Emily Dickinson Lexicon

THUN'DER, n. [Sax. thunder, thunor; G. donner; D. donder; Sw. dunder; Dan. dundren; L. tonitru, from tono, to sound; Fr. tonnerre; It. tuono; Pers. شُنْدُرْ thondor or thundur.]

1. The sound which follows an explosion of electricity or lightning; the report of a discharge of electrical fluid, that is, of its passage from one cloud to another, or from a cloud to the earth, or from the earth to a cloud. When this explosion is ncar to a person, the thunder is a rattling or clattering sound, and when distant, the sound is heavy and rumbling. The fact is in some degree the same with the report of a cannon. This sharpness or acuteness of the sound when near, and the rumbling murmur when distant, are the principal distinctions in thunder. [Thunder is not lightning, but the effect of it. See Johnson's Dictionary, under thunder.] There were thunders and lightnings. Exod. xix.
2. Thunder is used for lightning, or for a thunderbolt, either originally through ignorance, or by way of metaphor, or because the lightning and thunder are closely united. The revenging gods 'Gainst parricides all the thunder bend. Shak.
3. Any loud noise; as, the thunder of cannon. Sons of thunder. Mark Hi. i
4. Denunciation published; as, the thunders of the Vatican.

THUN'DER, v.i.

1. To sound, rattle or roar, as an explosion of electricity. Canst thon thunder with a voice like him? Job xl.
2. To make a loud noise, particularly a heavy sound of some continuance. His dreadful voice no more Would thunder in my ears. Milton.
3. To rattle, or give a heavy rattling sound. And roll the thund'ring chariot o'er the ground. J. Trumbull.

THUN'DER, v.t.

1. To emit with noise and terror. Oracles severe / Were daily thunder'd in our general's ear. Dryden.
2. To publish any denunciation or threat. An archdeacon, as being a prelate, may thunder out an ecclesiastical censure. Ayliffe.

THUN'DER-BLAST-ED, a.

Blasted by thunder. Scott.

THUN'DER-BOLT, n. [thunder and holt.]

1. A shaft of lightning; a brilliant stream of the electrical fluid, passing from one part of the heavens to another, and particularly from the clouds to the earth. Ps. xxviii.
2. Figuratively, a daring or irresistible hero; as, the Scipio, those thunderbolts of war. Dryden.
3. Fulmination; ecclesiastical denunciation. He severely threatens such with the thunderbolt of excommunication.
4. In mineralogy, thunder-stone. Spectator.

THUN'DER-BURST, n.

A burst of thunder. Hemans.

THUN'DER-CLAP, n. [thunder and chap.]

A burst of thunder; sudden report of an explosion or electricity. When suddenly the thunder-clap was heard. Dryden.

THUN'DER-CLOUD, n. [thunder and cloud.]

A cloud that produces lightning and thunder.

THUN'DER-ER, n.

He that thunders. Waller. Dryden.

THUN'DER-HOUSE, n.

An instrument for illustrating the manner in which buildings receive damage by lightning. Cyc.

THUN'DER-ING, n.

The report of an electrical explosion; thunder. Entreat the Lord that there be no more mighty thundering, and hail. Exod. ix.

THUN'DER-ING, ppr.

Making the noise of an electrical explosion; uttering a loud sound; fulminating denunciations.

THUN'DER-OUS, a.

Producing thunder. How he before the thunderous throne doth lie. Milton. [Little used.]

THUN'DER-SHOW-ER, n. [thunder and shower.]

A shower accompanied with thunder.

THUN'DER-STONE, n.

A stone, otherwise called brontia.

THUN'DER-STORM, n. [thunder and storm.]

A storm; accompanied with lightning and thunder. Thunder clouds are often driven by violent winds. In America, the violence of the wind at the commencement, is sometimes equal to that of a hurricane, and at this time the explosions of electricity are the most terrible. This violence of the wind seldom continues longer than a few minutes, and after this subsides, the rain continues, but the peals of thunder are less frequent. These violent showers sometimes; continue for hours; more generally, they are of shorter/ duration.

THUN'DER-STRIKE, v.t. [thunder and strike.]

1. To strike, blast or injure by lightning. Sidney. [Little used in its literal sense.]
2. To astonish or strike dumb, as with something terrible. [Little used except in the participle.]

THUNDER-STRUCK, pp. [or adj.]

Astonished; amazed; struck dumb by something surprising or terrible suddenly presented to the mind or view. [This is a word in common use.]

THU'RI-BLE, n. [L. thuribulum, from thus, thuris, frankincense.]

A censer; a pan for incense. [Not in use.] Cowell.

THU-RIF'ER-OUS, a. [L. thurifer; thus and fero, to bear.]

Producing or bearing frankincense.

THU-RIF-IC-A'TION, n. [L. thus, thuris, and facio, to make.]

The act of fuming with incense; or the act of burning incense. Stillingfleet.

THURL, n.

A short communication between adits in mines. Brande.

THURS'DAY, n. [Dan. Torsdag, that is, Thor's day, the day consecrated to Thor, the god of thunder, answering to the Jove of the Greeks and Romans, L. dies Jovis; It. Giovedi; Sp. Jueves; Fr. Jeudi. So in G. donnerstag, D. donderdag, thunder-day. This Thor is from the root of W. taran, thunder; taraw, to strike, hit or produce a shock; Gaelic and Ir. toirn, a great noise; toirneas, thunder. The root of the word signifies to drive, to rush, to strike. In Sw. thördon is thunder.]

The fifth day of the week.

THUS, adv. [Sax. thus; D. dus.]

1. In this or that manner; on this wise; as, thud Faith the Lord; the Pharisee prayed thus. Tbus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him. Gen. vi.
2. To this degree or extent; as, thus wise; thus peaceable. Holyday, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds. Millon.
3. In the phrase, thus much, it seems to be an adjective, equivalent to this much.

THUS, n. [Gr. θυω, to sacrifice.]

The resin of the spruce far, so called from its use.