Emily Dickinson Lexicon

JAV'E-LIN, n. [Fr. javeline; It. giavellotto; Sp. jabalina, the female of the wild boar, and a javelin, from jabali, a wild boar.]

A sort of spear about five feet and a half long, the shaft of which was of wood, but pointed with steel; used by horse or foot. Every Roman soldier carried seven javelins.

JAW, n. [Fr. joue, the cheek. It coincides in origin with chaw, chew, Arm. joaga, to chew; javed or gaved, a jaw. In old authors, jaw is written chaw. It belongs to Class Cg. See Chaw and Chew.]

1. The bones of the mouth in which the teeth are fixed. They resemble a horse shoe. In most animals, the under jaw only is movable.
2. The mouth.
3. In vulgar language, scolding, wrangling, abusive clamor.

JAW, v.i.

To scold; to clamor. [Vulgar.]

JAW, v.t.

To abuse by scolding. [Vulgar.]

JAW'ED, a.

1. Denoting the appearance of the jaws. – Skelton.
2. Having jaws.

JAW'FALL, n. [jaw and fall.]

Depression of the jaw; figuratively, depression of spirits. – M. Griffith.

JAW'FALL-EN, a.

Depressed in spirits; dejected.

JAW'ING, ppr.

Abusing; scolding.

JAWN, v.i.

To yawn. [Not in use. See Yawn.]

JAW'Y, a.

Relating to the jaws. – Gayton.

JAY, n. [Fr. geai; Sp. gayo.]

A bird, the Corvus glandarius. In America, the Corvus cristatus. Encyc.

JAY'ET, n. [See JET.]

JA'ZEL, n.

A gem of an azure blue color. [Qu. Sp. azul, corrupted.]

JAZ'ER-ANT, n.

A frock of twisted or linked mail, without sleeves, somewhat lighter than the hauberk.

JEAL'OUS, a. [jel'us; Fr. jaloux; It. geloso. The Spanish use zeloso from zelo, zeal; but the Italian word seems to be of distinct origin from zeal, and to belong to Class Gl.]

1. Suspicious; apprehensive of rivalship; uneasy through fear that another has withdrawn or may withdraw from one the affections of a person he loves, or enjoy some good which he desires to obtain; followed by of, and applied both to the object of love and to the rival. We say, young man is jealous of the woman he loves, or jealous of his rival. A man is jealous of his wife, and the wife of her husband.
2. Suspicious that we do not enjoy the affection or respect of others, or that another is more loved and respected than ourselves.
3. Emulous; full of competition. – Dryden.
4. Solicitous to defend the honor of; concerned for the character of. I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts. – 1 Kings xix.
5. Suspiciously vigilant; anxiously careful and concerned for. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. – 2 Cor. xi.
6. Suspiciously fearful. 'Tis doing wrong creates such doubts as these / Renders us jealous and destroys our peace. – Waller.

JEAL-OUS-LY, adv. [jel'usly.]

With jealousy or suspicion; emulously; with suspicious fear, vigilance or caution.

JEAL-OUS-NESS, n. [jel'usness.]

The state of being jealous; suspicion; suspicious vigilance. – King Charles.

JEAL-OUS-Y, n. [jel'usy. Fr. jalousie; It. gelosia.]

1. That passion or peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves. A man's jealousy is excited by the attentions of a rival to his favorite lady. A woman's jealousy is roused by her husband's attentions to another woman. The candidate for office manifests a jealousy of others who seek the same office. The jealousy of a student is awakened by the apprehension that his fellow will bear away the palm of praise. In short, jealousy is awakened by whatever may exalt others, or give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves. Jealousy is nearly allied to envy, for jealousy, before a good is lost by ourselves, is converted into envy, after it is obtained by others. Jealousy is the apprehension of superiority. – Shenstone. Whoever had qualities to alarm our jealousy, had excellence to deserve our fondness. – Rambler.
2. Suspicious fear or apprehension. – Clarendon. Suspicious caution or vigilance; an earnest concern or solicitude for the welfare or honor of others. Such was Paul's godly jealousy for the Corinthians.
3. Indignation. God's jealousy signifies his concern for his own character and government, with a holy indignation against those who violate his laws, and offend against his majesty. Ps. lxxix.

JEAN, n.

A cloth made of cotton and wool.

JEARS, n.

In sea-language, an assemblage of tackles, by which the lower yards of a ship are hoisted or lowered. Hoisting is called swaying, and lowering is called striking. [see Gear.] Mar. Dict.

JEAT, n.

A fossil of a fine black color. [See Jet.]

JEER, n.

Railing language; scoff; taunt; biting jest; flout; jibe; mockery; derision; ridicule with scorn. Midas exposed to all their jeers, / Had lost his art, and kept his ears. – Swift.

JEER, v.i. [G. scheren, to rail at, to jeer, to shear, to shave; D. scheeren, Dan. skierer, Sw. skära, Gr. κειρω, without a prefix. These all seem to be of one family, Class Gr. The primary sense is probably to rub, or to cut by rubbing; and we use rub in a like sense; a dry rub, is a keen, cutting, sarcastic remark.]

To utter severe, sarcastic reflections; to scoff; to deride; to flout; to make a mock of; as, to jeer at one in sport. – Herbert.

JEER, v.t.

To treat with scoffs or derision. – Howell.

JEER'ED, pp.

Railed at; derided.