182 « dictionary. April ^ 9 



This word, though it might appear to be in some 

 respects the same with to melt, is yet extremely dif- 

 ferent. To 77ielt applies to all bodies in nature that 

 are capable of being liquefied by heat ; to thaw has 

 a reference only to the liquefaction of water. To 

 melt refers only to the bodies themselves that are 

 susceptible of being liquefied ; to thaw refers in ge- 

 neral to all objects that are capable of being affected 

 by water in its two different states of fluidity and 

 solidity. A piece of linen, for example, has been 

 rendered stiff by means of frost, and is then said 

 to "oQ/rozen ; when the air becomes inild, the linen 

 becomes pliable ; we then say it is thawedi The 

 water that was frozen upon the linen, and rendered 

 it stiff, is now melted ; we, therefore, say the ice is 

 melted, but we can only say the linen is thawed. 



In the same manner vegetables of any kind, or 

 animal substances, which are rendered stiff by frost, 

 are said to he frozen ; and, when that stiffnefs is tar- 

 ken off, are said to be thawed, though no appearv. 

 ance of tnelti/ig water, in either of these cases, fhould. 

 take place. 



Thaw, s. Is, therefore, employed as a general 

 term to denote that state of the atmosphere in which 

 bodies, that have been stiffened by frost, are gradu- 

 ally relieved from its effects, - and restored to the 

 state they afsume in the usual temperature of the at- 

 mosphere. 



Immediately adv. of time. 



I Instantly, witlioui delay. Always employed 

 to denote future time and never past. Thus we may 

 say, I will ccmc immediately ; but not, I am imme-^ 

 diately come from such a place. Bet J»-esentlj\ 



