Front, s. the face, the forepart Frost, s. the effect of cold, producing ice Froth, s. foam; lather; useless matter Frown, a. v. to contract the brow, to look displeased Gall, s. a bitter juice in the Gall, a. v. to provoke, to chafe the mouth wide; to stare Garb, s. dress, outside appear ance Gas, s. a spirituous fluid Gate, s. a door, or opening Gauze, s. (gaws) silk or linen A GATE is the entrance to a house, or city. In eastern countries the houses do not front the street, but the entrance from thence leads to a court, beyond which the house appears. The outer gates, or doors, though strong, are generally small, and mean, and even beggarly, in their appearance, even where the inhabitant is a person of real wealth. The Arabs are in the habit of riding into the houses of those whom they intend to plunder or oppress; hence, a close narrow door, or gate, is at once a disguise and a defence. But rich men in the East are fond of outward show, and this exposes them to danger. Solomon says, "he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction." This is often the case. In the City of Bagdad there was an exalted, and finely ornamented gate, to a house which belonged to a man of great wealth and influence. He fancied himself secure: but he soon proved the truth of Solomon's words. One day, as he was riding through the street, he was dragged from his horse and put to death on the spot, by order of the Pasha, who immediately seized upon all his property. In many parts of the East, the gate of a town or city was the place of public assembly, where the kings or governors sat, to hear grievances, and to administer justice. Gay, a. lively, merry, shewy Germ, s. a shoot, a bud Gills, s. openings in the sides Give, a. v. to present, to grant, to allow, to yield Glad, a. pleased; gay; cheerful Glance, s. a sudden look, or dart of light Glare, n. v. to shine; to dazzle Glaze, a. v. to cover with glass; to make shining Gleam, s. a sudden shoot of Glean, a. v. to gather, to collect Glimpse, s. a faint light; a Gloom, s. darkness, melancholy Gnarl, n. v. (narl) to murmur, Gnash, a. v. (nash) to grind together Gnat, s. a small stinging fly The GNAT is a small insect, by the sharp sting of which persons who reside in the country are often annoyed. Like most insects, it is remarkable for the curious changes it passes through, and for the care it takes in providing for the safety of its eggs. The Gnat lays her eggs would sink, she con trives to glue two or three hundred of them together, so as to form a sort of boat which will swim safe and unhurt. The way in which she does this is wonderful. The Gnat has six legs: the four front legs she rests on a floating leaf, or on the side of a tub. She then crosses her two hind legs in the shape of the letter X, the open part of which, next the tail, serves for the egg to lay upon till the boat is formed. When that is done, she flies away, and leaves the eggs to be hatched by the heat of the sun. The grubs first appear as little reddish-coloured maggots, and may be seen sporting by thousands in the water. Eight or ten days after they prepare for flight. They raise the forepart of their bodies quite out of the water, resting upon their hinder parts, and floating along like boats with sails. Their wings are soon fully formed, and then they soar away into the air. Gnaw, a. v. (naw) to tear slowly | with the teeth; to wear by biting Goad, a. v. to drive, pricking with a sharp instrument Goal, s. (gole) a starting point at a race; a final purpose God, s. the Creator; the Supreme Being Gold, s. the most valuable of Good, a. proper; right; fit articles for sale Gore, s. thick or clotted blood Graft, a. v. to place, to insert a branch of one tree into Grape, s. the fruit of the vine seize, to hold fast Grate, s. a row of bars; a fire-place Grate, n. v. to wear away by rubbing harshly Grave, s. a place where dead bodies are laid Grace, a. v. to adorn, to dignify Grave, a. serious, solemn The A GOAD is a long staff pointed with iron, used in driving cattle, and especially oxen. It was formerly used in this country, but in consequence of the cruelties practised by drovers, it is, very properly, forbidden. In Syria, however, it is still used. In ploughing the ground for corn, the oxen are yoked in pairs. The ploughman holds by the handle of the plough with one hand, and bears in the other a goad seven or eight feet long, armed with a sharp point of iron at one end, and a piece of iron shaped like a chisel at the other. oxen are spurred now and then with the point of the goad, and the There have been earth is cleared from the plough with the other. cases in which the goad has been used as a weapon of war. Solomon compares "the words of the wise" to goads:-his meaning is that such words are sharp and pointed, and as likely to make an impression, to produce an effect upon the minds of those who hear them, as pointed goads are upon the animals to whom they are applied. Guess, n. v. (gess) to think or suppose at random Guest, s. a visitor Guide, a. v. to direct, to lead Guile, s. deceit, false cunning Gush, n. v. to flow, or rush Gust, s. a sudden blast of wind Hale, a. sound, in good health HAIR is a kind of horn, drawn out into very fine threads. It has a regular root, or bulb, just beneath the surface of the skin, consisting of soft pulp, made up of blood-vessels and nerves. From this the hair springs up in an elastic solid form, and grows so fast as often to require trimming. A fine head of hair is generally considered an ornament; and those who have it are apt to be proud. But there is one remarkable instance in which a fine head of hair was the cause of danger and death. Of Absalom, one of the sons of king David, it is said, that "in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him." It is also stated that he had a great quantity of fine flowing hair. He was obliged, about once a year, to have this cut; and he always had it weighed, that people might talk about his "fine head of hair." Absalom was as wicked and vain as he was handsome! He rebelled against his father, who was dotingly fond of him, and greatly indulged him, and he stirred up the people to rebel also. At last the two parties came to battle, and more than twenty thousand men were slain;- and all in consequence of this unnatural rebellion! Absalom tried to escape through a wood upon a swift mule. "And the mule went under the boughs of a thick oak, and Absalom's head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and Hand, a. v. to give with the hand, to lay hands upon Hang, a. v. to suspend; to support from some place or thing above Hard, a. firm, close; difficult Hatch, a. v. to produce young from eggs Hate, a. v. to detest, to dislike very much Haul, a. v. to pull, to drag Haunt, a. v. to visit a place very often Hawk, s. a bird of prey Heap, s. a pile; a number of space of ground Heave, a. v. to lift; to vomit Hedge, a. v. to enclose, to shut in Heed, a. v. to mind, to notice the earth, and the mule that was under him went away." While he was thus hanging, David's chief officer came and ran him through the heart with three darts! Thus, one of the chief objects of his pride was the means of his being brought to death, in the midst of his folly and his sin. |