Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BIG'AM, n.

A bigamist. [Not used.] – Bp. Peacock.

BIG'A-MIST, n. [See Bigamy.]

One who has committed bigamy, or had two wives at once.

BIG'A-MY, n. [L. bis, twice, and Gr. γαμεω, to marry, γαμος, marriage. In Ar. حَمَعَ‎‎ chamaa, is to collect; to come together; to agree, or be in accord; to sleep together; to bind.]

The crime of having two wives at once. But the term is ordinarily used as synonymous with Polygamy, and may be more justly defined, the crime of having a plurality of wives. – Blackstone. In the canon law, bigamy was the marrying of a second wife after the death of the first, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man for orders, and holding ecclesiastical offices. – Blackstone.

BIG'BEL-LI-ED, a.

Having a great belly; advanced in pregnancy.

BIG-BON'ED, a.

Having large bones. – Herbert.

BI-GEM'IN-ATE, a. [L. bis, twice, and geminus, double.]

Twin-forked; used of a decompound leaf having a forked petiole, with several leaflets, at the end of each division. – Martyn.

BIG'GEL, n.

A quadruped of the East Indies, somewhat like a rane or rein-deer, but its head resembles that of a horse. It has two horns, cloven feet, and a mane like an ass. – Dict. of Nat. Hist.]

BIG'GIN, n. [Fr. beguin; Sp. beca, a tippet, or cap.]

1. A child's cap, or something worn about the head.
2. A building. [Obs.] [Sax. byggan, to build.] – Shak.

BIGHT, n. [D. bogt, a bend, a turning, a coil, a bay; Dan. bugt, a bend, a bow, a bay. It is the participle of boogen, buigen, bugan, to bend; W. bac, bacu. See Bow.]

1. A bend, or small bay between two points of land.
2. The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the end; that is, a round, bend or coil any where except at the ends. – Mar. Dict.
3. The inward bent of a horse's chambrel, and the bent of the fore knees. – Bailey.

BI-GLAND'U-LAR, a.

Having two glands, as a plant.

BIG'LY, adv. [from big.]

In a tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily.

BIG'NAM-ED, a.

Having a great and famous name. – Crashaw.

BIG'NESS, n.

Bulk; size; largeness; dimensions. It is used of any object, animate or inanimate, and with or without comparison. Thus we speak of the bigness of a tree, of a rock, of a house, without instituting a comparison with other objects of the kind. Yet in this case there is always some reference in the mind to known measure. We also say, one thing is as big as another; in which case we give the idea of unknown size by a known object. Big and bigness always imply expansion, more or less, in breadth, and are thus distinguished from tall and tallness.

BIG'OT, or BIG'OT-ED, a.

Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion, practice or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and illiberal toward the opinions of others.

BIG'OT, n. [Fr. bigot, and cagot, a bigot or hypocrite; Arm. bigod. In Italian, bacchettone is a hypocrite. In Spanish, bigote is a whisker; hombre de bigote, a man of spirit; tener bigotes, to be firm or undaunted. If the French cagot is connected with bigot, the first syllable in both is a prefix. But I am not able to ascertain the real origin and primary sense of the word. The etymologies I have seen are not satisfactory.]

1. A person who is obstinately and unreasonably wedded to a particular religious creed, opinion, practice, or ritual. The word is sometimes used in an enlarged sense, for a person who is illiberally attached to any opinion, or system of belief; as a bigot to the Mohammedan religion; a bigot to a form of government.
2. A Venetian liquid measure containing the fourth part of the amphor, or half the boot. – Encyc.

BIG'OT-ED-LY, adv.

In the manner of a bigot; pertinaciously.

BIG'OT-RY, n.

1. Obstinate or blind attachment to a particular creed, or to certain tenets; unreasonable zeal or warmth in favor of a party, sect or opinion; excessive prejudice.
2. The practice or tenet of a bigot. – Pope.

BIG'SOUND-ING, a.

Having a pompous sound. – Hall.

BIG'SWOLN, a. [big and swoln. See Swell.]

Swelled to large size; turgid; greatly swelled; ready to burst. – Addison.

BIG'UD-DER-ED, a. [big and udder.]

Having large udders, or udders swelled with milk. – Pope.

BI-HY-DRO'GU-RET, n. [L. bini and hydroguret.]

A compound of two atoms of hydrogen with one of some other ingredient. This term is contrary to rule. It should be deutohydroguret.

BI-JOU', n. [Fr.]

A trinket, or a little box; a jewel.

BI-JOU'TRY, n.

The making or dealing in jewelry; jewelry itself.

BI-JU'GOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and jugum, a yoke, a pair.]

Having two pairs of leaflets; used of pinnated leaves. – Martyn.

BI-LA'BI-ATE, a. [L. bis, twice, and labium, a lip.]

Having two lips, as the corols of flowers. – Martyn.