Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for OPEN
OPEN, a. [o'pn; Sax. open; D. open; G. offen; Sw. öpen; Dan. aaben.]
- Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes.
- Spread; expanded. He received his son with open arms.
- Unsealed; as, an open letter.
- Not shut or fast; as, an open hand.
- Not covered; as, the open sir; an open vessel.
- Not covered with trees; clear; as, an open country or field.
- Not stopped; as, an open bottle.
- Not fenced or obstructed; as, an open road.
- Not frosty; warmer than usual; not freezing severely; as, an open winter. An open and warm winter portendeth a hot and dry summer. Bacon. Johnson interprets open, in this passage, by not cloudy, not gloomy. I think the definition wrong. In America, an open winter is one in which the earth is not bound with frost and covered with snow.
- Public; before a court and its suitors. His testimony was given in open court.
- Admitting all persons without restraint; free to all comers. He keeps open house at the election.
- Clear of ice; as, the river or the harbor is open.
- Plain; apparent; evident; public; not secret or concealed; as, an open declaration; open avowal; open shame; open defiance. The nations contend in open war or in open arms.
- Not wearing disguise; frank; sincere; unreserved; candid; artless. He was held a man open and of good faith. Bacon. His generous, open, undersigning heart. Addison.
- Not clouded; not contracted or frowning; having an air of frankness and sincerity; as, an open look. With aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.
- Not hidden; exposed to view. We are to exercise our thoughts and lay open the treasures of divine truth. Burnet.
- Ready to hear or receive what is offered. His ears are open to their cry. Ps. xxxiv.
- Free to be employed for redress; not restrained or denied; not precluding any person. The law is open. Acts xix.
- Exposed; not protected; without defense. The country is open to invaders. Hath left me open to all injuries. Shak.
- Attentive; employed in inspection. Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men. Jer. xxxii.
- Clear; unobstructed; as, an open view.
- Unsettled; not balanced or closed; as, an open account Open accounts between merchants. Johnson's Rep.
- Not closed; free to be debated; as, a question open for discussion.
- In music, an open note is that which a string is tuned to produce. Busby.
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