The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1785
Twilight <Xpage=1556>
Twi"light` , a. 1. Seen or done by twilight.
Milton.
2. Imperfectly illuminated; shaded; obscure.
O'er the twilight groves and dusky caves. Pope.
Twill <Xpage=1556>
Twill (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Twilled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twilling .] [Scotch tweel ; probably from LG. twillen to make double, from twi- two; akin to AS. twi- , E. twi- in twilight . See Twice , and cf. Tweed , Tweel .] To weave, as cloth, so as to produce the appearance of diagonal lines or ribs on the surface.
Twill <Xpage=1556>
Twill , n. [Scotch tweel . See Twill , v. t. ] 1. An appearance of diagonal lines or ribs produced in textile fabrics by causing the weft threads to pass over one and under two, or over one and under three or more, warp threads, instead of over one and under the next in regular succession, as in plain weaving.
2. A fabric women with a twill.
3. [Perhaps fr. guill .] A quill, or spool, for yarn.
Twilly <Xpage=1556>
Twil"ly (?) , n. [C. Willy .] A machine for cleansing or loosening wool by the action of a revolving cylinder covered with long iron spikes or teeth; a willy or willying machine; -- called also twilly devil , and devil . See Devil , n. , 6, and Willy .
Tomlinson.
Twilt <Xpage=1556>
Twilt (?) , n. [See Quilt .] A quilt. [Prov. Eng.]
Twin <Xpage=1556>
Twin (?) , a. [OE. twin double, AS. getwinne two and two, pl., twins; akin to D. tweeling a twin, G. zwilling , OHG. zwiniling , Icel. tvennr , tvinnr , two and two, twin, and to AS. twi- two. See Twice , Two .] 1. Being one of two born at a birth; as, a twin brother or sister .
2. Being one of a pair much resembling one another; standing the relation of a twin to something else; -- often followed by to or with .
Shak.
3. (Bot.) Double; consisting of two similar and corresponding parts.
4. (Crystallog.) Composed of parts united according to some definite law of twinning. See Twin , n. , 4.
Twin boat , ∨ Twin ship (Naut.) , a vessel whose deck and upper works rest on two parallel hulls. -- Twin crystal . See Twin , n. , 4. -- Twin flower (Bot.) , a delicate evergreen plant ( Linn\'91a borealis ) of northern climates, which has pretty, fragrant, pendulous flowers borne in pairs on a slender stalk. -- Twin-screw steamer , a steam vessel propelled by two screws, one on either side of the plane of the keel.
Twin <Xpage=1556>
Twin , n. 1. One of two produced at a birth, especially by an animal that ordinarily brings forth but one at a birth; -- used chiefly in the plural, and applied to the young of beasts as well as to human young.
2. pl. (Astron.) A sign and constellation of the zodiac; Gemini. See Gemini .
3. A person or thing that closely resembles another.
4. (Crystallog.) A compound crystal composed of two or more crystals, or parts of crystals, in reversed position with reference to each other.
&hand; The relative position of the parts of a twin may be explained by supposing one part to be revolved 180° about a certain axis (called the twinning axis ), this axis being normal to a plane (called the twinning plane ) which is usually one of the fundamental planes of the crystal. This revolution brings the two parts into parallel position, or vice versa. A contact twin is one in which the parts are united by a plane surface, called the composition face , which is usually the same as the twinning plane. A penetration twin is one in which the parts interpenetrate each other, often very irregularly. Twins are also called, according to form, cruciform , geniculated , etc.
Twin <Xpage=1556>
Twin (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Twinned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twinning .] 1. To bring forth twins.
Tusser.
2. To be born at the same birth.
Shak.
Twin <Xpage=1556>
Twin , v. t. 1. To cause to be twins, or like twins in any way.
Shak.
Still we moved Together, twinned , as horse's ear and eye. Tennyson.
2. To separate into two parts; to part; to divide; hence, to remove; also, to strip; to rob. [Obs.]
The life out of her body for to twin . Chaucer.
Twin <Xpage=1556>
Twin , v. i. To depart from a place or thing. [Obs.] "Ere that we farther twin ."
Chaucer.
Twinborn <Xpage=1556>
Twin"born` (?) , a. Born at the same birth.
Twine <Xpage=1556>
Twine (?) , n. [AS. twin , properly, a twisted or double thread; akin to D. twijn , Icel. twinni ; from twi- . See Twice , and cf. Twin .] 1. A twist; a convolution.
Typhon huge, ending in snaky twine . Milton.
2. A strong thread composed of two or three smaller threads or strands twisted together, and used for various purposes, as for binding small parcels, making nets, and the like; a small cord or string.
3. The act of twining or winding round.
J. Philips.
Twine reeler , a kind of machine for twisting twine; a kind of mule, or spinning machine.
Twine <Xpage=1556>
Twine , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twined (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twining .] [OE. twinen , fr. AS. tw&imac;n a twisted thread; akin to D. twijnen to twine, Icel. & Sw. tvinna , Dan. tvinde . See Twine , n. ] 1. To twist together; to form by twisting or winding of threads; to wreathe; as, fine twined linen .
2. To wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body.
Let me twine Mine arms about that body. Shak.
3. To wind about; to embrace; to entwine.
Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine . Pope.
4. To change the direction of. [Obs.]
Fairfax.
5. To mingle; to mix. [Obs.]
Crashaw.
Twine <Xpage=1556>
Twine , v. i. 1. To mutually twist together; to become mutually involved.
2. To wind; to bend; to make turns; to meander.
As rivers, though they bend and twine , Still to the sea their course incline. Swift.
3. To turn round; to revolve. [Obs.]
Chapman.
4. To ascend in spiral lines about a support; to climb spirally; as, many plants twine .
Twiner <Xpage=1556>
Twin"er (?) , n. (Bot.) Any plant which twines about a support.
Twinge <Xpage=1556>
Twinge (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Twinged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twinging .] [OE. twengen , AS. twengan ; akin to OE. twingen to pain, afflict, OFries. thwinga , twinga , dwinga , to constrain, D. dwingen , OS. thwingan , G. zwingen , OHG. dwingan , thwingan , to press, oppress, overcome, Icel. þvinga , Sw. tvinga to subdue, constrain, Dan. twinge , and AS. þ\'81n to press, OHG. d&umac;hen , and probably to E. thong . Perhaps influenced by twitch . Cf. Thong .] 1. To pull with a twitch; to pinch; to tweak.
When a man is past his sense, There's no way to reduce him thence, But twinging him by the ears or nose, Or laying on of heavy blows. Hudibras.
2. To affect with a sharp, sudden pain; to torment with pinching or sharp pains.
The gnat . . . twinged him [the lion] till he made him tear himself, and so mastered him. L'Estrange.
Twinge <Xpage=1556>
Twinge , v. i. To have a sudden, sharp, local pain, like a twitch; to suffer a keen, darting, or shooting pain; as, the side twinges .
Twinge <Xpage=1556>
Twinge , n. 1. A pinch; a tweak; a twitch.
A master that gives you . . . twinges by the ears. L' Estrange.
2. A sudden sharp pain; a darting local pain of momentary continuance; as, a twinge in the arm or side . " A twinge for my own sin."
Dryden.
Twining <Xpage=1556>
Twin"ing (?) , a. Winding around something; twisting; embracing; climbing by winding about a support; as, the hop is a twinning plant .
Twining <Xpage=1556>
Twin"ing , a. The act of one who, or that which, twines; (Bot.) the act of climbing spirally.
Twink <Xpage=1556>
Twink (?) , v. i. [OE. twinken . See Twinkle .] To twinkle. [Obs.]
Twink <Xpage=1556>
Twink (?) , n. 1. A wink; a twinkling. [Obs.]
2. (Zo\'94l.) The chaffinch. [Prov. Eng.]
Twinkle <Xpage=1556>
Twin"kle (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Twinkled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twinkling (?) .] [OE. twinklen , AS. twinclian ; akin to OE. twinken to blink, wink, G. zwinken , zwinkern , and perhaps to E. twitch .] 1. To open and shut the eye rapidly; to blink; to wink.
The owl fell a moping and twinkling . L' Estrange.
<page="1557"> Page 1557
2. To shine with an intermitted or a broken, quavering light; to flash at intervals; to sparkle; to scintillate.
These stars not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures. Sir I. Newton.
The western sky twinkled with stars. Sir W. Scott.
Twinkle <Xpage=1557>
Twin"kle (?) , n. 1. A closing or opening, or a quick motion, of the eye; a wink or sparkle of the eye.
Suddenly, with twinkle of her eye, The damsel broke his misintended dart. Spenser.
2. A brief flash or gleam, esp. when rapidly repeated.
3. The time of a wink; a twinkling.
Dryden.
Twinkler <Xpage=1557>
Twin"kler (?) , n. One who, or that which, twinkles, or winks; a winker; an eye.
Twinkling <Xpage=1557>
Twin"kling (?) , n. 1. The act of one who, or of that which, twinkles; a quick movement of the eye; a wink; a twinkle.
Holland.
2. A shining with intermitted light; a scintillation; a sparkling; as, the twinkling of the stars .
3. The time of a wink; a moment; an instant.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, . . . the dead shall be raised incorruptible. 1 Cor. xv. 52.
Twinleaf <Xpage=1557>
Twin"leaf` (?) , n. (Bot.) See Jeffersonia .
Twinlike <Xpage=1557>
Twin"like` (?) , a. Closely resembling; being a counterpart. -- Twin"like`ness , n.
Twinling <Xpage=1557>
Twin"ling (?) , n. [ Twin + 1st -ling .] A young or little twin, especially a twin lamb.
Twinned <Xpage=1557>
Twinned (?) , a. (Crystallog.) Composed of parts united according to a law of twinning. See Twin , n. , 4.
Twinner <Xpage=1557>
Twin"ner (?) , n. One who gives birth to twins; a breeder of twins.
Tusser.
Twinning <Xpage=1557>
Twin"ning (?) , n. (Crystallog.) The assemblage of two or more crystals, or parts of crystals, in reversed position with reference to each other in accordance with some definite law; also, rarely, in artificial twinning (accomplished for example by pressure), the process by which this reversal is brought about.
Polysynthetic twinning , repeated twinning of crystal lamell\'91, as that of the triclinic feldspars. -- Repeated twinning , twinning of more than two crystals, or parts of crystals. -- Twinning axis , Twinning plane . See the Note under Twin , n.
Twinter <Xpage=1557>
Twin"ter (?) , n. [AS. twi- + winter winter. See Twice , and Winter .] A domestic animal two winters old. [Prov. Eng.]
Twire <Xpage=1557>
Twire (?) , n. [Cf. D. tweern , G. zwirn , and E. twine .] A twisted filament; a thread. [Obs.]
Locke.
Twire <Xpage=1557>
Twire , v. i. [Cf. MHG. zwieren , E. thwart , and queer .] 1. To peep; to glance obliquely; to leer. [Obs.]
Which maids will twire 'tween their fingers. B. Jonson.
I saw the wench that twired and twinkled at thee. Beau. & Fl.
2. To twinkle; to glance; to gleam. [Obs.]
When sparkling stars twire not. Shak.
Twire <Xpage=1557>
Twire , v. i. To sing, or twitter. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Twire-pipe <Xpage=1557>
Twire"-pipe` (?) , n. A vagabond musician. [Obs.]
You are an ass, a twire-pipe . Beau. & Fl.
You looked like Twire-pipe , the taborer. Chapman.
Twirl <Xpage=1557>
Twirl (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twirled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twirling .] [Cf. AS. þwiril a churn staff, a stirrer, flail, þweran , \'beþweran , to agitate, twirl, G. zwirlen , quirlen , to twirl, to turn round or about, quirl a twirling stick, OHG. dweran to twirl, stir. Cf. Trowel .] To move or turn round rapidly; to whirl round; to move and turn rapidly with the fingers.
See ruddy maids, Some taught with dexterous hand to twirl the wheel. Dodsley.
No more beneath soft eve's consenting star Fandango twirls his jocund castanet. Byron.
Twirl <Xpage=1557>
Twirl , v. i. To revolve with velocity; to be whirled round rapidly.
Twirl <Xpage=1557>
Twirl , n. 1. The act of twirling; a rapid circular motion; a whirl or whirling; quick rotation.
2. A twist; a convolution.
Woodward.
Twist <Xpage=1557>
Twist (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twisted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Twisting .] [OE. twisten , AS. twist a rope, as made of two (twisted) strands, fr. twi- two; akin to D. twist a quarrel, dissension, G. zwist , Dan. & Sw. tvist , Icel. twistr the deuce in cards, tvistr distressed. See Twice , Two .] 1. To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve.
Twist it into a serpentine form. Pope.
2. Hence, to turn from the true form or meaning; to pervert; as, to twist a passage cited from an author .
3. To distort, as a solid body, by turning one part relatively to another about an axis passing through both; to subject to torsion; as, to twist a shaft .
4. To wreathe; to wind; to encircle; to unite by intertexture of parts. "Longing to twist bays with that ivy."
Waller.
There are pillars of smoke twisted about wreaths of flame. T. Burnet.
5. To wind into; to insinuate; -- used reflexively; as, avarice twists itself into all human concerns .
6. To unite by winding one thread, strand, or other flexible substance, round another; to form by convolution, or winding separate things round each other; as, to twist yarn or thread .
Shak.
7. Hence, to form as if by winding one part around another; to wreathe; to make up.
Was it not to this end That thou began'st to twist so fine a story? Shak.
8. To form into a thread from many fine filaments; as, to twist wool or cotton .
Twist <Xpage=1557>
Twist , v. i. 1. To be contorted; to writhe; to be distorted by torsion; to be united by winding round each other; to be or become twisted; as, some strands will twist more easily than others .
2. To follow a helical or spiral course; to be in the form of a helix.
Twist <Xpage=1557>
Twist , n. 1. The act of twisting; a contortion; a flexure; a convolution; a bending.
Not the least turn or twist in the fibers of any one animal which does not render them more proper for that particular animal's way of life than any other cast or texture. Addison.
2. The form given in twisting.
[He] shrunk at first sight of it; he found fault with the length, the thickness, and the twist . Arbuthnot.
3. That which is formed by twisting, convoluting, or uniting parts. Specifically: --
(a) A cord, thread, or anything flexible, formed by winding strands or separate things round each other.
(b) A kind of closely twisted, strong sewing silk, used by tailors, saddlers, and the like.
(c) A kind of cotton yarn, of several varieties.
(d) A roll of twisted dough, baked.
(e) A little twisted roll of tobacco.
(f) (Weaving) One of the threads of a warp, -- usually more tightly twisted than the filling.
(g) (Firearms) A material for gun barrels, consisting of iron and steel twisted and welded together; as, Damascus twist .
(h) (Firearms & Ord.) The spiral course of the rifling of a gun barrel or a cannon.
(i) A beverage made of brandy and gin. [Slang]
4. [OE.; -- so called as being a two -forked branch. See Twist , v. t. ] A twig. [Obs.]
Chaucer. Fairfax.
Gain twist , ∨ Gaining twist (Firearms) , twist of which the pitch is less, and the inclination greater, at the muzzle than at the breech. -- Twist drill , a drill the body of which is twisted like that of an auger. See Illust . of Drill . -- Uniform twist (Firearms) , a twist of which the spiral course has an equal pitch throughout.
Twiste <Xpage=1557>
Twist"e (?) , obs. imp. of Twist .
Chaucer.
Twisted <Xpage=1557>
Twist"ed , a. Contorted; crooked spirally; subjected to torsion; hence, perverted.
Twisted curve (Geom.) , a curve of double curvature. See Plane curve , under Curve . -- Twisted surface (Geom.) , a surface described by a straight line moving according to any law whatever, yet so that the consecutive positions of the line shall not be in one plane; a warped surface.
Twister <Xpage=1557>
Twist"er (?) , n. 1. One who twists; specifically, the person whose occupation is to twist or join the threads of one warp to those of another, in weaving.
2. The instrument used in twisting, or making twists.
He, twirling his twister , makes a twist of the twine. Wallis.
3. (Carp.) A girder.
Craig.
4. (Man.) The inner part of the thigh, the proper place to rest upon when on horseback.
Craig.
<-- 5. (Colloq.) A tornado. -->
Twistical <Xpage=1557>
Twist"ic*al (?) , a. Crooked; tortuous; hence, perverse; unfair; dishonest. [Slang, U. S.]
Bartlett.
Twisting <Xpage=1557>
Twist"ing , a. & n. from Twist .