may be the Celtic form of Eng. wile. See Ethiopic, Cast. col. 533.]

Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit; usually in a bad sense. We may, with more successful hope, resolve / To wage by force or guile eternal war. Milton. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. John i.

GUILE, v.t.

To disguise craftily. [Obs.] Spenser.

GUILE'FUL, a.

1. Cunning; crafty; artful; wily; deceitful; insidious; as, a guileful person.
2. Treacherous; deceitful. Shak.
3. Intended to deceive; as, guileful words.

GUILE'FUL-LY, adv.

Artfully; insidiously; treacherously. Milton.

GUILE'FUL-NESS, n.

deceit; secret treachery. Sherwood.

GUILE'LESS, a.

Free from guile or deceit; artless; frank; sincere; honest.

GUILE'LESS-LY, adv.

Artlessly; honestly.

GUILE'LESS-NESS, n.

Simplicity; freedom from guile.

GUIL'ER, n.

One who betrays into danger by insidious arts. [Not used.] Spenser.

GUIL'LE-MOT, n. [from the Welsh çwilawg, whirling about.]

A water fowl of the genus Colymbus, and order of Ansers. It is found in the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America.

GUIL'LE-VAT, n.

A vat for fermenting liquors.

GUIL'LO-TIN, n. [Fr. from the name of the inventor.]

An engine or machine for beheading persons at a stroke.

GUIL'LO-TIN, v.t.

To behead with the guillotin.

GUIL'LO-TIN-ED, pp.

Beheaded at a stroke by a guillotin.

GUIL'LO-TIN-ING, ppr.

Beheading by a guillotin.

GUILLS, n.

A plant, the corn marigold.

GUILT, n. gilt. [Sax. gylt, a crime, and a debt, connected with gyldan, to pay, or it is from the root of D. and G. schuld, Dan. skyld, a debt, fault, guilt. See Shall, Should. If the word is from gildan, gyldan, to pay, it denotes a debt contracted by an offense, a fine, and thence came the present signification.]

1. Criminality; that state of a moral agent which results from his actual commission of a crime or offense, knowing it to be a crime, or violation of law. To constitute guilt there must be a moral agent enjoying freedom of will, and capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, and a willful or intentional violation of a known law, or rule of duty. The guilt of a person exists, as soon as the crime is committed; but to evince it to others, it must be proved by confession, or conviction in due course of law. Guilt renders a person a debtor to the law, as it binds him to pay a penalty in money or suffering. Guilt therefore implies both criminality and liableness to punishment. Guilt may proceed either from a positive act or breach of law, or from voluntary neglect of known duty.
2. Criminality in a political or civil view; exposure to forfeiture or other penalty. A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a blockade. Kent.
3. Crime; offense. Shak.

GUILT'I-LIKE, a.

Guilty. [Not used.] Shak.

GUILT'I-LY, adv.

In a manner to incur guilt; not innocently. Shak.

GUILT'I-NESS, n.

The state of being guilty; wickedness; criminality; guilt. Sidney.

GUILT'LESS, a.

1. Free from guilt, crime or offense; innocent. The Lord will not bold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. Ex. xx.
2. Not produced by the slaughter of animals. But from the mountain's grassy side, / A guiltless feast I bring. Goldsmith.

GUILT'LESS-LY, adv.

Without guilt; innocently.