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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

February 10, 2012

Project::Noah

It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language.

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(5) Words.

immechanical
mechanical
mechanically
mechanicalness
unmechanical

Webster

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M › mechanical

1828 Definition

MECHAN'ICAL, a. [L. mechanicus; Gr. a machine.]

1. Pertaining to machines, or to the art of constructing machines; pertaining to the art of making wares, goods, instruments, furniture, &c. We say, a man is employed in mechanical labor; he lives by mechanical occupation.

2. Constructed or performed by the rules or laws of mechanics. The work is not mechanical.

3. Skilled in the art of making machines; bred to manual labor.

4. Pertaining to artisans or mechanics; vulgar.

To make a god, a hero or a king,

Descend to a mechanic dialect.

5. Pertaining to the principles of mechanics, in philosophy;

as mechanical powers or forces; a mechanical principle.

6. Acting by physical power; as mechanical pressure.

The terms mechanical and chimical, are thus distinguished; those changes which bodies undergo without altering their constitution, that is, losing their identity, such as changes of place, of figure, &c. are mechanical; those which alter the constitution of bodies,making them different substances, as when flour, yeast and water unite to form bread, are chimical. In the one case, the changes relate to masses of matter, as the motions of the heavenly bodies, or the action of the wind on a ship under sail; in the other case, the changes occur between the particles of matter, as the action of heat in melting lead, or the union of sand and lime forming mortar. Most of what are usually called the mechanic arts, are partly mechanical, and partly chimical.

1913 Definition

Mechanical (mechanical)

(?)

Me*chan"ic*al

[From Mechanic, ]

Pertaining to, governed by, or in accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; pertaining to the quantitative relations of force and matter, as distinguished from mental, vital, chemical, etc.; as, mechanical principles; a mechanical theory; mechanical deposits.

Of or pertaining to a machine or to machinery or tools; made or formed by a machine or with tools; as, mechanical precision; mechanical products.

We have also divers mechanical arts. Bacon.

Done as if by a machine; uninfluenced by will or emotion; proceeding automatically, or by habit, without special intention or reflection; as, mechanical singing; mechanical verses; mechanical service.

Made and operated by interaction of forces without a directing intelligence; as, a mechanical universe.

Obtained by trial, by measurements, etc.; approximate; empirical. See the 2d Note under Geometric.

Mechanical effect, effective power; useful work exerted, as by a machine, in a definite time. -- Mechanical engineering. See the Note under Engineering. -- Mechanical maneuvers (Mil.), the application of mechanical appliances to the mounting, dismounting, and moving of artillery. Farrow. - - Mechanical philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to the investigation of physical phenomena. -- Mechanical powers, certain simple instruments, such as the lever and its modifications (the wheel and axle and the pulley), the inclined plane with its modifications (the screw and the wedge), which convert a small force acting through a great space into a great force acting through a small space, or vice versa, and are used separately or in combination. -- Mechanical solution (Math.), a solution of a problem by any art or contrivance not strictly geometrical, as by means of the ruler and compasses, or other instruments.

A mechanic.

[Obs.] Shak.

Noah Says...

If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes.

History of the United States :: 1832

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