HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

Wash·ing·ton

(wŏshĭng-tən, wôshĭng-)

1. Abbr. WA or Wash. A state of the northwest United States on the Pacific Ocean. It was admitted as the 42nd state in 1889. Explored by Capt. James Cook in 1778, Washington was the object of a dispute between Britain and the United States until 1846, when its northern border was set at the 49th parallel. Olympia is the capital and Seattle the largest city.

2. The capital of the United States, on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland and coextensive with the District of Columbia. It was designed by Pierre L'Enfant and became the capital in 1800. In the War of 1812 the British captured and sacked (1814) Washington, burning most of the public buildings, including the Capitol and the White House.

Wash′ing·toni·an (wŏsh′ĭng-tōnē-ən, wô′shĭng-) adj. & n.

Washington, Booker T(aliaferro) 1856-1915.

American educator. Born into slavery, he acquired an education after emancipation and became the principal of Tuskegee Institute, which flourished under his leadership (1881-1915). He also wrote an autobiography, Up from Slavery (1901).

(click for a larger image)

Booker T. Washington

Washington, Mount

A peak, 1,917 m (6,288 ft) high, in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. The highest elevation in the northeast United States, it is known for its unusually severe weather.

Washington, Martha Dandridge Custis 1731-1802.

First lady of the United States (1789-1797) as the wife of President George Washington.

(click for a larger image)

Martha Washington

c. 1853 portrait by Rembrandt Peale

Washington, Lake

A lake in west-central Washington on the eastern boundary of Seattle.

Washington, Dinah Originally Ruth Lee Jones. 1924-1963.

American singer noted for her warm, powerful voice and sensitive interpretation of jazz, blues, and popular standards.

Washington, George 1732-1799.

American military leader and the first president of the United States (1789-1797). Commander of the American forces in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), he presided over the Constitutional Convention (1787) and was elected president of the fledgling country (1789). He shunned partisan politics and in his farewell address (1796) warned against foreign involvement.

Wash′ing·toni·an (wŏsh′ĭng-tōnē-ən, wô′shĭng-) adj. & n.

(click for a larger image)

George Washington

1795 portrait by Rembrandt Peale

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products