Large \Large\, a. [Compar. Larger; superl. Largest.]
[F.,
fr. L. largus. Cf. Largo.]
1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk,
capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of
constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; --
opposed to small; as, a large horse; a large house or
room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large
vineyard; a large army; a large city.
Note: For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not
large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length,
breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height.
2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.
We hare yet large day. --Milton.
3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.
I might be very large upon the importance and
advantages of education. -- Felton.
4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad
sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said
of the mind and heart.
5. Free; unembarrassed. [Obs.]
Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. --Fairfax.
6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [Obs.]
``Some large jests he will make.'' --Shak.
7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
8. (Naut.) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a
favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam,
or between the beam and the quarter.
At large. (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large;
to be left at large. (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse
on a subject at large.
Common at large. See under Common, n.
Electors at large, Representative at large, electors, or
a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the
whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to
represent particular districts in a State. [U. S.]
To give, go, run, or sail large (Naut.), to have the wind
crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way
that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains
its highest speed. See Large, a., 8.
Syn: Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample;
abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive;
liberal.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
At \At\, prep. [AS. [ae]t; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel.
at, Sw. [*a]t, Dan. & L. ad.]
Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence,
nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the
ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less
definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the
house. From this original import are derived all the various
uses of at. It expresses:
1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on,
something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at
school; at hand; at sea and on land.
2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at
peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at
risk; at disadvantage.
3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with;
as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat
(eating); except at puns.
4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of
degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at
80[deg]; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated
at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.
5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock;
at twenty-one; at once; at first.
6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or
effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything;
at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require,
receive, deserve, endure at your hands.
7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at
it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike,
shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.
At all, At home, At large, At last, At length, At
once, etc. See under All, Home, Large, Last (phrase
and syn.), Length, Once, etc.
At it, busily or actively engaged.
At least. See Least and However.
At one. See At one, in the Vocabulary.
Syn: In, At.
Usage: When reference to the interior of any place is made
prominent in is used. It is used before the names of
countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live
in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly
employed before names of houses, institutions,
villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at
Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I
saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At
may be used before the name of a city when it is
regarded as a mere point of locality. ``An English
king was crowned at Paris.'' --Macaulay. ``Jean
Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.''
--J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on
the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning
of July 5th, in the year 1775.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |