Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WIL'LOW-ED, a.

Abounding with willows. – Collins.

WIL'LOW-GALL, n.

A protuberance on the leaves of willows. – Cyc.

WIL'LOW-HERB, n.

The purple loosestrife, a plant of the genus Lythrum; also, the yellow loosestrife, of the genus Lysimachia; also, the French willow, of the genus Epilobium. – Lee. Cyc.

WIL'LOW-ISH, a.

Like the color of the willow. – Walton.

WIL'LOW-TUFF-ED, a.

Tufted with willows. – Goldsmith.

WIL'LOW-WEED, n.

A name sometimes given to the smart-weed or persicaria. – Cyc.

WIL'LOW-WORT, n.

A plant. – Miller.

WIL'LOW-Y, a.

Abounding with willows. – Gray.

WILT, v.i. [G. and D. welken, to fade; that is, to shrink or withdraw.]

To begin to wither; to lose freshness and become flaccid, as a plant when exposed to great heat in a dry day, or when first separated from its root. This is a legitimate word, for which there is no substitute in the language. It is not synonymous with wither, as it expresses only the beginning of withering. A wilted plant often revives and becomes fresh; not so a withered plant.

WILT, v.t.

1. To cause to begin to wither; to make flaccid; as a green plant.
2. To cause to languish; to depress or destroy the vigor and energy of. Despots have willed the human race into sloth and imbecility. – Dwight.

WILT'ED, pp.

Having become flaccid and lost its freshness, as a plant.

WILT'ING, ppr.

Beginning to fade or wither.

WI'LY, a. [from wile.]

Cunning; sly; using craft stratagem to accomplish a purpose; subtil; as, a wily adversary.

WIM'BLE, a.

Active; nimble. [Obs.] – Spenser.

WIM'BLE, n. [W. guimbill, a gimlet; çwimiaw, to move round briskly. See Whim.]

An instrument for boring holes, turned by a handle.

WIM'BREL, n.

A bird of the curlew kind, a species of Scolopax, [S. phæopus.] – Cyc.

WIM'PLE, n. [G. wimpel, a pendant; Dan. vimpel; W. gwempyl, a vail, a wimple; Fr. guimpe, a neck handkerchief.]

A hood or vail. [Obs.] – Is. iii.

WIM'PLE, v.t.

To draw down, as a veil. [Obs.] – Spenser.

WIN, v.i.

To gain the victory. Nor is it sought but just / That he, who in debate of truth hath won, / Should win in arms. – Milton. To win upon, to gain favor or influence; as, to win upon the heart or affections. – Dryden. #2. To gain ground. The rabble will in time win upon power. – Shak. To win of, to be conqueror. – Shak.

WIN, v.t. [pret. and pp. won. Sax. winnan, to labor, to toil, to gain by labor, to win; D. winnen; G. gewinnen; Sw. vinna.]

1. To gain by success in competition or contest; as, to win the prize in a game; to win money; to win a battle, or to win a country. Battles are won by superior strength or skill. Who thus shall Canaan win. – Milton.
2. To gain by solicitation or courtship.
3. To obtain; to allure to kindness or compliance. Thy virtue won me. Win your enemy by kindness.
4. To gain by persuasion or influence; as, an orator wins his audience by argument. The advocate has won the jury. And Mammon wins his way, where seraphs might despair. – Byron.

WINCE, v.i. [Fr. guincher, to twist; guingois, crookedness, W. gwing; gwingaw, to wriggle, to wince.]

1. To shrink, as from a blow or from pain; to start back. I will not stir nor wince. – Shak.
2. To kick or flounce when uneasy, or impatient of a rider; as, a horse winces. – Hudibras.

WIN'CER, n.

One that winces, shrinks or kicks.

WINCH, n. [Sax. wince; Fr. guincher, to twist.]

A windlass; or an instrument with which to turn or strain something forcibly; as, a winch to strain the cord of a bed-stead, or to turn a wheel.

WINCH, v.i.

To wince; to shrink; to kick with impatience or uneasiness. [This is a more correct orthography than wince.]

WINCH'ING, or WIN'CING, ppr.

Flinching; shrinking; kicking.